Nagraj Manjule on His First Marriage, Divorce, and Working Relationship with Second Wife

Renowned Marathi filmmaker Nagraj Manjule, best known for directing the blockbuster hit Sairat, has occasionally opened up about his personal journey, his past marriage, and the deep creative bond he shares with his second wife, Gargi Kulkarni. Manjule married his first wife, Sunita, on May 17, 1997, at an early age. Although the couple stayed together for 17 years, their relationship faced increasing strain over time. The two eventually decided to part ways legally, finalizing their divorce in 2014.

Following his separation, Gargi Kulkarni entered Manjule’s life. Hailing from Ahilyanagar the same city where the couple originally met—Gargi shares a passionate love for reading, literature, and writing poetry. Beyond her personal interests, she became a core collaborator in his filmmaking career, serving as a producer on Sairat. Over the years, the duo has worked closely together on several critically acclaimed and commercially successful cinematic projects, including Fandry, Sairat, Jhund, and Ghar Banduk Biryani.

Highlighting her deep literary insight and profound impact on his creative output, Manjule spoke warmly about Gargi’s crucial role in his writing process during an interview. He revealed that she is one of only one or two trusted individuals to whom he shows his early script drafts for honest feedback. Calling her a vital sounding board for his storytelling, the acclaimed director affectionately described her as his “mirror.” Stay tuned to know more about it and others only with us and if you have anything to share do comment below and share your thoughts.