Smita Thackeray

{{Infobox person

| name = Smita Thackeray

| image = Smita Thackeray.jpg

| native_name =

| birth_place = Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

| nationality = Indian

| occupation = Film producer

| years_active = 1997–present

| spouse ={{marriage|Jaidev Thackeray|1986|2004|reason=divorce}}

}}

Smita Thackeray is an Indian social activist and film producer. She is the chairperson and founder of Rahul Productions and Mukkti Foundation. She has worked in the field of Women's Safety, HIV/AIDS awareness and education. She made her motion picture debut in the 1999 Hindi-language comedy film Haseena Maan Jaayegi which was released in June 1999, grossing INR 27 crores worldwide. Since then she went on to work extensively in the Hindi and Marathi film and television industry.{{cite news |title=From receptionist to powerful socialite, Smita Thackeray has come a long way |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/profile/story/19990712-from-receptionist-to-powerful-socialite-smita-thackeray-has-come-a-long-way-824557-1999-11-30 |accessdate=13 April 2019 |work=India Today }}

Early life

Smita Thackeray was born on 17 August 1958{{cite web|url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/photos/339541/ayushmann-khurrana-darshan-kumaar-and-many-celebs-smita-thackeray-s|title=Ayushmann Khurrana, Darshan Kumaar and many celebs at Smita Thackeray's birthday|website=PINKVILLA|accessdate=15 August 2018}} to a middle-class Maharashtrian family in Mumbai. Her parents are Madhukar Chitre and Kunda Chitre. She attended Chhabildas Girl's High School, Dadar. As a child, she was trained in Marathi Classical singing. She completed her Bachelor's in Science (BSc) with Honors from Ruparel College, Mumbai, with Genetics as a major.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

Career

Thackeray first worked at the Centuar Hotel where she handled administrative and managerial tasks for a small stipend.{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/profile/story/19990712-from-receptionist-to-powerful-socialite-smita-thackeray-has-come-a-long-way-824557-1999-11-30|title=From receptionist to powerful socialite, Smita Thackeray has come a long way|date=30 November 1999|work=India Today|accessdate=30 August 2018}} Her interest in fashion translated to NARI boutique.{{Clarify|date=March 2023|reason=Could author have meant "Her interest in fashion [led her to another job at] NARI boutique?" And should "boutique" be capitalized to say "Boutique?"}} She went on to be the founder and chairperson of Mukkti Foundation in 1997. She is the owner of Rahul Productions. She was the President of the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA){{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bombay-times/Smita-Thackeray-has-a-plan-Or-three/articleshow/19586582.cms|title=Smita Thackeray has a plan. Or three|website=The Times of India|accessdate=23 July 2018}} from 2001 to 2003.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/signposts/story/20011217-smita-thackeray-elected-president-of-film-federation-of-india-774865-2001-12-17|title=Smita Thackeray elected president of Film Federation of India|date=17 December 2001|website=India Today|accessdate=24 August 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Smita-Thackeray-re-elected-Impaa-president/articleshow/23492599.cms|title=Smita Thackeray re-elected Impaa president|date=22 September 2002|accessdate=24 August 2018|work=The Times of India}} During her time in IMPPA, she started conversations around piracy and redistribution of media, specifically concerning ethical screening of films and content on television and other media post-release.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Smita-Thackeray-for-strict-action-on-piracy/articleshow/21002818.cms|title=Smita Thackeray for strict action on piracy|website=The Times of India|accessdate=25 July 2018}}

= Philanthropy through Mukkti Foundation =

File:Hon' Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee receives a cheque from Smita Thackeray for drought victims of Rajasthan and Gujarat.jpg

