Akshay Bardapurkar

Akshay Bardapurkar
Born
Akshay Vilas Bardapurkar

(1980-05-18) May 18, 1980
Aurangabad district, Maharashtra
EducationMumbai University
Occupation(s)Producer, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
Years active2007-till date
Organization(s)Planet Marathi and Planet Marathi OTT
Notable workSee list

Akshay Vilas Bardapurkar (born 18 May 1980) popularly known as Akshay Bardapurkar is an Indian film producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is the founder and CEO of Planet Marathi Group, a Mumbai‑based entertainment network encompassing film production, OTT platforms, celebrity management, and regional-language expansion initiatives.

Early life and education

Akshay Bardapurkar was born on 18 May 1980 in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. He is a graduate from Mumbai University and a diploma in Brand Management.[1][2]

Career

Early career

Bardapurkar began his venture into media and events around 2007 by organizing corporate events, weddings, awards, and shows featuring global artists like Bryan Adams and Backstreet Boys. Alongside, he founded an early celebrity management and brand-imaging firm.[1]

He served as chief coordinator for the Marathi film Rege (2014), which achieved international critical acclaim.[1]

Planet Marathi Group

In May 2017, Bardapurkar launched Planet Marathi, initially as a Twitter‑based digital platform promoting Marathi arts, culture, and entertainment. Soon after, the company expanded into brand and celebrity management through Planet Talent, and later into film production.[3][4]

Regional expansions

In 2021, Bardapurkar launched Planet Marathi OTT, India's first dedicated Marathi streaming service. The platform debuted with Madhuri Dixit Nene as its launch ambassador.[5][6]

As of January 2024, the platform had over one million users, more than 550,000 app installs, and over 24 million video views.[7]

In July 2024, Planet Marathi OTT secured US $5 million in Series A funding from USA‑based A & MA Capital USA.[8][9]

Expanding beyond Marathi, Bardapurkar announced new platforms Planet Bharat, covering multiple Indian regional languages, and Planet Goem, targeting Konkani audiences.[10][11]

Other ventures

On International Women’s Day (March 8, 2025), Bardapurkar announced Plaanet Stree, India’s first OTT platform exclusively for women—by women, of women, and for women—launched on May 1, 2025 (Maharashtra Day).[12][13][14]

Controversies

In March 2025, Bardapurkar was summoned under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act due to complaints over dishonoured cheques totaling approximately ₹2.11 crore.[15][16]

In April 2025, VerSe Innovations initiated personal insolvency proceedings under India’s Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code for alleged default on ₹5.5 crore funding guarantee for an unreleased film Raav Saheb.[17][18]

Filmography

Films

Web series

Awards and honours

  • Featured in Forbes India Magazine (2017)[24]

References

  1. ^ a b c "About – Akshay Bardapurkar". Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  2. ^ "Marathi Producer Akshay Bardapurkar Biography, News, Photos, Videos". nettv4u. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  3. ^ jain, vanshika (2021-04-05). "Here's How Akshay Bardapurkar is Transforming Marathi Entertainment – For The Better". Vogue India. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  4. ^ "Planet Marathi". Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  5. ^ Suri, Ridhi (2021-08-31). "Madhuri Dixit launches 'Planet Marathi' OTT platform". India TV News. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  6. ^ "Dedication of Planet Marathi OTT by Madhuri Dixit akp 94 | माधुरी दीक्षितच्या हस्ते 'प्लॅनेट मराठी ओटीटी' लोकार्पण". Loksatta (in Marathi). 2021-09-19. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  7. ^ Jha, Lata (2022-09-04). "Marathi OTT platform Planet Marathi records 500% increase in subscriber base". Livemint.
  8. ^ Jha, Lata (2024-07-11). "Planet Marathi OTT secures $5 million investment from private equity firm A & MA Capital | Mint". mint. Archived from the original on 2024-07-27. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  9. ^ Staff, Entrepreneur (2024-07-12). "Planet Marathi OTT Secures USD 5 Mn Investment from A & MA Capital USA". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  10. ^ Jha, Lata (2023-04-25). "Planet Marathi Group to launch news vertical". mint. Archived from the original on 2023-05-02. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  11. ^ "Goa CM, Pramod Sawant launches an exclusive Konkani content OTT platform, Planet Goem". The Times of India. 2022-10-10. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  12. ^ Harrison (2025-03-08). "अक्षय बर्दापुरकर ने भारत के पहले महिला-केंद्रित OTT प्लेटफॉर्म की घोषणा की". jantaserishta.com (in Hindi). Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  13. ^ "Akshay Bardapurkar announces Plaanet Stree: India's first women-centric OTT platform, launching May 1". Asianet Newsable. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  14. ^ www.ETBrandEquity.com. "Plaanet Marathi's Akshay Bardapurkar launches Plaanet Stree - ET BrandEquity". ETBrandEquity.com. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  15. ^ www.ETLegalWorld.com. "Mumbai Judge issues summons to Planet Marathi founder Akshay Bardapurkar over alleged cheque dispute - ET LegalWorld". ETLegalWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  16. ^ www.ETLegalWorld.com. "Aayush and Mausam Shah take legal action against Akshay Bardapurkar over dishonoured cheques; Akshay Bardapurkar responds - ET LegalWorld". ETLegalWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  17. ^ "Planet Marathi's 'Raavsaheb' in NFDC's global film market". The Times of India. 2021-11-01. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  18. ^ "मराठीतील पहिला OTT प्लॅटफॉर्म बंद होणार? अक्षय बर्दापूरकरांवर दिवाळखोरीची कारवाई". news18marathi.com (in Marathi). 2025-04-12. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  19. ^ "Sonalee Kulkarni's Mogalmardini Chhatrapati Tararani To Release On March 22". News18. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  20. ^ Basu, Arindam; Samanta, Satyajit; Sur, Souvik; Roy, Aadrita (2023-07-17). Digital is the New Mainstream. Penprints Publication. pp. 213–214. ISBN 978-81-959158-7-3.
  21. ^ Marwaha, Aastika (2020-05-20). "Meet Akshay Bardapurkar, the man bringing regional cinema to your doorstep". GQ India. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  22. ^ "First big banner Marathi film Chandramukhi starts shooting". KalingaTV. 2020-11-09. Archived from the original on 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  23. ^ "Amitabh Bachchan makes Marathi debut with AB Aani CD, first poster out". Hindustan Times. 2019-09-05. Archived from the original on 2024-11-30. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  24. ^ Khan, Murtaza Ali (2020-06-21). "Working With Stalwarts Like Big B And Vikram Gokhale Was Like Being In An Institution Of Great Talent: 'AB Aani CD' Producer Akshay Bardapurkar — Transcontinental Times". Retrieved 2025-07-06.
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