Meenakshi Seshadri
Meenakshi Seshadri | |
---|---|
Born |
Shasikala Seshadri 16 November 1963 Sindri, Bihar, India (now in Jharkhand, India) |
Occupation | Film actress, Dancer |
Years active | 1982–1996 |
Spouse(s) |
Harish Mysore (m.1995-present) |
Children | 3 |
Beauty pageant titleholder | |
Major competition(s) |
Eve's Weekly Miss India 1981 (Winner) Miss International 1981 (Unplaced) |
Meenakshi Seshadri (born 16 November 1963) is an Indian actress, model and dancer who mainly appeared in Hindi films. She was one of the highest paid actresses of her times. Her appearance in a Tamil film, paired with Prabu in the 1994 K. Balachander film, Duet which fetched her more credits in her career. Meenakshi has appeared in a range of movies from comedy, drama, and action to romance. She won the Eve's Weekly Miss India contest in 1981 at age 17.[1][1][2]
Seshadri made her film debut in Painter Babu (1983) and received wider public recognition with the film Hero (1983), which was followed by a number of films in the 1980s and 1990s. She was noted for her performances in films, including Hoshiyar (1985), Bewafai (1985), Meri Jung (1985), Swati (1986), Dacait (1987), Inaam Dus Hazaar (1987), Shahenshah (1988), Mahaadev (1989), Jurm (1990), Ghayal (1990), Ghar Parivar, Damini (1993), and Ghatak (1996) among others.[3] Whereas she received immense critical acclaim for her films such as Swati (1986), Dahleez (1986), Satyamev Jayate (1987 film), Awaargi (1990) and Damini (1993).[4] She went on to establish herself as 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.[3]
After the release of her film Ghatak, she left the film industry to raise her children and resides in the US, with her husband and children. She has been partially active in the US, where she runs her dance school "Cherish Dance School". Recently, a documentary was also made on her life called Meenakshi Accept Her Wings.[5][6]
Early life
Meenakshi Seshadri was born into a Tamil family[7][8][9] in Sindri, Jharkhand.[10][11] She is trained in four Indian classical dance forms, namely, Bharata Natyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak and Odissi. She studied dance under Vempati Chinna Satyam and Jaya Rama Rao. She won the Eve's Weekly Miss India contest in 1981 at the age of 17. She represented India at Miss International 1981 held in Tokyo, Japan but did not place.[12][13] They are descendants of Tamil sangam pandyan kings of atreya gotram and chandra vamsam, meaning lunar race.
Career
Debut and Early Success (1983–1985)
Meenakshi Seshadri, born as Shashikala Seshadri, made her debut in the flop film Painter Babu, a 1983 Telugu/Hindi bilingual film opposite Rajiv Goswami, brother of Manoj Kumar. After Painter Babu, Seshadri decided to quit acting. She was encouraged by Subhash Ghai who cast her as his leading lady alongside another newcomer Jackie Shroff in Hero. The film went on to become a blockbuster and Seshadri became an overnight star. She, immediately after the success of Hero, got offers to star with Superstar Rajesh Khanna. She then appeared with Rajesh Khanna in Awara Baap in which she had a double role, but the film underperformed. She then appeared in many commercially unsuccessful films, mainly Love Marriage, Paisa Ye Paisa, and Lover Boy. Her next film Bewafai, again opposite Rajesh Khanna with Rajinikanth in a negative role. The film became one of the highest revenue earning films of the year 1985. This resulted in her gaining 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 in his next film Meri Jung, alongside Anil Kapoor, which became one of the highest-grossing films of the year. In the same year she acted with Rajinikanth in Mahaguru as his heroine.