Smita Thackeray's aim in setting up Mukkti Foundation was to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/world-aids-day-lets-spread-the-word-not-the-disease-smita-thackerays-open-letter-4962354/|title='Let's spread the word, not the disease': Smita Thackeray's open letter for World AIDS Day|last1=Thackeray|first1=Smita|date=1 December 2017|website=The Indian Express|accessdate=16 August 2018}} and to abate youth drug abuse. From July 1999 to May 2000, Mukkti raised funds for its various causes through celebrity cricket and football matches. INR 5 lakhs was contributed{{Clarify|date=March 2023|reason=Should this say "raised" or "fundraised?"}} for the Gujarat cyclone relief fund (1998), INR 50 lakhs was contributed for bereaved Indian soldiers of the Kargil War, INR 41 lakhs was contributed for the drought victims of Rajasthan and Gujarat.{{cite news|title=Smita Thackeray presents Cheque for Prime Ministers Relief Fund|date=19 June 2000|work=The Indian Express}}{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19990726-actors-cricketers-play-football-to-raise-fund-for-kargil-martyrs-824476-1999-07-26|title=Actors, cricketers play football to raise fund for Kargil martyrs|work=India Today|accessdate=30 August 2018}} Between 1998 and 2008, Mukkti Foundation hosted its annual AIDS show to celebrate "World AIDS Day," where film stars and other celebrities would make appearances to spread the message of AIDS awareness.File:Smita Thackeray on the Set of the Red Ribbon Show.jpg

The effort to humanize HIV-affected individuals led to a 13-episode television chat show hosted by Sonu Nigam in November 2000. In 2003, three public service announcements{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/lucknow-times/Bollywood-battles-AIDS/articleshow/38110288.cms|title=Bollywood battles AIDS|author1=Afsana Ahmed|date=21 February 2003|work=The Times of India|accessdate=31 August 2018}} were produced starring celebrities such as Amitabh Bachchan, Waheeda Rehman and Akshay Kumar. One-lakh pledges were collected in 2009 to support the cause of AIDS-free living under the campaign "I Pledge" with John Abraham.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/John-joins-anti-AIDS-movement/articleshow/5271523.cms|title=John joins anti-AIDS movement|date=27 November 2009|work=The Times of India|accessdate=31 August 2018|publisher=The Time of India (Entertainment Times)}} In December 2018, Smita Thackeray, along with stars Sunny Leone, Nisha Harale, Rohit Verma headed a "Freedom Parade" in solidarity with the LGBT community.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/mumbai/freedom-parade-on-world-aids-day-witnesses-celebrity-participation/articleshow/66905227.cms|title=Freedom Parade on World AIDS Day witnesses celebrity participation|date=2 December 2018|work=The Times of India}}{{cite web |last1=Bachchan |first1=Amit |title=Education, Empowerment and Environment mark Smita Thackeray's Women's Day Pledge |url=http://www.starworldnews.co/education-empowerment-environment-mark-smita-thackerays-womens-day-pledge/ |website=Star World News |accessdate=13 April 2019 |date=10 March 2019}}

In 2014, Me Mukti Marshals, trained individuals to support Police and RPF{{Clarify|date=March 2023|reason=A link to what org this is might be helpful?}} were deployed in Mumbai trains at night to protect women travelling on local trains.{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/140308/lifestyle-offbeat/article/trained-women-fight-offenders-local-trains|title=Trained women to fight offenders in local trains|date=8 March 2014|work=Deccan Chronicle|accessdate=23 August 2018}}

