Meenakshi Seshadri

Meenakshi Seshadri (born 16 November 1963) is an Indian actress, model and dancer who mainly appeared in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu language films. She won the Eve's Weekly Miss India contest in 1981 at the age of 17.[2][3]

Meenakshi Seshadri
Born
Shasikala Seshadri

(1963-11-16) 16 November 1963[1]
Sindri, Bihar, India
(now in Jharkhand, India)
OccupationFilm actress, dancer
Years active1981–1997
TitleEve's Weekly Miss India 1981 in Japan
Spouse(s)
Harish Mysore
(
m. 1995)
Children2

Seshadri made her film debut in Painter Babu (1983) and received wider public recognition with the film Hero (1983). She became one of Hindi cinema's leading actresses in the 1980s and 1990s, and was acknowledged for several of her performances, her beauty, and her accomplished dancing.[4] She was noted for her performances in films including Hero (1983) Meri Jung (1985), Swati (1986), Dacait (1987), Inaam Dus Hazaar (1987), Shahenshah (1988), Mahaadev (1989), Awaargi (1990), Jurm (1990), Ghayal (1990), Ghar Ho To Aisa (1990), Damini (1993), and Ghatak (1996).[4] She received particular critical acclaim for Swati (1986), Dahleez (1986), Satyamev Jayate (1987), Awaargi (1990), and Damini (1993).[5] She also performed at the Khajuraho Dance Festival in the 1990s.

After the release of her film Ghatak, she left the film industry to raise her children in the United States with her husband, where she runs the Cherish Dance School.A documentary was made about her life, entitled Meenakshi Accept Her Wings.[6][7]

Early life

Seshadri was born as Shashikala Seshadri in a Tamil Brahmin family[8][9][10] in Sindri, Jharkhand.[11][12] She trained in four Indian classical dance forms, Bharata Natyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, and Odissi, under Vempati Chinna Satyam and Jaya Rama Rao. She won the Eve's Weekly Miss India contest in 1981 at the age of 17 and represented India at the Miss International 1981 in Tokyo, Japan.[13][14]

Career

Debut and early success (1983–1985)

Seshadri made her film debut in the flop Painter Babu, a 1983 Telugu/Hindi bilingual film opposite Rajiv Goswami, the brother of Manoj Kumar. After the flop Seshadri wanted to quit acting, but was encouraged to continue by Subhash Ghai, who cast her as his leading lady alongside another newcomer, Jackie Shroff, in Hero. The film was a blockbuster and Seshadri became an overnight star.[15] Immediately after the success of Hero, she got an offer to star with superstar Rajesh Khanna.She appeared with Khanna in Awara Baap in a double role, but the film underperformed. She then appeared in several commercially unsuccessful films, including Love Marriage, Paisa Ye Paisa, and Lover Boy. Her next film, Bewafai, was again with Khanna, with Rajinikanth in an antagonist role. It was one of the highest-grossing films of 1985. This gave her a major foothold in the industry. Some of her films were moderately successful, namely Swati, Mera Jawab, and Aandhi Toofan. She then appeared in the film Hoshiyar alongside Jeetendra.Subhash Ghai again cast her alongside Anil Kapoor in his next film, Meri Jung, which was one of the highest-grossing films of the year. In the same year she acted with Rajinikanth in Mahaguru (1985 film) as his heroine. Meenaakshi did a special appearance song with Rajnikant in a Telugu movie Jeevana Poratam1986

Established actress (1986–1989)

Seshadri appeared in many critically acclaimed films in 1986. In Swati, a woman-centric art house film, she performed the title role in an ensemble cast. The film gained immense critical acclaim and critics said, "Meenakshi Seshadri has acted in Swati the way Amitabh Bachchan acts in his films.That same year she appeared in B. R. Chopra films alongside Jackie Shroff' and Raj Babbar in the romantic drama Dahleez, which dealt with the taboo topic of infidelity but underperformed at the box office. Her other releases that year, such as Dilwaala and Allah Rakha, were average performers at the box office.In 1987, she appeared in the hit film Inaam Dus Hazaar alongside Sanjay Dutt.She also appeared in Dacait, an action drama alongside Sunny Deol; it was a commercial failure. In 1988, she appeared in Yash Chopra's Vijay. In 1988, she appeared in Shahenshah alongside Amitabh Bachchan.The film was heavily hyped.[4][16] After the great success of Shahenshah, Seshadri teamed up with Bachchan for the films Toofan, Akayla, and Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswati, but all three were flops. In 1989, she was directed by Dev Anand in the film Sachché Ká Bol-Bálá In 1989, she made her Tamil film debut with En Rathathin Rathame, a remake of the Hindi film Mr. India, opposite K.Bhagyaraj, which bombed at the box office. In 1989, she appeared in the family drama Bade Ghar Ki Betiin the title role, and the family drama Gharana these were moderate successes.[4]

