Sonali Kulkarni (born 3 November 1974) is an Indian actress, producer, and writer who primarily appears in Marathi, Hindi and few Tamil films.

Subsequently, she starred in the Hindi films Mission Kashmir (2000), Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (2000), Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (2001), Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Taxi Number 9211 (2006), and Singham (2011).

Apart from acting, Kulkarni formerly wrote a weekly column for a supplement of the Marathi daily newspaper Loksatta titled So Kul.

She attended Abhinava Vidyalaya and graduated from Fergusson College, where she majored in political science and received a scholarship in Marathi literature.

For her interest in acting, she attended a workshop by Satyadev Dubey, after which she and Sandesh formed a theatre group called Samanvay.

[8][better source needed] Kulkarni made her screen debut as the titular character in Girish Karnad's Hindi film Cheluvi.

She also collaborated with Doordarshan on a Hindi film, Gulabari, which aired in 1995, as well as television shows such as Badalte Rishtey and Kata Rute Kunala in 1996.

Saisuresh Sivaswamy from Rediff, calling her a "real scene-stealer," wrote, "She excels in a role that brings out the entire gamut of a mother's emotions, and finally gives her life to save her husband's.

"[17] Filmfare critic Suman Tarafdar observed, "Kulkarni, as the belle from Lucknow, does the loving wife and mother with a touch of realism not generally seen in Indian mainstream cinema.

Kulkarni's story of the same name, the tale is about a proud woman, her beautiful redemption from an unfair societal insult, and her tragic bad luck, set during the Haldi-Kumkum festival.

[24] She got second-best actress at the 42nd Maharashtra State Film Awards for her performance as Seena, the sister of a man with schizophrenia who is battling to come to terms with his sickness.

[25] She then starred as one of four widowers in White Rainbow, a film set in the Hindu holy city of Vrindavan in north India.

Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama wrote, "Sonali Kulkarni may not be in complete form, but she makes a sincere effort.

[27] She made her Gujarati cinema debut in 2005 with Love Is Blind, which went on to win eleven Gujarat State Film Awards.

[34] She next played an Indian television star newsreader in Delhi in the highly praised Mohandas, a nightmarish drama of identity theft that culminates into a humiliating betrayal of governmental corruption and conspiracy.

[38] In 2011, Kulkarni earned her second nomination for an IIFA award for her performance in Rohit Shetty's Singham as an honest inspector's wife seeking justice for her husband's suicide.

[40] Then she reprised the role of Sharmila Tagore from the original in Konkanastha, a remake of director Mahesh Manjrekar's own film Viruddh.

[42] Following that, Kulkarni appeared in Dr. Prakash Baba Amte – The Real Hero, Aga Bai Arechyaa 2, and Sugar Salt Ani Prem.

The former received critical praise and a Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Mandakini Amte, a real-life medical practitioner and social worker, in the biopic.

In 2017, Kulkarni featured in Govind Nihalani's Marathi film Ti ani Itar, which was a screen adaptation of Manjula Padmanabhan's play Lights Out.

[46][47] Her second release was Prasad Oak's directorial black and white film Kachcha Limboo, based on Jaywant Dalvi's novel Runanubandha.

The film, set in the 1980s, is about a couple's ongoing battle to care for their 15-year-old mentally challenged child, who begins to develop sexual impulses.

"[52] Yogesh Pawar of DNA stated, "She brings to her Radha Agarkar an organic vulnerability and strength that sets the tone for her character's trajectory.

[59] In the same year, she made her OTT debut in the web series Mumbai Diaries 26/11 and The Whistleblower on Amazon Prime Video and SonyLIV, respectively.

[61] In 2014, Kulkarni founded her production company, Sokul, and produced the plays White Lilly & Night Rider in Marathi and Hinglish, in which she also performed.

[64] As a tribute to Baba Amte's literary legacy, Kulkarni and Sachin Khedekar recited portions from novels written by him.

Kulkarni began writing for Viva, a supplement to the Marathi daily newspaper Loksatta, in June 2005 and continued till May 2007.