Established Actress (1986–1989)
She appeared in many critically acclaimed films in 1986, mainly Swati, a woman-centric art house film, she performed the title role amongst an ensemble cast. The film gained immense critical acclaim and many critics said Meenakshi Seshadri has acted in Swati the way Amitabh Bachchan acts in his films. That same year she appeared in a romantic drama Dahleez alongside Jackie Shroff and Raj Babbar, which dealt with the taboo topic of infidelity, the film though underperformed at the box office. Her other releases that year such as Dilwaala (1986) 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, Seshadri was called the saving grace of the film and Yash Chopra filmed all the songs on her in his trademark use of Switzerland. In 1988, she appeared in Shahenshah alongside Amitabh Bachchan. The film was heavily hyped.[3][14] After the mega success of Shahenshah, Meenakshi teamed up with Bachchan for films like Toofan, Akayla and Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswati but all three became box office 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, which was remake of the Hindi film Mr. India, opposite Bhagyaraj, which bombed at the Box office. In 1989, she appeared in the woman-centric family drama Bade Ghar Ki Beti in the title role and the family drama Gharana and these two films were moderate successes.[3]
Her pairing with Mithun Chakraborthy one as both were great dancers and complimented each other in Aandhi Toofan, Main Balwan, Dilwaala, Parivaar, Bees Saal Baad, Pyar Ka Karz and Shandaar. Her best & successful pairing and on-screen her chemistry with Anil Kapoor people like the most, and also her pairing with Jackie Shroff, Rishi Kapoor, Sunny Deol and Vinod Khanna was often cited by the media as successful.[3][15] Her successful films with Anil Kapoor include Aag Se Khelenge, Meri Jung, Awaargi and Ghar Ho Toh Aisa, but the rest, such as Love Marriage, Amba, Joshilaay, Vijay and Humlaa were box office duds. The actual number of films with Anil Kapoor are more than 9, unfortunately, a few of them are not complete; Prakash Mehra announced Dhan Dhahej Stars Anil Kapoor pairing with Meenakshi, Raj babbar pairing with Padmini Kholapuri along with Rakhee and 1988 Sanjay Khan announced the most expensive movie Sarzameen (Anil and Meenakshi along with Vinod Khanna). At the same years Ramesh sippy announced Laadla with Amitabh Bachchan & Meenakshi Seshadri it was barely just announced only.
She was given the best Tandav dance performance in her best film Damini, it was choreographed by Ravindra Atibudhi.
1990–1996: Commercial Success
In 1990, she appeared in two films of Mahesh Bhatt, first Awaargi, an art house film. Meenakshi's performance was critically acclaimed and many critics call it her best performance,[16] 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 problems after her husband gets involved with another woman gained immense critical praise. She received her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for best actress for her role in the film. She also appeared in the woman-centric film Ghar Ho To Aisa opposite Anil Kapoor, the film was a hit and Seshadri was noted for her comic timing in the film.[4] 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 and became a blockbuster upon its release. In 1991, she appeared in Akayla, directed by Ramesh Sippy, opposite Amitabh Bachchan, despite being overly hyped, the film flopped at the box office. Her on-screen pairing with Vinod Khanna was widely appreciated, and the pair gave successful films such as Satyamev Jayate, Mahaadev, Jurm, Humshakal and Police Aur Mujrim. She acted in the family drama Ghar Parivar in 1991, with Rajesh Khanna and Rishi Kapoor as her co-stars and the film did very good business. She made her Telugu film debut with Brahmarishi Vishwamitra in 1991. In 1992, she appeared in the Telugu film Aapad Bandhavudu opposite Cheeranjeevi. In 1992 her film Aaj Ka Goonda Raaj opposite Cheeranjeevi was hit. In 1993, she appeared in the woman-centric film Damini – Lightning. Directed by filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi, it also starred Rishi Kapoor, Sunny Deol, Amrish Puri, Tinnu Anand, and Paresh Rawal. The film was based on the sensitive subject of injustice towards a rape victim. Damini received a number of awards, including a National Film Award. She was nominated for a Filmfare Award for her role in the film Damini.[3] Her portrayal as Damini was highly praised and she won many accolades for her performance in the film. Damini is regarded as Seshadri's career-defining role.[17]
She also had the privilege to work with the thespian Dilip Kumar in his directorial debut Kalinga. Meenakshi was chosen by Kumar to enact the main role in the film. Though 80% of the film was made, unfortunately the film did not see the light of the day and was never released.
