Nilu Phule was born into the Marathi-speaking Phule family in 1930.
He began his acting career in a Marathi folk play, "Katha Aklechya Kandyachi", before transitioning to numerous Marathi films, starting with "Ek Gaav Baara Bhanagadi" in 1956. Throughout his film career, Nilu predominantly portrayed cunning and villainous characters with a distinctive "Gandhi" look, which earned him a reputation for being intimidating, particularly among women.
He went on to appear in various Bollywood films, including "Saransh" and "Sau Din Saas Ke", accumulating over 130 film appearances throughout his career.
In his free time, Nilu enjoyed watching movies and dramas, reading, engaging in social work, gardening, and volunteering with the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti.
A devout follower of Socialist Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, Nilu was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, which had spread to other parts of his body. He was hospitalized in Pune on July 5, 2009, after suffering a paralytic attack that had a significant impact on the left side of his body.
Sadly, Nilu passed away on July 12, 2009. He leaves behind his wife and daughter, Gargi.
