Atul Kulkarni was born on September 10, 1965, in Belgaum, Karnataka, India. He completed his secondary education at Haribhai Deokaran High School in Solapur and later graduated in English Literature from D. A. V. College, Solapur. Initially enrolled in an engineering program at the College of Engineering, Pune, he shifted his focus to acting after developing a passion for the performing arts. Kulkarni honed his skills at the National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi, where he met his spouse, Geetanjali Kulkarni, a fellow theater actress. He has received acclaim for his performances, winning the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his roles in "Hey Ram" (2000) and "Chandni Bar" (2002). Beyond acting, he is also known for his work as a producer and screenwriter and serves as the president of Quest, an organization focused on improving educational quality.