Madhu Kambikar, a veteran Marathi actor and Lavani artiste, died in Pune on Monday, 12 October 2026, at the age of 73, Hindustan Times and The Indian Express reported.
Quick Facts
| Born | 28 July 1953, Malegaon Khurd, Beed district, Maharashtra |
| Died | 12 October 2026, Pune |
| Known for | Lavani performances; Marathi films, folk theatre and television |
| Cause | A prolonged illness; she had suffered a stroke in 2016 |
Her Career
Born in Malegaon Khurd in Beed district, she began her career performing with a tamasha troupe before moving into films, folk theatre, commercial theatre and television serials. Her films include *Shaapit*, *Hech Majha Maher*, *Raghumaina*, *Ek Hota Vidushak*, *Zapatlela*, *Debu* and *Yeu Ka Gharat*.
The Maharashtra Directorate General of Information and Public Relations said she “established her identity on the silver screen by preserving the legacy of Maharashtra’s folk arts”, and that her study of Kathak helped her earn acclaim as a dancer. On screen she was known for roles as a mother and mother-in-law.
Honours
Lavani artist Megha Ghadge, in a tribute on X, listed her awards:
- Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Marathi) for *Shaapit*
- Maharashtra State Awards for *Shaapit* and *Hech Majhe Maher*
- Maharashtra State Award for Best Supporting Actress for *Raosaheb*
- The Hansa Wadkar Special Award and the Lavani Kalavant Award in 2007
Illness
In November 2016, after performing at the Lavanya Sangeet in Mumbai, as she had for 12 years, she began to feel unwell and suffered a stroke later that day, according to the report Hindustan Times cited. She stayed away from films after that. *Aabhraan* was among her last films.
Tributes
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed “profound grief” and said her roles in films, folk theatre, commercial theatre and television “will remain etched in the memory of audiences forever”. Ghadge wrote: “Madhutai may no longer be among us, but her art will remain with us forever.”
Featured image: Lavani dancer Surekha Punekar performing on stage (file photo; Madhu Kambikar is not pictured). Photo by Dakutaa at en.wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.