Aditya Kulkarni

Aditya Kulkarni grew up in Pune with two seemingly contradictory passions: Marathi natya sangeet (musical theatre) and competitive swimming. His father, a retired Indian Navy officer, instilled in him a love of physical discipline, while his mother, an amateur theatre actress, nurtured his creative side. It was the combination of these influences that eventually led Aditya to the world of action cinema, where physicality and performance intersect in the most demanding ways. After winning multiple state-level swimming championships and earning a spot on the Maharashtra junior swimming team, Aditya surprised his family by applying to the Film and Television Institute of India in his hometown of Pune. At FTII, he studied acting while independently training in stunt coordination with veteran action director Sham Kaushal's team in Mumbai. His ability to perform complex water-based stunts, a rarity in Indian cinema, became his calling card. Aditya's film debut in Jalsamadhi (2022), a Marathi survival thriller set almost entirely on water, was physically gruelling and artistically rewarding in equal measure. Director Nagraj Manjule cast him after seeing his swimming reel, and the film's climactic storm sequence, which Aditya performed without a body double, became one of the year's most talked-about action set-pieces. He went on to star in the Hindi action film Toofan Ke Baad, playing a naval commando, and the Marathi drama Puneri Misal, which showcased his dramatic chops in a story about Pune's changing culinary culture. Aditya is committed to professionalizing the stunt industry in India. He has completed international certifications in stunt safety and rigging, and he advocates for better insurance and working conditions for stunt performers. When not on set, he trains at the Pune Aquatics Centre and mentors young athletes who are considering careers in film action.