Meenakshi Seshadri

Meenakshi Seshadri (; born 16 November 1963) is a former Indian actress, model and dancer who worked primarily in Hindi films, with a few films in Telugu and Tamil. She made her debut with the film ''Painter Babu'' (1983) produced by Manoj Kumar. However, it was her second film ''Hero'' (1983) which catapulted her to instant stardom. In a career spanning a decade, she established herself as one of the most popular and highest-paid actresses of her time.

Prior to her acting career, Seshadri won the ''Eve's Weekly'' Miss India contest in 1981 at the age of 17. 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. She was noted for her performances in films including ''Hero'' (1983), ''Aandhi-Toofan'' (1985), ''Meri Jung'' (1985), '' Swati'' (1986), ''Dilwaala'' (1986), ''Dacait'' (1987), ''Inaam Dus Hazaar'' (1987), '' Parivaar'' (1987), '' Shahenshah'' (1988), ''Mahaadev'' (1989), ''Awaargi'' (1990), '' Jurm'' (1990), '' Ghayal'' (1990), ''Ghar Ho To Aisa'' (1990), ''Damini'' (1993), ''Duet'' (1994) and '' Ghatak'' (1996). She received particular critical acclaim for '' Swati'' (1986), '' Dahleez'' (1986), ''Satyamev Jayate'' (1987), ''Awaargi'' (1990) and ''Damini'' (1993). 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, titled ''Meenakshi Accept Her Wings''.

Early life

Meenakshi Seshadri was born on 16 November 1963 as Shashikala Seshadri in a Tamil Brahmin family in Sindri, Bihar (now in Jharkhand). She trained in four Indian classical dance forms, Bharata Natyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, and Odissi 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.

Career

Debut and early success (1983–1985)

After a forgettable debut in Painter Babu, Meenakshi acted alongside another newcomer, Jackie Shroff, in ''Hero''. The film was a blockbuster and Meenakshi became an overnight star. 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. Then Ghai again cast her alongside Anil Kapoor in his next film, ''Meri Jung'', which was one of the highest-grossing films of the year 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. In the same year she acted with Rajinikanth in '' Mahaguru'' (1985) as his heroine. Later Meenaakshi did a special appearance song with Rajnikant in a Telugu movie ''Jeevana Poratam'' (1986).

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 '' Allah Rakha'', was 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 critical acclaim. Dilwala (1986) and '' Parivaar''with Mithun Chakraborty, film did very well at box office. Main Balwan (1986) was average in India, but Superhit in overseas. In 1988, she appeared in Yash Chopra's '' Vijay''. In 1988, she appeared in '' Shahenshah'' alongside Amitabh Bachchan. The film was heavily hyped. After the great success of ''Shahenshah'', Meenakshi 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 Beti''in the title role, and the family drama ''Gharana'' these were moderate successes.

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. 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 Meenakshi, and in 1988 Sanjay Khan announced the movie ''Sarzameen'' with Anil Kapoor, Meenakshi, and Vinod Khanna. That same year, Ramesh Sippy announced '' Aalishaan'' with Amitabh Bachchan and Meenakshi. Subhash Ghai signed Bachchan for the first time in film ''Devaa'' opposite Meenakshi Seshadri, but it was shelved after a song picturised on Bachchan and Shammi Kapoor the song sung by Mohammed Aziz.

Commercial success (1990–1996)

In 1990, Meenakshi appeared in two films by Mahesh Bhatt, the first being ''Awaargi'', an art house film. Many critics call this her best performance. 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 Meenakshi was noted for her comedic timing.
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.

Meenakshi made her Telugu film debut with '' Brahmarshi Viswamitra'' 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. ''Damini'' is regarded as Meenakshi's career-defining role.
/ref> She performed a Tandav dance in the film, choreographed by Ravindra Atibudhi.

Meenakshi 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.

In 1992, she did the Telugu film ''Apathbandavudu'' with Chiranjeevi under the 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 of songs from ''Damini'': "Bin Sajan Jhula Jholu" with Aamir Khan, and in 1991 Raj Kumar Santoshi started the film ''Dil Hai Tumhara'' with Sunny Deol. Meenakshi paired for the first time with Salman Khan; they only shot once before the film was shelved. She appeared in the Tamil film ''Duet'' opposite Prabhu Ganeshan, directed by K. Balachander.

Hiatus (1997–present)

After her marriage, she made a rare appearance on Shekhar Suman's talk show. After a few years of marriage, she shifted her base to Plano, Texas, in the United States. In an interview she stated: "Coming from a very Indo-centric background, life abroad shook me, I just could not relate to the US environment." However, with the passage of time she has settled there. Now she is running her own dance school in Carrollton 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".

Personal life

She dated singer Kumar Sanu in the early 1990's. Meenakshi retired from cinema after marrying investment banker Harish Mysore in 1995. They had a civil wedding and a registered marriage in New York. The couple has two children, a daughter and a son. Meenakshi lives in Plano, Texas. There, she teaches Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Odissi

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