Varsha Usgaonkar
Varsha Usgaonkar (born 28 February 1968[1]), is an Indian actress, model and singer from Goa. She has worked in various Marathi as well as Bollywood movies as a leading actress. During the 1990s, she was the most popular actress in Marathi cinema.[2]
Varsha Usgaonkar | |
|---|---|
 Usgaonkar in March 2015 | |
| Born | 28 February 1968 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Spouse |
Ajay Shankar Sharma
(m. 2000) |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives | Manisha Usgaonkar Tosha Usgaonkar (Siblings) Ravi Shankar Sharma (father-in-law) |
Career
Usgaonkar first shot to fame in 1984 as the lead heroine in the super-hit Marathi stage play Brahmachari. Subsequently, she quickly rose to one of the top actresses in the Marathi film industry with super-hit productions such as Gammat Jammat,[3] Hamal De Dhamal, Saglikade Bombabomb, Sawat Majhi Ladki, Shejari Shejari, Ek Hota Vidushak, Lapandav and Aflatoon. She starred as a lead actress in 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).[4] The role led her to many Hindi movie offers and most of them failed to create a 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,[5] 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.[6] She is currently playing the supporting role of Nandini Yashwant Shirke-Patil in Star Pravah's popular serial Sukh Mhanje Nakki Kay Asta.
Personal life
Usgaonkar is a Konkani speaker born and raised in Goa.[7][8] She is the daughter of Goa's former deputy speaker, A. K. S. Usgaonkar. She has two sisters, Tosha Kurade and Manisha Tarcar.
Usgaonkar married Ajay Sharma, son of Indian film music director, Ravi Shankar Sharma in March 2000.[10]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Medium | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | "Sher Shivraj" | Badi Begum | |
| 2020–present | Sukh Mhanje Nakki Kay Asta! | Television series | Nandini Yashwant Shirke-Patil (Maisaheb) |
| 2019 | Benddkar (Konkani)[11] | ||
| 2018 | Janvoy No.1 (Konkani) | ||
| 2017 | Jamai Raja | Kritika Khurana[12] | |
| 2016 | Ardhangini Ek Ardhsatya | ||
| Kangana (Rajasthani) | |||
| 2014 | Super Nani | Film | |
| 2013 | Duniyadari (Marathi) | Rani Maa | |
| 2011 | Arjun | ||
| 2010 | Naam | ||
| 2009 | Man Udhan Varyache (Marathi) | Nikhil's Mother | |
| 2006 | Jigyaasa | Teacher Malini Mathur | |
| 2005 | Mr Ya Miss |
Devi Parvati | |
| 2005 | The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey | Rani Laxmibai | |
| 2004 | Hatya: The Murder | Kavita Jaiswal | |
| 2001 | Style | Police Inspector | |
| 2001 | Vishnu Puran | Television series | Mohini |
| 1999 | Sei To Abar Kache Ele (Bengali) | Film | |
| 1999 | Chehraa | ||
| 1999 | Ladhaai (Marathi) | Sunita Nadkarni | |
| 1999 | Rang Premacha (Marathi) | - | |
| 1998 | Hastee Hastee | Television series | |
| 1997 | Ghar Jamai (Tvseries) Zee Tv | Miss Chamcham (Special Appearance Only episode no 20) | |
| 1996 | Muqadama | Seema | |
| 1996 | Shohrat | ||
| 1995 | Aahat (Tvseries) Season 1 (1995-2001)Sony Entertainment Television | Episode286-The Mud (1 Episode only) | |
| 1994 | Pathreela Raasta | Film | Mona |
| 1993 | Ghar Aaya Mera Pardesi | Radha | |
| 1993 | Insaniyat Ke Devta (Hindi) | Husna Bano | |
| 1993 | Khal-Naaikaa | Varsha | |
| 1993 | Hasti | Anita | |
| 1993 | Lapandav (Marathi) | Rasika Samarth | |
| 1993 | Parwane | Suzie | |
| 1993 | Tirangaa | Shanti | |
| 1993 | Ek Hota Vidushak | ||
| 1993 | Savat Mazi Ladki (Marathi) | Dr. Beena Karnik | |
| 1992 | Shubh Mangal Savdhan (Marathi) | - | |
| 1992 | Maal Masala (Marathi) | - | |
| 1992 | Ghar Jamai | ||
| 1992 | Dilwale Kabhi Na Hare | Shabnam | |
| 1992 | Honeymoon (1992 film) | ||
| 1992 | Sone Ki Zanjeer | Sonali | |
| 1991 | Aflatoon (Marathi) | Bitti | |
| 1991 | Hamal De Dhamal (Marathi) | Nandini Patwardhan | |
| 1991 | Hafta Bandh | ||
| 1991 | Saathi | Nisha | |
| 1991 | Shikari: The Hunter | Chanchal | |
| 1990 | Doodh Ka Karz | Kajri | |
| 1990 | Shejari Shejari (Marathi) | Preeti | |
| 1990 | Aamchya Sarkhe Aamhich (Marathi) | Nandini | |
| 1989 | Bhutacha Bhau (Marathi) | Anjali | |
| 1989 | Atmavishwas (Marathi) | Nisha | |
| 1988 | Mahabharat (Hindi) | Television series | Uttara[4] |
| 1988 | Sagalikade Bombabomb (Marathi) | Film | Rajani Bala |
| 1987 | Gammat Jammat (Marathi) | Kalpana Korde | |
See also
References
- "Varsha Usgaonkar हाइट, उम्र, पति, बॉयफ्रेंड, परिवार, Biography in Hindi - बायोग्राफी". News Hindustan. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
- "'Marathi cinema helped me identify myself' – Varsha Usgaonkar". The Navhind Times. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- "Gammat Jammat". The Times of India. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- Jain, Arushi (21 May 2020). "Mahabharat actor Varsha Usgaonkar revisits the epic show". The Indian Express. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- "I feel sad and deprived, I do miss Chamatkar". The Indian Express. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- "Rock and Raaga". rockandraaga.in. 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- "Konkani Parishad's silver jubilee session in February - The Hindu". The Hindu. 18 January 2006. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- Wikipedia, S. (2011). Konkani People: Guru Dutt, Girish Karnad, Shyam Benegal, Ravindra Kelekar, Eesha Koppikhar, Basti Vaman Shenoy, Shankar Nag, Deepika Padukone. General Books. ISBN 9781233060511. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- "Redirection From Mobile URL". m.outlookindia.com. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- "Konkani movie 'Benddkar' sees good opening". Deccan Herald. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- Deb, Rishabh (26 February 2017). "Varsha Usgaonkar makes a comeback on TV after a decade - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
External links
