Mrs. Aastha Godbole Karlekar assumed charge as the Director of the South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC), Nagpur, on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. SCZCC, functioning under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, is one of seven regional cultural centers in the country and oversees six states. Assistant Director Mr. Deepak Kulkarni welcomed Karlekar with a bouquet. On the occasion, she addressed the center’s officials and staff.
Mrs. Aastha Godbole Karlekar, is a renowned Kathak dancer and theater artist. Trained in Kathak by her mother, Mrs. Savita Godbole, a prominent dancer of the Lucknow gharana, she brings a wealth of artistic expertise. Karlekar holds a Diploma in Theatre Arts from the School of Drama, Goa Kala Academy, an M.A. in Sanskrit Literature from Devi Ahilya University, and an M.A. in Kathak from Raja Mansingh Tomar University, Gwalior.
Mrs. Aastha Godbole Karlekar has received a 10-year Junior Scholarship from CCRT, Senior Scholarships in Theatre Arts and Kathak, and a Junior Fellowship in Kathak. She is fluent in multiple Indian and foreign languages, including English, French, and Russian.
Mrs. Aastha Godbole Karlekar previously worked at the Indian Culture Centre in Tashkent and is now the Director of Layshala Lalit Kala Foundation. She is an ICCR-empaneled and Doordarshan-graded artist who has performed worldwide, conducted workshops, and directed plays and dance dramas.