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Varsha Usgaonkar
Varsha Usgaonkar (born 28 February 1968)[1] is an Indian actress, model, singer and television personality. she was popularly known by the epithets Wonder Girl in Maharashtra. She has appeared in over 100 Marathi and Hindi films. She is regarded as one of the most finest, accomplished and influential actresses of Marathi Cinema. Noted by critics for her beauty, dancing skills, and strong characters that played by her on screen. She received three Maharashtra State Film Award.[2] Early lifeVarsha Usgaonkar was born in Usgao, Goa, India, on 28 February 1968, to politician A. K. S. Usgaonkar and Manikabai Usgaonkar.[3] Konkani is her native language. Her father served as a Cabinet Minister in Goa, while her mother was a classical singer. Under the tutelage of Pandit Sudhakar Karandikar, she honed her skills in classical music. She pursued her B.Com degree in Goa and actively engaged in theatrical productions during her academic years.[4] CareerUsgaonkar first shot to fame in 1982 as the lead heroine in the super-hit Marathi stage play Brahmachari. Subsequently, she quickly rose to become one of the top actresses in the Marathi film industry with super-hit productions such as Gammat Jammat,[5] Hamaal De Dhamaal, Saglikade Bombabomb, Savat Mazi Ladki, Shejari Shejari, Ek Hota Vidushak, Lapandav and Aflatoon. She starred as a lead actress in the Bollywood films, Ghar Aaya Mera Pardesi and Pathreela Raasta. In 2005, she appeared in the Bollywood films Mangal Pandey: The Rising and Mr Ya Miss as a supporting actress. In the Faisal Saif-directed controversial Hindi feature film, Jigyaasa, she played the role of a "mother" to Hrishitaa Bhatt. Usgaonkar started her television career in 1988 playing the role of Uttara, wife of Abhimanyu and mother of Parikshit, (the future of the Bharat Dynasty TV serial Mahabharata).[6] The role led her to many Hindi movie offers and most of them failed to create box office success. She also played "Roopmati" (Snake Queen) in the 1994 TV serial Chandrakanta. She has appeared in the Marathi shows Aakash Zep and Eka Mekansathi and has acted in the Hindi television serials Alvida Darling,[7] Tanha and Anhonee. One of her most prominent performances was on the TV serial Jhansi Ki Rani in the 1990s on Doordarshan, where she played the lead character of Rani Lakshmibai. Usgaonkar is also a singer and has sung in a Konkani music album Roop Tujem Laita Pixem, with Ulhas Buyao.[8] She is currently playing the supporting role of Nandini Yashwant Shirke-Patil in Star Pravah's popular serial Sukh Mhanje Nakki Kay Asta. In 2024, she competed on Bigg Boss Marathi 5, whereby she was evicted in the Final Week in a mid-week eviction, finishing in 7th place. Personal life Usgaonkar is a Konkani speaker born and raised in Goa.[9][10] She is the daughter of Goa's former deputy speaker, A. K. S. Usgaonkar. She has two sisters, Tosha Kurade and Manisha Tarcar.[11] Usgaonkar dated Nitish Bharadwaj in the late 1980s, and broke up in 1991.[12] She married Ajay Sharma, son of Indian film music director, Ravi Shankar Sharma in March 2000.[13] FilmographyFilms
Television
Accolades
See alsoReferences
External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Varsha Usgaonkar. |
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