Suneel Puranik also known as Sunil Puranik is an Indian film and tele-serial actor, director and producer who predominantly working in the Kannada Film and Television Industry.^[1][2][3][4] He was the President of Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10]}

Suneel was born and brought up in Dharwad.^{[citation needed]} He attended Junior Technical School, Hubli and Karnataka High School, Dharwad, obtained Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from K.H.K Institute, Dharwad and pursued professional training in film making from Adarsha Film Institute.^{[citation needed]} Suneel married Suhasini in 1991 and has two sons Sagar Puranik (born 1992), and Sameer Puranik (born 2000).^{[citation needed]}

Suneel started his career in film industry as an actor in tele-serial. His first project was Venkataswami Pranaya Prasangagalu directed by M. S. Sathyu. Thereafter he assisted V. Somashekhar in directing movie named Ranaranga and Parashuram. Chirasmarane a Kannada TV serial about freedom fighters from Karnataka such as, Mundaragi Bhimarao, Naragunda Babasaheb, Surapura Venkatappa Nayaka, Sangolli Rayanna, Kitturu Chennamma, etc telecasted by Doordarshan was directed by him 1997. In 2010, he made his directorial debuts with film ‘Gurukula’ about the Gurukula, an education system of our ancient India which won Best Children’s Movie Award State Award in 2009-2010. He has held positions in the Kannada Film and Television Industry such as Member, Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, Member, Karnataka Chalanachitra Nirdeshakara Sangha, Member, and Karnataka Chalanachitra Prashasti Samithi. Suneel Puranik was an honorary Member in the Jury of National Film Awards, 2016 and was a member of jury in the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2018.^[11][4]

As Actor

As director

Suneel has been awarded numerous accolades for his work. The most important ones are:

• Kempegowda Award in 2009^[9]
• Karnataka Rajyothsava Award (2009) by Government of Karnataka^[9]
• Aryabhata Award
• Best Children Film Awardee for his directorial film ‘Gurukula’.
• Chitra Rasikara Prashasti for his role in the tele-serial Sangolli Rayanna.
• Act Television award
• Indira Priyadarshini Award
• ‘Communicator of the Year’, Award from Public Relations Counsel of India.