Kranti Redkar-Wankhede, born on August 17, 1982, is no stranger to the limelight, but her journey is one of resilience and reinvention. Known primarily for her work in Marathi cinema, she has worn many hats, whether it be as an actor, director, writer, or entrepreneur; she is creating a career that refuses to be overshadowed by the headlines surrounding her husband.
Early career and rise to fame
Redkar began acting in 2000 with Soon Asavi Ashi, but her breakthrough came with the cult hit song Kombadi Palali from Jatra: Hyalagaad Re Tyalagaad (2006). What could have been a typecast moment instead became the springboard for a versatile career. From comedies like Majha Navra Tujhi Bayko to critically acclaimed dramas such as Shikshanachya Aaicha Gho (2010), she proved her range with each project.
Her debut in direction with Kaakan (2015) won her the Best Director Award at the Nashik International Film Festival. She continued taking risks with unconventional roles in Kiran Kulkarni vs Kiran Kulkarni (2016) and Karaar (2017), which later earned her a Filmfare nomination. Beyond films, she stepped into fashion with her clothing line ZiyaZyda in 2019, blending her creativity with entrepreneurship.
Life beyond cinema
In 2017, Kranti married IRS officer Sameer Wankhede, whom she had first known as a college classmate. The couple, now parents to twin daughters, has often found itself in the media’s gaze. But while public focus frequently drifts to her husband’s controversial career, Kranti has continued to hold her own, balancing motherhood, cinema, and business with remarkable steadiness.
Why is Sameer Wankhede in the spotlight now?
Sameer Wankhede, the former NCB officer who arrested Aryan Khan in the 2021 Cordelia cruise drug case, has filed a defamation suit against Aryan’s Netflix directorial debut, The Bads of Bollywood. He has alleged that the series maligns him and the enforcement agencies and has made a mockery of the national symbol 'Satyamev Jayate'. His lawyer claims that if the lawsuit is successful, the Rs 2 crore in damages requested will be donated to Tata Memorial Hospital. While the case keeps Wankhede in the headlines, Kranti Redkar-Wankhede’s story is a reminder that her achievements stand firmly on their own, beyond the turbulence of Bollywood-linked controversies.
