Sarika Thakur
Biography
Sarika Thakur, professionally known simply as Sarika, is an acclaimed Indian actress, costume designer, and former child artist who has worked in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Marathi films. Beginning her career as a child actor in the 1960s, she later established herself as one of Indian cinema's finest performers, earning widespread critical acclaim and a National Film Award for her acting.
Early Life
Sarika was born on 3 December 1960 in New Delhi, India. She entered the film industry at a very young age to support her family after her father left the household. As a child actress, she was popularly known as Master Sooraj and appeared in numerous Hindi films.
Career
Sarika made a successful transition from child artist to leading actress during the 1970s and 1980s. She appeared opposite many of the era's leading stars and gained recognition for her natural performances across a variety of genres, from romantic dramas and comedies to action films.
After taking a break from acting, she returned with powerful character-driven roles that showcased her versatility. Her performance in the 2005 film Parzania earned her the National Film Award for Best Actress, making it one of the defining achievements of her career.
In addition to acting, Sarika has worked as a costume designer. She received the National Film Award for Best Costume Design for the Hindi film Hey Ram (2000).
Selected Filmography
- Geet Gaata Chal (1975)
- Raaj Tilak (1984)
- Kranti (1981)
- Satte Pe Satta (1982)
- Vidhaata (1982)
- Rajkumar (1996)
- Hey Ram (2000) – Costume Designer
- Parzania (2005)
- Bheja Fry (2007)
- Manorama Six Feet Under (2007)
- Tahaan (2008)
- Society (2021)
- Modern Love: Mumbai (2022, anthology series)
Awards and Honours
- National Film Award for Best Actress for Parzania (2005)
- National Film Award for Best Costume Design for Hey Ram (2000)
Personal Life
Sarika was in a long-term relationship with actor Kamal Haasan, and the couple married in 1988. They have two daughters, actresses Shruti Haasan and Akshara Haasan. Sarika and Kamal Haasan later separated and divorced in 2004.
