I am starting from zero again,” famed Marathi actor Prashant Damle told mid-day during a phone call from Sangli, where he was performing his play Sarkha Kahitari Hotay. Earlier this month, the veteran actor added an unprecedented feather in his cap, when he completed 12,500 performances on stage, in a span of 39 years, across a total of 32 shows. Two of these, Sarkha Kahitari Hotay and Eka Lagnachi Pudhachi Ghoshta, are still running. 

“Achhi cheezein toh hoti rehti hai par aur achhi cheezein hone ke lie, mujhe aur plays karne honge. I am counting this as a zero milestone in my career and beginning afresh,” the 61-year-old laughs.
 
Thunderous claps and a standing ovation greeted Damle when he took the stage at Shanmukhanda hall in Sion for his 12,500th performance, on November 6. In the audience were Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and MNS chief Raj Thackeray. Amitabh Bachchan and Sachin Tendulkar congratulated Damle for the proud achievement on their social media accounts.