National Award-winning actor and filmmaker Addinath Kothare has successfully balanced projects in both Marathi and Hindi entertainment. His work includes the Marathi web series ‘Detective Dhananjay: Rahasyajal’ and the Hindi series ‘System.‘In a conversation with Hindustan Times, Addinath Kothare praised Riteish Deshmukh for taking Marathi cinema to a new level with ‘Raja Shivaji’. According to Addinath, the film proved that the industry is capable of delivering large-scale productions when filmmakers are backed with the right vision and resources. The actor believes the film expanded the commercial possibilities of Marathi cinema. He said its success encouraged the trade to look at the industry with renewed confidence. Addinath also described the project as an important milestone for regional filmmaking.Sharing his admiration for Riteish’s efforts, he told the publication, “It’s a great feeling and I am proud of Riteish Deshmukh. It’s such a big project and it was a daring move to invest that kind of money in the Marathi industry. It’s a huge leap for us and the film’s success showed trade what we are capable of doing if the right people are backing and creating content. Riteish has shifted the access to business in the Marathi industry.”
Addinath Kothare on the success of content-driven Marathi films
Addinath also pointed out that Raja Shivaji is not the only film helping Marathi cinema reach a wider audience. He noted that several strong content-driven productions have also contributed to the industry’s steady growth.Speaking about the expanding reach of Marathi films, he said, “Films like Tighee and Kranti Jyoti Vidyalaya have also crossed over and brought audiences to Marathi films.”According to the actor, these films demonstrated that compelling storytelling can connect with audiences beyond language and regional boundaries.
Digital revolution changed audience habits, says Addinath Kothare
Addinath said the digital boom has transformed how people consume films and web series. He believes viewers are now far more willing to watch stories in different languages than they were a few years ago. He also observed that the lockdown period played an important role in changing viewing habits. With streaming platforms becoming the primary source of entertainment, audiences began exploring regional content from across the country.He said, “I’m very grateful and I feel blessed that such wonderful opportunities are coming my way and I am getting to perform different characters and that too on a pan-India level across languages. It’s a great time for regional content. Regional cinemas are growing bigger and performing better than certain pan-India cinemas and it’s a great sign.”The actor feels regional cinema is no longer confined to its home market. Instead, it is finding appreciation from audiences across India. Addinath Kothare is next set to appear in Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious film ‘Ramayana: Part 1’.
