Renuka Shahane

Renuka Shahane (born 7 October 1966) is an Indian actress, director, and social activist widely known for her work in Hindi and Marathi films as well as numerous television productions.

She was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, into a Marathi Maharam Brahmin family. Her father, Lt. Cdr. Vijay Kumar Shahane, served as an officer in the Indian Navy, and her mother, Shanta Gokhale (also known as Shanta Gokle), is a notable Indian writer, translator, journalist, and theater critic in Marathi theatre.

Full Name	Renuka Shahane
Nick Name	Renuka, Renu
Other Name(s)	Renuka Neekhra
Occupation	Actress/Film Director/Screenwriter
Date of Birth	07-October-1966 (59 years)
Birth Location	Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Gender	Female
Nationality	Indian
Religion	Hindu
Zodiac Sign	Libra
Height	165 cm
Weight	56 kg
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	Black
School	IES English Medium School, Hindu Colony
College	St. Xavier's College
Qualification	B.A. in Psychology
Hobbies	Watching TV, Cooking

She grew up in Mumbai with her mother and her only sibling, Girish Shahane. She pursued her education at St. Xavier's College, where she completed a B.A. in Psychology, and later earned a post-graduation degree in Clinical Psychology from Mumbai University. Her career began with the Marathi film Hach Sunbaicha Bhau, and she subsequently appeared in many Marathi films. She started her television career alongside Shah Rukh Khan in the famous 1989 series Circus.

She gained widespread recognition and became a household name as one of the two co-presenters of the iconic Doordarshan TV show Surabhi, which ran from 1993 to 2001. Her broad smile became synonymous with charm during the era when Doordarshan was India's only TV channel, making her one of the most popular TV personalities of the 1980s and 1990s.

She was among the top lead actresses in the Indian film and television industry.

In addition to her acting work, she made her debut as a director in Marathi cinema with the film Rita, which was based on her mother's critically acclaimed Marathi play Mr. Venar. She has been married twice.

Her first marriage was to Vijay Kenkare, a veteran Marathi theater writer and director, but the marriage ended in divorce. She later married Ashutosh Rana (original name Ashutosh Neekhra), a well-known Bollywood actor, and together they have two sons named Shauryaman Neekhra and Satyendra Neekhra.

She is also known by her married name Renuka Neekhra or Renuka Ashutosh Rana. Her most recent movie is Dupahiya. As of 2025, she is 62 years old.

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