Kulkarni was born on 10 September 1965 in Belagavi, Karnataka, India. He completed his secondary education from Haribhai Deokaran High School, Solapur, Maharashtra. He completed his Junior College from Belgaum and completed his graduation in English literature at D. A. V. College, Solapur. He is married to theater Actress Geetanjali Kulkarni, whom he met at National School of Drama.