Nikhil Wagle Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography, Religion, Net Worth, and more

Nikhil Wagle is a well-known journalist, editor, TV anchor, political analyst, and author from Maharashtra. He is the founder and former editor of Mahanagar, a Marathi and Hindi newspaper that was known for its bold and critical reporting of the political and social issues in the state. He has also worked as the editor-in-chief of IBN Lokmat, a Marathi news channel, and Maharashtra 1, another Marathi news channel. He is currently hosting a talk show called “Sadetod” on TV9 Marathi news channel. He is also a prolific writer and has published more than 80 books in Marathi and Hindi.
Nikhil Wagle Wiki/Bio, Religion
Name | Nikhil Wagle |
---|---|
Born | 23 April 1959 |
Birthplace | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
Nationality | Indian |
Caste | Marathi |
Religion | Atheist |
Occupation | Journalist, editor, TV anchor, political analyst, author |
Spouse | Meena Karnik |
Children | 2 |
Education | Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College |
Awards | Sanskriti Award, Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, RedInk Award, Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year Award |
Notable works | Mahanagar, Aajcha Sawal, Aamne Samne, Sadetod, Mahanagarachi Diary |
Links | Youtube- @nikhilwagleoriginal Twitter- @waglenikhil Facebook- @waglenikhil23 Homepage- Newsunzip |
Biography

Nikhil Wagle was born on 23 April 1959 (age: 64 years, as of 2023) in Mumbai, India. He grew up in a middle-class family and developed an interest in journalism and politics at a young age. He completed his schooling at IES King George School in Dadar and his graduation from Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College in Matunga, both in Mumbai. He started his media career in 1977 as a freelance reporter for various publications.
He later joined Dinank, a Marathi newsweekly, in Mumbai. In 1979, when the editor of Dinank resigned, the publisher asked 19-year-old Wagle to become the managing editor. He later became the editor-in-chief of Dinank. He also started his own publishing house and launched several magazines in Marathi, Hindi, and Gujarati, covering topics such as sports, films, literature, and culture.
प्रिय मित्र- मैत्रिणीनो, भावांनो-बहिणींनो,
— nikhil wagle (@waglenikhil) February 10, 2024
काल मृत्यू दारात उभा राहिला होता. केवळ तुमच्या प्रेमामुळे वाचलो.
मला इजा होऊ नये म्हणून काचांचे तुकडे रुतले तरी मागे न हटणारा असीम सरोदे.,जीवाची बाजी लावून आमची गाडी हाकणारा आमचा सारथी वैभव, पुढच्या सीटवर बसून हल्ला अंगावर घेणारी ॲड…
Mahanagar: The Newspaper that Challenged the Establishment
In 1990, Nikhil Wagle established Mahanagar, a Marathi and Hindi newspaper that aimed to give voice to the common people and expose the corruption and misdeeds of the powerful. Mahanagar soon became a popular and influential newspaper in Maharashtra, especially among the urban and educated readers. He also served as the editor of the Marathi version of the newspaper (Aapla Mahanagar).
He became a noted critic of the political party Shiv Sena and its chief Bal Thackeray, who ruled the state for most of the 1990s. He also exposed the nexus between the politicians, the police, and the underworld in Mumbai. He also wrote extensively on the issues of communalism, casteism, human rights, and social justice.
Wagle’s fearless journalism earned him many admirers as well as enemies. His office was attacked by the Shiv Sena supporters multiple times, beginning in 1991. In 1994, he criticized the Maharashtra legislators for paying fawning tributes to a deceased MLA accused of having criminal connections. When he refused to apologize to the legislators for the critical comments, he was imprisoned for a week.
In August 2004, the Shiv Sena supporters beat him up and blackened his face with engine oil for being critical of the party leader Narayan Rane (who later joined Indian National Congress). Wagle also faced several defamation cases and death threats for his reporting. He never backed down from his journalistic principles and continued to speak truth to power.

TV Career: A Popular and Influential Anchor
Nikhil Wagle started anchoring in 1989. After doing shows for Doordarshan, he turned a socio-political commentator and worked in various private channels. He was also the anchor of the talk show Amne Samne. In mid-2000s, He joined the Network 18 group. He became the editor-in-chief of IBN Lokmat, a Marathi news channel. He hosted the show Aajcha Sawal, a daily debate show on current affairs. He resigned in July 2014. He received the Sanskriti Award as a member of the IBN-Lokmat editorial team.
Soon after leaving IBN-Lokmat, Wagle joined Maharashtra 1 news channel as the editor-in-chief. Many of his co-workers left the network with him to join Maharashtra 1 news channel. He carried his Marathi talk show Aajcha Sawal to Maharashtra 1. In November 2016, he resigned from Maharashtra 1. From 1 May 2017, He started a talk show “Sadetod” on TV9 Marathi news channel. The news channel dropped the show abruptly on July 20, 2017, as tweeted and confirmed by Wagle.
Nikhil Wagle is known for his sharp and incisive questioning of the guests on his shows. He is also known for his witty and humorous style of anchoring. He has interviewed many prominent personalities from various fields, such as politics, cinema, sports, literature, and social activism. He has also covered many important events and stories, such as the 1992-93 Mumbai riots, the 1993 Mumbai blasts, the 2002 Gujarat riots, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, and the 2019 Maharashtra political crisis.