She worked with fellow dancer Mithun Chakraborthy in Aandhi Toofan, Main Balwan, Dilwaala, Parivaar, Bees Saal Baad, Pyar Ka Karz, and Shandaar Her best and most successful pairing, as well as best on-screen her chemistry, is regarded to be with Anil Kapoor. Her pairings with Shroff, Rishi Kapoor, Sunny Deol, and Vinod Khanna are often also praised by the media.[4][17] Her successful films with Anil Kapoor include Aag Se Khelenge, Meri Jung, Awaargi and Ghar Ho Toh Aisa, but others, such as Love Marriage, Amba, Joshilaay, Vijay, and Humlaa were box office duds. In Vijay she has a hot kissing scene with Anil Kapoor in a Fiat car and in Inteqam she tied a Rakhi to Anil Kapoor; the scene was also filmed in a Fiat. She would have acted with Anil Kapoor in more than nine films, but some planned films were never completed. Prakash Mehra announced Dhan Dhahej, starring Anil Kapoor and Seshadri, and in 1988 Sanjay Khan announced the movie Sarzameen with Anil Kapoor, Seshadri, and Vinod Khanna. That same year, Ramesh Sippy announced Aalishaan with Amitabh Bachchan and Seshadri.

Commercial success (1990–1996)

In 1990, Seshadri appeared in two films by Mahesh Bhatt, the first being Awaargi, an art house film. Many critics call this her best performance.[18] The second film was Jurm, released in the same year. The film was a critical and commercial success. Her role of a wife who has to face her problems after her husband gets involved with another woman gained immense critical praise. She received her first Filmfare Award nomination for best actress for her role in the film. She also appeared in the film Ghar Ho To Aisa opposite Anil Kapoor; the film was a hit and Seshadri was noted for her comedic timing.[5] She then appeared in Ghayal alongside Sunny Deol. This film started her long association with Rajkumar Santoshi.Ghayal was the highest-grossing film of the 1990s. In 1991, she appeared opposite Amitabh Bachchan in Akayla, directed by Ramesh Sippy; despite being well-promoted, the film flopped at the box office. Her on-screen pairing with Vinod Khanna was widely appreciated, and the pair starred in such successful films as Satyamev Jayate, Mahaadev, Jurm, Humshakal, and Police Aur Mujrim. She acted in the successful family drama Ghar Parivar in 1991, with Rajesh Khanna and Rishi Kapoor as her co-stars.

Seshadri made her Telugu film debut with Brahmarishi Vishwamitra in 1991. In 1992, she appeared in the Telugu film Aapadbandhavudu opposite Chiranjeevi. In 1992 her film Aaj Ka Goonda Raaj opposite Chiranjeevi was a hit. In 1993, she appeared in the film Damini – Lightning. Directed by filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi, it also starred Rishi Kapoor, Sunny Deol, Amrish Puri, Tinnu Anand, and Paresh Rawal. The film depicted the sensitive subject of injustice towards a rape victim. She won many accolades for her performance in the film. Damini received a number of awards, including a National Film Award and a Filmfare Award nomination.[4] Damini is regarded as Seshadri's career-defining role.[19] She performed a Tandav dance in the film, choreographed by Ravindra Atibudhi.

Seshadri played the female lead in the 1996 film Ghatak: Lethal opposite Sunny Deol, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. It was one of the highest-grossing films of 1996. This was her last film. After this film, she married and moved to the United States.[6][7]

  1. "Happy Birthday Meenakshi Sheshadri! The grace of the 80's!". The Free Press Journal. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  2. "Actress missing from Action – Meenakshi Seshadri". Zee News. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  3. "Miss India and their Bollywood breaks". Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  4. Boxofficeindia.com. "Top Actress". Archived from the original on 17 October 2013.
  5. "BoxOffice India.com". BoxOffice India.com. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
  6. "Box Office 1996". Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  7. "The Miraculous Meenakshi | Lights Camera Action | Houston fSouth Asian Lifestyle Society News". lcahouston.com. 30 December 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  8. "Second Coming". The Hindu. 16 July 2005 – via www.thehindu.com.
  9. "YouTube". www.youtube.com.
  10. "Daily Bhaskar: Bollywood's 'Damini' Meenakshi Seshadri turns 51". Daily Bhaskar. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  11. "Bollywood actress Meenakshi turns 48". Awaztoday.com. 16 November 1959. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  12. "Meenakshi Seshadri | Meenakshi Seshadri news | Meenakshi Seshadri movies | Meenakshi Seshadri pics | photos | images | Meenakshi Seshadri hits | Full movies | Meenakshi Seshadri hot pics". TollywoodTimes. 16 November 1959. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  13. Kothari, Sunil; Avinash Pasricha (2001). Kuchipudi. Abhinav Publications. p. 203. ISBN 8170173590.
  14. Mandhir Saikia and Avani Saxena (22 September 1999). "Meenakshi magic". Express. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  15. "Actors who inspire: Take a cue from their careers!". Rediff.
  16. "Boxoffice Operation : Shahenshah (1988) « Bollybusiness : Bollywood boxoffice". 18 March 2010. Archived from the original on 2 April 2010.
  17. "Top Grosser of 1990". Boxoffice India. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  18. "Awaargi – Film Review". Planet Bollywood. Archived from the original on 30 August 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
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