Sachin Pilgaonkar started his film career as a child artist in the Marathi film, Ha maza marg ekla (This is my own singular path) (1962) at the age of four. He won the National Film Award for the same. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan handed him the award. As a child actor he first appeared in Dharmendra-Meena Kumari starrer very emotional film 'Majhli Didi' directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, and also appeared in prominent films such as Jewel Thief, Template:Chanda Aur Bijli, Brahmachari (Hindi film) and Mela (1971 film). As a child artiste, his best buddy was Junior Mehmood, with whom he first did the Shammi Kapoor-starrer Brahmachari as nine-year old kids, and have done 15 films together as child artists. He switched to playing lead roles for a brief time with Rajshri Productions' Geet Gaata Chal.[4] In this he paired with Sarika and the films unexpected success made them a lead pair for other films. Some of his roles as the lead were Balika Badhu (1976), College Girl, and Rajshri Productions Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se and Nadiya Ke Paar with Sadhana Singh.