BJP Workers Throw Ink, Eggs, Stones at Journalist Nikhil Wagle’s Car for His Remarks on Modi, Advani
Pune: In a shocking incident of violence and intolerance, a group of BJP workers attacked and damaged the car of senior journalist Nikhil Wagle in Pune on Friday evening. He is known for his fearless and outspoken journalism, was on his way to attend a public meeting on free speech organized by Rashtra Seva Dal, a left-wing cultural and social organization.
According to eyewitnesses, the BJP workers surrounded Wagle’s car at Khandoji Baba Chowk and threw ink, eggs, and stones at it, breaking the windscreen and side panes. They also shouted slogans against Nikhil and accused him of making defamatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and veteran leader L K Advani. He was accompanied by human rights activist Asim Sarode, who was also targeted by the mob.
Nikhil Wagle and Sarode managed to escape unhurt and reached the venue of the meeting, where they addressed the gathering and condemned the attack. He said that he had not said anything derogatory about Modi or Advani, but had only expressed his opinion on their political careers. He said that he had the right to criticise any leader or party in a democracy, and that the BJP workers had no right to take the law into their hands. He also blamed the Pune police for their inaction and alleged that they had failed to protect him despite knowing about the threat from the BJP.
The Pune police, however, claimed that they had tried to persuade Wagle to avoid coming to Pune as they had received information about the possible disruption of the meeting by the BJP. They also said that they had detained 20 BJP workers for the attack and registered a case against them.
The attack on Wagle’s car sparked outrage and condemnation from various quarters, including the opposition parties, media organisations, civil society groups, and celebrities. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who belongs to the NCP, said that the attack was against the culture of Maharashtra and that the government would not tolerate such goondaism. He also instructed the Pune police commissioner to take strict action against the culprits. NCP MLA Rohit Pawar, who is the grandnephew of Sharad Pawar, also visited the spot and expressed his solidarity with Nikhil .
The Congress, the Shiv Sena, and the AAP also slammed the BJP for the attack and demanded action against the perpetrators. They said that the attack was an assault on the freedom of expression and the fourth pillar of democracy. They also accused the BJP of being intolerant of dissent and criticism, and of trying to stifle the voices of the people.
The BJP, on the other hand, defended the action of its workers and said that they were provoked by Wagle’s objectionable comments on Modi and Advani. BJP spokesperson Sandeep Khardekar said that he had stooped very low and had insulted the two leaders, who are respected by millions of Indians. He said that Nikhil had no right to make such baseless and malicious allegations, and that the BJP workers had only expressed their anger and resentment. He also said that the BJP was not against the meeting or the speakers, but only against his comments.
Nikhil Wagle is the founder and former editor of Mahanagar, a Marathi and Hindi newspaper, and a veteran of the TV media, has been a vocal critic of the BJP and its policies. He has also faced several threats and attacks in the past for his views on various issues, such as religion, superstition, and corruption. He is an atheist and a rationalist, and has supported the anti-superstition movement led by Narendra Dabholkar. He is also an author of several books, including Mahanagarachi Diary, a collection of his articles and editorials.
The attack on Wagle’s car is the latest in a series of incidents of violence and intimidation against journalists and media persons in India, which has raised serious concerns about the safety and security of the press and the freedom of expression in the country. According to the Reporters Without Borders, India ranks 142nd out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index 2023, and is one of the most dangerous countries for journalists.
Wife, Marriage, Kids

Nikhil Wagle is married to Meena Karnik, who is also a journalist and media cell convener of Aam Aadmi Party. They have two children, a son and a daughter. He is an atheist and a rationalist. He is also a voracious reader and a music lover. He likes to listen to classical, folk, and ghazal music. He is also fond of cricket and chess. He is active on social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, where he shares his views and opinions on various issues.
Height, Weight
- Height: 5 feet 7 inches
- Weight: 78 kg
- Eye color: Black
Net Worth
Year | Net Worth in INR |
---|---|
2021 | 5.9 crore |
2022 | 6.4 crore |
2023 | 7.2 crore |
Nikhil Wagle is one of the most respected and influential journalists in Maharashtra and India. He has made a mark in both print and electronic media with his fearless and honest reporting. He has also contributed to the Marathi literature and culture with his books and magazines. He is a voice of reason and dissent in the times of intolerance and propaganda. He is an inspiration for many aspiring journalists and activists who want to make a difference in the society.