Marathi actor Madhu Kambikar dies at 73, CM Devendra Fadnavis pays tribute

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed deep grief over the death of actor Madhu Kambikar aka 'Karnik', describing the news as "extremely heartbreaking." Highlighting her versatile four-decade career across cinema, folk theatre, commercial stage, and television, Fadnavis emphasised that her roles in iconic films such as Hech Maazan Maheer, Raghumainaa, Ek Hota Vidushak, Zapatlela, Debu, and Yeu Ka Gharat would "remain etched in the memory of audiences forever."Honouring her contribution to traditional performing arts, Fadnavis pointed out how Karnik worked to popularise folk arts connected to rural life by "beautifully blending acting and dance." Fadnavis added that her active dedication enriched the Marathi entertainment industry for over forty years, offering his "heartfelt tribute" to the late artiste while extending condolences to her family and mourning fans.. , , . ‘ ’, ‘’, ‘ ’, ‘’, ‘’ ‘ ’ . . , . . .— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) October 12, 2026Kambikar died in Pune at the age of 73 following a prolonged illness, as reported by ABP Majha. She had previously suffered a paralytic stroke, after which she battled multiple health complications over her final years.The Maharashtra government's Directorate General of Information and Public Relations (DGIPR) also shared a statement on X about the actress's demise. The post read, “Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed profound grief over the passing of veteran actress Madhu Kambikar, who established her identity on the silver screen by preserving the legacy of Maharashtra's folk arts through her acting and multifaceted performances (sic).” The statement continued, “Madhu Kambikar's artistic journey spanned from folk arts and theatre to the world of cinema. By upholding the traditional Lavani style in folk arts and through her study of Kathak, she earned acclaim as a dancer. The versatile star, who proudly flew the flag of Marathi folk arts on the silver screen, is no more. We share in the sorrow of the Kambikar family and Madhu Tai's fans, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has paid heartfelt tribute to Madhu Kambikar, praying that God grant strength to all to bear this loss (sic).". ', . . . , . # #MadhuKambikar— MAHARASHTRA DGIPR (@MahaDGIPR) October 12, 2026Beyond her screen work, Kambikar was widely celebrated for her mastery of Lavani, the traditional Maharashtrian folk dance. Her film credits spanned popular titles such as Shaapit and Raghumainaa among others.Born on July 28, 1953, in Malegaon Khurd in Maharashtra’s Beed district, Kambikar began her artistic journey performing with a travelling tamasha troupe before transitioning to mainstream cinema. Over a four-decade career, she established a versatile legacy across films, folk theatre, commercial stage productions, and television serials.- Ends