She acted in many films with Anil kapoor (9 movies), of which two films have an interesting story, Vijay and Inteqam (both released in 1988), in Vijay she does a hot kissing scene with Anil Kapoor in a Fiat car and in Inteqam she tied a Rakhi to Anil Kapoor, the scene was coincidentally filmed in Fiat car too.
In 1992 she did the Telugu film Apathbandavudu, with Cheeranjevi, under direction of K. Vishwanath. In 1993, she also appeared in Aadmi Khilona Hai, opposite Govinda; and Kshatriya opposite Vinod Khanna – both the films were successful at the box office. In 1994, she was in a dance show songs of Damini 'Bin Sajan Jhula Jholu" with Aamir Khan, and same Raj Kumar Santoshi announced film Dil Hai Tumhara with Meenakshi pairing first time with Salman Khan, the film shelved after biggest Mahurat. she appeared in the Tamil film Duet, opposite Prabhu Ganeshan, directed by K. Balachander. Meenakshi played the female lead in the 1996 film Ghatak: Lethal, opposite Sunny Deol, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and this film became a hit and was one of the highest-grossing films of 1996. This was her last film. After this film, she got married and settled in the United States.[5][6]
1997–present Hiatus
After her marriage she was seen making a rare appearance on Shekhar Suman's talk show. After a few years of her marriage she shifted her base to the US. In an interview she stated: "belonging from a very Indo-centric background, life abroad shook me, I just could not relate myself with the US environs". However, with the passage of time she has settled there. Now she is successfully running her own dance school in Dallas called "Cherish Institute of Dance"; the school is described as "an assembly of talented dancers, a voluntary body to enhance multi-culture, revealing the best talent of people of all ages". Besides running a dance school in the US, a documentary film was made on her life by Margret Stephens called 'Meenakshi Accept Her Wings'; the two-hour musical documentary depicts the transitional lifestyle of the dancer-actress to a homemaker. The movie tells about her life after movies and marriage.
Personal life
She retired from cinema after marrying investment banker Harish Mysore in 1995. She had a civil wedding and a registered marriage in New York too in 1995.[18] The couple has three children, daughter Kendra and sons Josh and Matt. Meenakshi lives in Plano, Texas.[19] There, she teaches Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Odissi. She performs with her students at charity events and fundraisers.[6] A philanthropist, Meenakshi and her students performed at the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) convention in California.
Artistry
Dance
Meenakshi Seshadri is not only known for her acting skills, but for her dancing skills as well.[20] Often referred to as "Damini", she is famous for her dance in the song "Tu Mera Hero Hai" from the film Hero. She is also known for her dance sequences accompanying Bollywood songs such as "Pyar Karne Wale" (from Hero), "Jaane Do Jaane Do" (from Shahenshah) opposite Amitabh Bachchan, "Badal Pe Chalke" (from Vijay) opposite Anil Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor, "Bin Saajan Jhula" (from Damini) opposite Aamir Khan, "Sajan Mera Uss Par Hai" (from Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswati), "Mujre Wali Hoon" (from Awaargi), "Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaye" (from Jurm) and "Badan Main Chandni" (from Ghatak). Her Tandav dance in Damini is considered to be the best and most intense dance performance in Indian cinema.[6]
She relates to herself more closely as a dancer than an actress.[6] With a desire to continue the art and extend this culture in a foreign land, Meenakshi, with the support of her husband Harish, introduced "Cherish Dance School".[6]
Documentaries and television appearances
She made few appearances on talk shows and rarely gave interviews. In 1987, she appeared in an interview held in London, in which she discussed her personal and professional life.
