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Varsha Usgaonkar

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Varsha Usgaonkar
Usgaonkar in 2015
Born (1968-02-28) 28 February 1968 (age 56)
Usgao, Goa, India
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
  • singer
Years active1987–present
Spouse
Ajay Shankar Sharma
​
​
(m. 2000)​
FatherA. K. S. Usgaonkar
RelativesRavi Shankar Sharma (father-in-law)

Varsha Usgaonkar (born 28 February 1968)[1] is an Indian actress, model, singer and television personality. she was popularly known by the epithets Wonder Girl in Maharashtra. She has appeared in over 100 Marathi and Hindi films. She is regarded as one of the most finest, accomplished and influential actresses of Marathi Cinema. Noted by critics for her beauty, dancing skills, and strong characters that played by her on screen. She Received Three Maharashtra State Film Award.[2]

Early life

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Varsha Usgaonkar was born in Usgao, Goa, India, on 28 February 1968, to politician A. K. S. Usgaonkar and Manikabai Usgaonkar.[3] Konkani is her native language. Her father served as a Cabinet Minister in Goa, while her mother was a classical singer. Under the tutelage of Pandit Sudhakar Karandikar, she honed her skills in classical music. She pursued her B.Com degree in Goa and actively engaged in theatrical productions during her academic years.[4]

Career

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Usgaonkar first shot to fame in 1982 as the lead heroine in the super-hit Marathi stage play Brahmachari. Subsequently, she quickly rose to become one of the top actresses in the Marathi film industry with super-hit productions such as Gammat Jammat,[5] Hamaal De Dhamaal, Saglikade Bombabomb, Savat Mazi Ladki, Shejari Shejari, Ek Hota Vidushak, Lapandav and Aflatoon. She starred as a lead actress in the Bollywood films, Ghar Aaya Mera Pardesi and Pathreela Raasta. In 2005, she appeared in the Bollywood films Mangal Pandey: The Rising and Mr Ya Miss as a supporting actress.

In the Faisal Saif-directed controversial Hindi feature film, Jigyaasa, she played the role of a "mother" to Hrishitaa Bhatt. Usgaonkar started her television career in 1988 playing the role of Uttara, wife of Abhimanyu and mother of Parikshit, (the future of the Bharat Dynasty TV serial Mahabharata).[6] The role led her to many Hindi movie offers and most of them failed to create box office success. She also played "Roopmati" (Snake Queen) in the 1994 TV serial Chandrakanta. She has appeared in the Marathi shows Aakash Zep and Eka Mekansathi and has acted in the Hindi television serials Alvida Darling,[7] Tanha and Anhonee.

One of her most prominent performances was on the TV serial Jhansi Ki Rani in the 1990s on Doordarshan, where she played the lead character of Rani Lakshmibai. Usgaonkar is also a singer and has sung in a Konkani music album Roop Tujem Laita Pixem, with Ulhas Buyao.[8] She is currently playing the supporting role of Nandini Yashwant Shirke-Patil in Star Pravah's popular serial Sukh Mhanje Nakki Kay Asta. In 2024, she competed on Bigg Boss Marathi 5, whereby she was evicted in the Final Week in a mid-week eviction, finishing in 7th place.

Personal life

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Usgaonkar with husband Ajay Sharma in 2014

Usgaonkar is a Konkani speaker born and raised in Goa.[9][10] She is the daughter of Goa's former deputy speaker, A. K. S. Usgaonkar. She has two sisters, Tosha Kurade and Manisha Tarcar.[11]

Usgaonkar was dating Nitish Bharadwaj in late 80s soon they broke up in 1991.[12] She married Ajay Sharma, son of Indian film music director, Ravi Shankar Sharma in March 2000.[13]

