Chandrakant Mandhare (, (13 August 1913 – 17 February 2001) was a well-known Marathi Film actor and an artist. He played different roles in Marathi films and devoted his life to art. He was a master in paintings
Early Life
Chandrakant Mandare, also known as Gopal Mandare, was born on 13 August 1913 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. He grew up in a family where his father was engaged in the business of selling traditional sarees. He had one sister and a brother, Suryakant. Mandare completed his school education up to the sixth standard in English medium at Harihar Vidyalaya and Private High School in Kolhapur.
During his youth, Mandare developed an interest in painting, largely influenced by the landscapes of artist Madhavrao Bagal. His father initially approached the pioneering filmmaker and painter Baburao Painter to guide him; however, Painter directed him to Baba Gajabar. At the time, Gajabar was serving as an art teacher at the O'Brien Technical School. Under Gajabar's mentorship, Mandare learned the fundamentals of drawing and painting, subsequently passing the Intermediate Art Examination. In 1938, he appeared alongside actor Chandra Mohan in the film Jwala. That same year, director Bhalji Pendharkar cast him in the Saraswati Cinetone production Raja Gopichand, introducing him under the screen name "Chandrakant." Following this, he secured a role in V. Shantaram’s film Shejari and subsequently took up full-time employment with Prabhat Film Company.
Over the following decades, Mandare performed in numerous Marathi films, including Thoratanchi Kamala, Bharat Bhet, Ram Rajya, Jai Malhar, Manacha Pan, Meeth Bhakar, Chhatrapati Shivaji, Vaadal, Muka Lekru, Bhaubeej, Sangtye Aika, Mohityanchi Manjula, Yuge Yuge Me Wat Pahili, Pavanakathcha Dhondi, Santh Wahate Krishnamai, Manacha Mujra, Dhanya Te Santaji Dhanaji, Irsha, Ashtavinayak, Bhalu, Pativrata, and Bangarwadi.
He also acted in Hindi cinema, with credits including Raja Gopichand, Aseer-e-Hawis, Maharathi Karna, Jeevan Yatra, Mere Lal, Chhatrapati Shivaji, Navrang, Suvarnabhumi, and Sher Shivaji, as well as a featured role in the English film Lines on the Rock. He frequently shared the screen with his brother, actor Suryakant.
Mandare retired from mainstream acting in 1980. However, he returned to the screen for a final appearance in Amol Palekar's 1995 film Bangarwadi. Parallel to his film career, Mandare maintained a practice as a watercolor artist, frequently painting landscapes during filming breaks. His travels for art took him to countries such as France, Nepal, and the United States, and he held art exhibitions across India. During summer and Diwali vacations, he conducted instructional classes in landscape painting and powder shading for students.
For his contributions to the arts, heed several honors, including recognition from the Jagatik Marathi Parishad (1989), the FIE Foundation, the Chhatrapati Shahu Award (1994), the V. Shantaram Award (1994), and the Chitrabhushan Award from the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandala (1998).