Manisha Koirala

**Manisha Koirala** is a *renowned* Nepalese actress whose career spans over three decades, beginning with the Nepali film *Pheri Bhetaula* in 1989 and quickly crossing over to Bollywood with Subhash Ghai’s *Saudagar* (1991). Born on 16 August 1970 in Biratnagar, Nepal, into the influential Koirala political family, she leveraged her early education in Varanasi, Delhi and Mumbai to break into Indian cinema, where she became celebrated for her versatility and emotive depth. Her breakthrough roles in *1942: A Love Story* (1994) and Mani Ratnam’s critically acclaimed *Bombay* (1995) earned her the first Filmfare nominations and a Filmfare Awards South win, establishing her as a formidable talent capable of portraying complex characters ranging from a naive lover to a courageous activist caught in communal strife. Subsequent mainstream successes such as *Agni Sakshi* (1996), *Gupt: The Hidden Truth* (1997), *Dil Se…* (1998) and *Company* (2002) cemented her status as one of the highest‑paid and most admired actresses of the 1990s, while her performances in *Khamoshi: The Musical* and *Lajja* showcased her willingness to tackle socially relevant narratives.

Beyond commercial cinema, Koirala has been a champion of art‑house and socially conscious projects, starring in the survival drama *Escape From Taliban* (2003), the Malayalam psychological thriller *Elektra* (2010) and the anthology *I Am* (2010). After a courageous battle with stage‑IV ovarian cancer diagnosed in 2012, she returned to the screen with the poignant *Dear Maya* (2017) and portrayed legendary actress Nargis in Rajkumar Hirani’s *Sanju* (2018), further proving her resilience and artistic vigor. An appointed UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador for both India and Nepal, she has devoted considerable effort to women’s rights, child education, and disaster relief, authoring the memoir *Healed* to share her cancer journey. In recent years, she continues to captivate audiences with performances in streaming ventures such as *Lust Stories*, *Maska* and the acclaimed series *Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar* (2024), earning a Filmfare OTT award and reaffirming her enduring influence on South Asian cinema.