Filmography

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Films

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Year Title Role Language
1986 Tuzya Wachun Karamena Dolly Marathi
1987 Gammat Jammat Kalpana Korde
Kathyal Sasu Nathal Soon Maya Jagde
1988 Majjach Majja Kamini Pratap Singh
Reshimgathi Shimpli
1989 Saglikade Bombabomb Rajni Bala
Hamaal De Dhamaal Nandini Patwardhan
Atmavishwas Nisha
Bhutacha Bhau Anjali
Pasant Aahe Mulgi Madhumati Dhurandhar
Navra Baiko Varsha
1990 Doodh Ka Karz Kajri Lohar Hindi
Shejari Shejari Preeti Marathi
Aamchya Sarkhe Aamhich Nandini Deshpande
Changu Mangu Herself
Ghanchakkar
Patli Re Patli Nanda
Kuthe Kuthe Shodhu Me Tila Sujata
Baap Re Baap Naina
Dokyala Taap Nahin Vandana
1991 Shikari: The Hunter Chanchal Hindi Russian
Saathi Nisha Hindi
Hafta Bandh Maria
Aflatoon Bitti Marathi
Mumbai Te Mauritius Aarti/Bharti
Yeda Ki Khula Aarti Divekar
Jeeva Sakha Paru
1992 Sone Ki Zanjeer Sonali Hindi
Honeymoon Asha S. Verma
Dilwale Kabhi Na Hare Shabnam
Ghar Jamai Mona
Maal Masala Varsha Deshmukh Marathi
Shubh Mangal Savdhan Jaya
Sone Ki Lanka Roma Hindi
1993 Savat Mazi Ladki Dr. Beena Karnik Marathi
Ek Hota Vidushak Menaka
Tirangaa Shanti Hindi
Parwane Suzie
Insaniyat Ke Devta Husna Bano
Lapandav Rasika Samarth Marathi
Aikava Te Navalach Dr. Vandana
Paisa Paisa Paisa Tanuja (Tannu) Kelkar
Hasti Anita Hindi
Pardesi Shanker's love interest
Khal-Naaikaa Varsha Sharma
Ghar Aaya Mera Pardesi Radha
1994 Pathreela Raasta Mona
Beta Ho To Aisa Mini
Yadnya Nisha Marathi
1995 Painjan Jaswanti
Jamla Ho Jamla Radha
Dushmani: A Violent Love Story Dancer Hindi
Aboli Mona Marathi
Zakhmi Kunku Inspector Rajlaxmi
1996 Shohrat Nikhil's wife Hindi
Muqadama Seema
1997 Ghar Jamai Miss Chamcham
1998 Haste Hasate Varsha
Paij Lagnachi Pooja Marathi
Bayko Chukli Standvar Hausa/Sribaby
1999 Rang Premacha Champa
Navra Mumbaicha Gauri
Dhangad Dhinga Madhura Mone
Ladhaai Sunita Nadkarni
Chehraa Uncredited Hindi
Sei To Abar Kache Ele Ishita Bengali
2001 Dhyaas Parva Shakuntala Paranjpye Marathi
Style Police Inspector Hindi
2003 Baap Ka Baap Uma Dixit
2004 Hatya: The Murder Kavita Jaiswal
Sakshatkaar Saudamini Marathi
2005 Sawal Majha Premacha Jayshree Karadkar
The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey Rani Laxmibai Hindi
Mr Ya Miss Devi Parvati
2006 Jigyaasa Teacher Malini Mathur
2009 Mare Paryant Phashi Jailor's wife Marathi
2010 Bayko Zali Gayab Hausa
Ladigodi Rekha
2011 Arjun Maya Thackeray
2013 Thoda Tuza Thoda Maza Malti
Duniyadari Rani Maa
Naam Unreleased Unreleased
2014 Super Nani Chandani Hindi
Hututu Madhu Marathi
Capuccino Sunanda
2016 Kangana Kangana Rajasthani
Ardhangini Ek Ardhsatya Noor's wife Hindi
2017 Bhavishyachi Aishi Taishi Megha's mother Marathi
Oli Ki Suki Advocate
2018 Zanvoy No.1 Diana's mother-in-law Konkani
Madhav - Every Child Needs Mentor Sharda Mehta Marathi
2019 Benddkar[14] Jessy Konkani
2022 Hawahawai Varsha Marathi
Sher Shivraj Badi Begum

Television

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Year Title Role Language Notes
1988 Mahabharat Uttara Hindi [15]
1994 Rani Lakshmi Bai Rani Laxmi Bai Lead role
Chandrakanta Roopmati Nagrani
1995 Aahat 1 Varsha Episodic role
1998 Ghar Jamai Ms. Chamcham
2001 Vishnu Puran Mohini
2005 Tuzyavina Sai Deshmukh Marathi Parallel lead
2009-2011 Man Udhan Varyache Anuradha Mohite Parallel lead
2014 Jamai Raja Kritika Khurana Hindi [16]
2020-2024 Sukh Mhanje Nakki Kay Asta Nandini Shirke-Patil (Maisaheb) Marathi
2024-present Bigg Boss Marathi 5 Contestant 7th Place

Accolades

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Varsha Usgaonkar हाइट, उम्र, पति, बॉयफ्रेंड, परिवार, Biography in Hindi - बायोग्राफी". News Hindustan. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  2. ^ "'Marathi cinema helped me identify myself' – Varsha Usgaonkar". The Navhind Times. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  3. ^ "वर्षा उसगावकर यांचे वडिल अन् गोव्याचे माजी मंत्री अच्युत उसगावकर यांचे निधन". Lokmat (in Marathi). 16 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g सुधीर वासुदेव नांदगावकर, चैतन्य कुंटे (2014). शिल्पकार चरित्रकोश खंड ७ – चित्रपट, संगीत.
  5. ^ "Gammat Jammat". The Times of India. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  6. ^ Jain, Arushi (21 May 2020). "Mahabharat actor Varsha Usgaonkar revisits the epic show". The Indian Express. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  7. ^ "I feel sad and deprived, I do miss Chamatkar". The Indian Express. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  8. ^ "Rock and Raaga". rockandraaga.in. 2010. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  9. ^ "Konkani Parishad's silver jubilee session in February - The Hindu". The Hindu. 18 January 2006. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  10. ^ Wikipedia, S. (2011). Konkani People: Guru Dutt, Girish Karnad, Shyam Benegal, Ravindra Kelekar, Eesha Koppikhar, Basti Vaman Shenoy, Shankar Nag, Deepika Padukone. General Books. ISBN 9781233060511. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  11. ^ "Goa's emerald eyed 'Sridevi' | iGoa". Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  12. ^ "Which controversial actresses' life can be portrayed onscreen?". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Redirection From Mobile URL". m.outlookindia.com. Retrieved 3 January 2015.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "Konkani movie 'Benddkar' sees good opening". Deccan Herald. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Mahabharat actor Varsha Usgaonkar revisits the epic show". The Indian Express. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Varsha Usgaonkar makes a comeback on TV after a decade". The Times of India. 26 February 2017. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
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