In 1992 Seshadri featured in a documentary made for television called World of Film: India, the documentary was about the Indian film industry and Seshadri featured with stalwarts such as Shashi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan and Mira Nair.
In 1997 she made a rare public appearance on Shekhar Suman's talk show Movers and Shakers, this was also her last television appearance before she left the industry to raise her children. She discussed her entire career as well as personal life along with her passion for dance and her stage performances.
In 2006 a documentary was made on her life called Meenakshi Accept Her Wings, which was directed by Margret Stephens; the two-hour musical documentary depicted the transitional lifestyle of a dancer-actress to a homemaker. The movie gave a deeper insight to her life after quitting films and her successful marriage.
Awards and recognition
Filmography
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1983 | Painter Babu | Renu Kailashnath | Debut with Raijiv Goswami |
1983 | Hero | Radha Mathur | Jakie shroff |
1984 | Love Marriage | Ritu Mafatlal | Anil Kapoor |
1985 | Paisa Yeh Paisa | Sapna | Jakie Shroff |
1985 | Hoshiyar | Jyoti | Jeetendra |
1985 | Awara Baap | Rupa | Rajesh Khanna |
1985 | Mera Jawab | Poonam | Jakie Shroff |
1985 | Aandhi-Toofan | Meena Kapoor | Mithun |
1985 | Pahuche Hue Log | Guest Appearance | Director Johnny Walker |
1985 | Mahaguru | Basanti | Rajnikant |
1985 | Bewafai | Vinny | Rajesh Khanna |
1985 | Maha Shaktimaan-3D Movie | Madhuri | Raj Babbar |
1985 | Meri Jung | Geeta Mathur | Anil Kapoor |
1985 | Mera Ghar Mere Bachche | Sarita | Raj Babbar |
1985 | Lover Boy | Radha | Rajiv Kapoor |
1986 | Ricky | Kunal Goswami | |
1986 | Main Balwaan | Natasha | Mithun |
1986 | Maa Beti | Meenu / Asha | Karan Shah |
1986 | Dahleez | Naini Saxena | Raj Babbar |
1986 | Allah Rakha | Rani | Jakie Shroff |
1986 | Dilwaala | Padma | Mithun |
1987 | Satyamev Jayate | Seema | Vinod Khanna |
1987 | Dacait | Javli | Sunny Deol |
1987 | Inaam Dus Hazaar | Kamal Malhotra aka Sonia | Sanjay Dutt |
1987 | Muqaddar Ka Faisla | Meena | Raj Babbar |
1987 | Parivaar | Anita | Mithun |
1988 | Main Tere Liye | Rinku Sagar | Suniel Anand |
1988 | Aurat Teri Yehi Kahani | Savitri | Raj Babbar |
1988 | Bees Saal Baad | Kiran Thakur | Mithun |
1988 | Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswati | Jamuna | Amitabh Bachchan |
1988 | Inteqam | Sita/Sitara | Sunny Deol and Anil Kapoor |
1988 | Vijay | Sapna | Anil Kapoor |
1988 | Shahenshah | Shalu | Amitabh Bachchan |
1989 | Aag Se Khelenge | Geeta | Anil Kapoor |
1989 | Toofan | Radha | Amitabh Bachchan |
1989 | Bade Ghar Ki Beti | Mala | Rishi Kapoor |
1989 | Sachché Ká Bol-Bálá | Reema | Jakie shroff |
1989 | Joshilaay | Mangala | Anil Kapoor |
1989 | Gharana | Radha | Rishi Kapoor |
1989 | En Rathathin Rathame | Sudha | Tamil film; Remake of Mr.India |
1989 | Mahadev | Geeta | Vinod Khanna |
1989 | Mohabat Ka Paigham | Zeenat Banu | Aditya Pancholi & Raj Babbar |
1989 | Nache Nagin Gali Gali | Nitish Bharadwaj | |
1990 | Amba | Lajjo | Anil Kapoor |
1990 | Jurm | Meena S. Varma | Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress |
1990 | Ghayal | Varsha Bharti | Sunny Deol |
1990 | Awaargi | Meena | Govinda /Anil Kapoor |
1990 | Ghar Ho To Aisa | Seema | Anil Kapoor |
1990 | Pyar Ka Karz | Dr. Naina | Mithun |
1990 | Shandaar | Rani | Mithun |
1991 | Akayla | Seema | Amitabh/Jakie |
