Happy Birthday to Amol Palekar, Indian film actor and director, born on November 24, 1944, in Mumbai. Amol began his career in experimental theater. In 1971, he made his debut in ’Rajnigandha’ and ‘Chhoti Si Baat’. Amol was known for playing the middle-class everyman in films throughout the 1970’s. In 1979, he won a Filmfare Award for Best Actor in the comedy ‘Gol Maal’ playing a man looking for a better paying job. Amol made Marathi, Bengali, Malyalam and Kannada films too.  In 1986, Amol decided to retire from acting and concentrate on filmmaking. His most well-known film as a director is “Paheli” starring Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji. He also directed National Award-winning films like ‘Dhyaas Parva’ and ‘Quest’. Amol was recently appointed to the 17-member jury which selects India’s official entry in the best foreign category of the 88th Academy Awards.