Manisha Koirala

Biography

Manisha Koirala (pronounced [mʌˈnisa ˈkoirala]; born 16 August 1970) is a Nepalese actress who works in Indian films, predominantly in Hindi and Tamil. Known for her work in both commercial and independent cinema, she is the recipient of several accolades, including three Filmfare Awards and one Filmfare Awards South. In 2001, the Government of Nepal awarded her with the Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu.

Born to the politically prominent Koirala family, she is the daughter of Prakash Koirala and granddaughter of Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala, former Prime Minister of Nepal. Koirala made her acting debut with the Nepali film Pheri Bhetaula (1989) and went on to feature in the Hindi drama Saudagar (1991). 

Following a series of commercial failures, she established herself as a leading actress with the romantic dramas 1942: A Love Story (1994) and the Tamil-language Bombay (1995). She subsequently starred in a series of commercial successes, including Agni Sakshi (1996), Indian (1996), Gupt: The Hidden Truth (1997), Kachche Dhaage (1999), Mudhalvan (1999), Company (2002), and Ek Chhotisi Love Story (2002).

Koirala received critical recognition for her portrayals of characters in varied genres: an ambitious wife in Akele Hum Akele Tum (1995), the daughter of deaf-mute parents in Khamoshi: The Musical (1996), a terrorist in Dil Se.. (1998), a mistreated woman in Lajja (2001) and Sushmita Banerjee in Escape From Taliban (2003). 

Post-2003, Koirala began to work with independent filmmakers in art-house projects and in other language films. Her performances in the drama Tulsi (2008), the Malayalam psychological drama Elektra (2010), the anthology I Am (2010), and the romantic comedy Mappillai (2011) were praised. 

She took a break from acting after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012 and returned five years later with the coming-of-age drama Dear Maya (2017). The following year, she featured in the Netflix production Lust Stories and the biography Sanju; the latter ranks among the highest-grossing Indian releases.

In 2020, she appeared in a Netflix original film titled Maska, directed by Neeraj Udhwani.

In 2021, she appeared in AR Rahman's romantic musical 99 Songs. She then starred in an American comedy film India Sweets and Spices, directed by Geeta Malik. The film is based on Geeta Malik's script “Dinner With Friends” which won the 2016 Academy Nicholl Fellowships in screenwriting.

In 2023, she appeared in the action drama Shehzada. Her performance was appreciated, although the film was a commercial failure.