Pune:Mallikarjun Mandar Karlekar has been awarded a scholarship by the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) of the Government of India for special training in Kathak dance. Mallikarjun has been learning Kathak for the past eight years under the guidance of Guru Mrs. Aastha Karlekar. 

He has performed at various festivals held in places like Srikalahasti (Andhra Pradesh), Parner, Indore, Hyderabad, and Pune. He received the 'Brilliant Kathak Dancer' award at the solo Kathak dance competition organized by Tamil Sangam Pune in 2024. Additionally, he secured the second position in the Kathak dance competition organized by Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth,last year. Mallikarjun is currently studying in the eighth grade at New English Medium School (Shaniwar Peth, Pune).