A recognized television and movie actor, Neena Kulkarni started her acting career with Marathi and Hindi theatre in the `70s. Born and brought up in Mumbai, Neena studied at the Canossa Convent School in Mahim, following which she graduated from Elphinstone College. When she first met Pt. Satyadev Dubey, who she considers to be her first guru, he introduced her to the world of Hindi theatre, which is when she began with an experimental stage. Soon, she met Vijaya Mehta in 1978, who cast her to play the role of Shabbo in Anil Barve`s Hamidabaichi Kothi, hence opening the doors of Marathi theatre for her.

She then made her foray into the film industry in 1987 with a rather insignificant role in the movie Mirch Masala, after which she was seen in Hach Sunbaicha Bhau in 1992. She appeared in a number of Marathi movies before making her Hindi film debut in 1996 with Darya. Some of her most prominent work was seen in movies like Savat Maazhi Laadki, which won her the State Award for Best Actress, Aai, Uttarayan, Sarivar Sari, and Bioscope. She also produced the movie Shevri, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi.

Actively a part of television, she has shows like Kammal, Kayamath, Raja Shivchhatrapati, Lajja, and Yeh Hai Mohabbatein. Meanwhile, she has also featured in a number of TVCs for brands such as Cadbury, Parachute, Surf, PayTm, Mother Dairy, and Maggi Masala. Her other movie assignments include Guru, Bhoothnath, Gho Mala Asla Hawa, Anumati, Hasee Toh Phasee, Hunterrr, Ghayal Once Again, and Mogra Phulaalaa.