1991 | Brahmarishi Vishwamitra | Menaka | Telugu film Co-Star : N.T.Rama Rao |
1992 | Aapad Bandhavudu | Hema | Telugu film Co-Star : Chiranjeevi |
1992 | Humshakal | Sarah | |
1992 | Police Aur Mujrim | Kiran | |
1992 | Aaj Ka Goonda Raj | Shalu Sharma | Cheeranjevi |
1992 | Humlaa | Seema | Anil Kapoor |
1992 | Yeh Raat Phir Na Ayegi | ||
1992 | Kalinga | Unreleased (Director Dilip Kumar) | |
1993 | Sadhna | Madhu | |
1993 | Badi Behen | Jyoti Dwarkaprasad | |
1993 | Aadmi Khilona Hai | Punam Verma | |
1993 | Ghar Parivar | Mohanji Prasad | |
1993 | Kshatriya | Madhu | J.P.Dutta |
1993 | Damini | Damini Gupta | Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress |
1993 | Teri Payal Mere Geeth | Laila jaan | Govinda |
1994 | Duet | Anjali | Tamil film |
1996 | Ghatak: Lethal | Gauri | Sunny Deol |
1996 | Swami Vivekananda | Young woman who desires to marry Narendranath Datta and later becomes Sannyasini | |
2016 | Ghayal Once Again | Varsha (flash back) | |
Television
Year | Show | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Movers and Shakers | Herself | Last talk show appearance, Interviewed by Shekhar Suman |
1999 | Star Yaar Kalakaar | Herself | TV Reality show, Host by Farida Jalal |
Documentary
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1992 | World of Film: India | Herself | Appeared alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor and Mira Nair |
2006 | Meenakshi Accept Her Wings | Herself | Directed by Margret Stephens |
References
- 1 2 "Actress missing from Action – Meenakshi Seshadri". Zee News. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ↑ "Miss India and their Bollywood breaks". Retrieved 25 June 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Boxofficeindia.com. "Top Actress". Archived from the original on 17 October 2013.
- 1 2 "BoxOffice India.com". BoxOffice India.com. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
- 1 2 "Box Office 1996". Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The Miraculous Meenakshi | Lights Camera Action | Houston fSouth Asian Lifestyle Society News". lcahouston.com. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ "Daily Bhaskar: Bollywood's 'Damini' Meenakshi Seshadri turns 51". Daily Bhaskar. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
- ↑ "Bollywood actress Meenakshi turns 48". Awaztoday.com. 16 November 1959. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
- ↑ "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. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
- ↑ Kothari, Sunil; Avinash Pasricha (2001). Kuchipudi. Abhinav Publications. p. 203. ISBN 8170173590.
- ↑ Mandhir Saikia and Avani Saxena (22 September 1999). "Meenakshi magic". Express. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
- ↑
- ↑ "Top Grosser of 1990". Boxoffice India. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ↑ "Awaargi – Film Review". Planet Bollywood. Archived from the original on 30 August 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
- ↑
- ↑ "civil wedding". Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
- ↑ "Spurred by success: Meenakshi bares her claws!". Stardust. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
- ↑ "rediff.com: Bollywood's best dancing girls". Rediff.com. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
- ↑ "Download Attachment" (PDF). Deep750.googlepages.com. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
- ↑ "Photo Gallery". Priyadarshniacademy.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.