= Presidency of IMPPA =

Smita Thackeray in 2001 was elected as the first female president of Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association (IMPPA).{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Smita-Thackeray-is-new-IMPPA-president/articleshow/967274543.cms|title=Smita Thackeray is new IMPPA president|date=23 September 2001|accessdate=13 October 2018|work=The Times of India}} At the time, video piracy was a major issue that was killing revenue for producers.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} She facilitated an MOU between film producers and cable TV associations in December 2001 that saved filmmakers INR 1 crore daily - an amount previously lost to producers due to illegal telecasting.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/20020211-bal-thackeray-daughter-in-law-smita-thackeray-helps-filmmakers-save-rs-1-crore-daily-795866-2002-02-11|title=Bal Thackeray's daughter-in-law Smita Thackeray helps filmmakers save Rs 1 crore daily|author=Himanshi Dhawan |date=February 11, 2002 |magazine=India Today|access-date=28 January 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bombay-times/Smita-Thackeray-has-a-plan-Or-three/articleshow/19586582.cms|title=Smita Thackeray has a plan. Or three|author1=Afsana Ahmed|date=19 August 2002|work=The Times of India|accessdate=30 August 2018|author2=Smrity Sharma}} For the first time in the history of IMPPA, a fundraiser was hosted by the association called Ehsaas 2002 to raise funds for medical and education centres for spot boys and light men.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bombay-times/Shaking-a-leg-for-bollywoods-sake/articleshow/8983324.cms|title=Shaking a leg for bollywood's sake|author1=TNN|date=6 May 2002|work=The Times of India|accessdate=30 August 2018}} In 2004, Indian producers were invited to Switzerland by the Swiss consulate to promote film making and as a sign of welcome for Indian cinema workers by the Swiss President, Mr. Joseph Deiss.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/08/20/stories/2004082001910600.htm|title=The Hindu Business Line : More countries wooing Bollywood to lure tourists|website=Business Line|access-date=28 January 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/10/17/stories/2003101700630100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041120123226/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/10/17/stories/2003101700630100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 November 2004|title=Producers' paradise|date=17 October 2003|work=The Hindu|accessdate=30 August 2018}}

Awards and recognitions

Indian Motion Picture Producers Association presented an Appreciation award at the 69th Annual General Meeting on 16 September 2008.{{Cite web|url=https://photogallery.indiatimes.com/events/mumbai/imppa-awards/articleshow/3541233.cms|title=IMPPA Awards|website=The Times of India|access-date=20 February 2019}}{{Clarify|date=March 2023|reason=Should this be in this section? This is an article about an individual.}}
LR Active Oil presented Women's Prerna Award for immense contribution in Social Service and Politics to India Society in 2013.{{cite web|url=https://photogallery.indiatimes.com/awards/awards-and-honours/womens-prerna-awards13/articleshow/19474028.cms|title=Women's Prerna Awards'13|website=The Times of India|accessdate=23 August 2018}}
HEX World presented the News Makers Achievement 2010 for social contribution{{Cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/parties-and-events/smita-thackeray-received-newsmakers-achievers-awards-2010/|title=Smita Thackeray received Newsmakers Achievers Awards 2010 {{!}} Parties & Events – Bollywood Hungama|last=Hungama|first=Bollywood|website=Bollywood Hungama |date=4 May 2010|access-date=20 February 2019}}

Personal life

Smita Thackeray is the daughter of Madhukar Chitre and Kunda Chitre. She has two sisters, named Swati and Sushma. She grew up in a middle-class family in suburban Mumbai. She married Jaidev Thackeray, son of Bal Thackeray, in 1986 and divorced in 2004,{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/defiant-daughter-in-law-adds-to-sena-woes/cid/574808|title=Defiant daughter-in-law adds to Sena woes|website=The Telegraph|location=Kolkota|access-date=20 February 2019}} though she continued to stay in her In-laws home 'Matoshree'.{{citation needed|date=March 2023|reason=....How is this known?}} She has two sons, Rahul Thackeray her eldest and Aaishvary Thackeray her youngest. Rahul and Aishvary, graduated from American School of Bombay. Rahul went on to graduate from Toronto Film School and is currently a Marathi and Hindi film writer/director{{cite news|title=Why it's films for this Thackeray grandson|author1=Deepali S Dhingra|work=The Times of India|issue=Bombay Times}}{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/BT-Exclusive-Smita-Thackerays-son-Rahul-to-direct-biopic-on-Bal-Thackeray-titled-Saheb/articleshow/48501954.cms|title=BT Exclusive: Smita Thackeray's son Rahul to direct biopic on Bal Thackeray titled 'Saheb' |work=The Times of India|accessdate=31 August 2018}} and filmmaker.