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Meenakshi Seshadri Mysore (pronounced[miːnaːkʂiːʃeːʂaːdrɪ];néeSeshadri; born 20 November 1963) as Shashikala Seshadri, is an Indian former actress and beauty pageant titleholder who worked primarily inHindi,Telugu andTamil films. Seshadri established herself as one of the most popular and highest-paid actresses of her time and is considered among the leading actresses ofIndian cinema.^[1]

Prior to her acting career, Seshadri won theEve's Weekly Miss India contest in 1981 at the age of 17.^[2][3] 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.^[4] She made her debut with the filmPainter Babu (1983) produced byManoj Kumar, and her second filmHero (1983) catapulted her to instant stardom. She was noted for her performances in films includingHero (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) andGhatak (1996).^[4] She received particular critical acclaim forSwati (1986),Dahleez (1986),Satyamev Jayate (1987),Awaargi (1990) andDamini (1993).^[5] She also performed at theKhajuraho Dance Festival in the 1990s.

After the release of her filmGhatak, 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, titledMeenakshi Accept Her Wings.^[6][7]

Meenakshi Seshadri was born on 16 November 1963^[8] as Shashikala Seshadri in aTamilBrahmin family^[9][10][11] inSindri,Bihar (now inJharkhand).^[12][13] She trained in fourIndian classical dance forms,Bharata Natyam,Kuchipudi,Kathak, andOdissi, underVempati Chinna Satyam and Jaya Rama Rao. She won theEve's Weekly Miss India contest in 1981 at the age of 17 and represented India at theMiss International 1981 inTokyo,Japan.^[14][15]

After a forgettable debut inPainter Babu, Meenakshi acted alongside another newcomer,Jackie Shroff, inHero. The film was a blockbuster and Meenakshi became an overnight star.^[16] Immediately after the success ofHero, she got an offer to star with superstarRajesh Khanna to appear in a double role inAwara Baap but the film underperformed at the box office. She then appeared in several commercial films, includingLove Marriage,Paisa Ye Paisa, andLover Boy. Her next successful film wasBewafai, with Khanna again and starringRajinikanth as the antagonist. Then Ghai again cast her alongsideAnil Kapoor inMeri Jung, which was one of the highest-grossing films of 1985. This gave her a major foothold in the industry.Swati,Mera Jawab, andAandhi Toofan were all moderately successful. The same year she also appeared withJeetendra inHoshiyar and withRajinikanth inMahaguru (1985) as his heroine. In 1986 Meenakshi made a special appearance in a song with Rajinikanth in the Telugu movieJeevana Poratam.^{[citation needed]}

Seshadri appeared in many critically acclaimed films in 1986. InSwati, a woman-centric art house film, she performed the title role. The film gained immense critical acclaim and critics said, "Meenakshi Seshadri has acted inSwati the way Amitabh Bachchan acts in his films". That same year she appeared in B. R. Chopra films alongsideJackie Shroff andRaj Babbar in the romantic dramaDahleez, which dealt with the taboo topic of infidelity but underperformed at the box office. Her other releases that year, such asAllah Rakha, were average performers at the box office.Dilwala (1986) andParivaar with Mithun Chakraborty did very well at box office.Main Balwan (1986) was average in India, but a superhit overseas.^{[citation needed]}

In 1987, she appeared in the hit filmInaam Dus Hazaar alongsideSanjay Dutt. She also appeared inDacait, an action drama alongsideSunny Deol to critical acclaim.^{[citation needed]}

In 1988, she starred inYash Chopra's multi-starrerVijay. She also starred in the much hypedShahenshah opposite Amitabh Bachchan which proved to be a huge success.^[4] Meenakshi teamed up with Bachchan forToofan,Akayla, andGangaa Jamunaa Saraswati, but all three were flops.

In 1988Prakash Mehra had announcedDhan Dhahej, starring Anil Kapoor and Meenakshi, Sanjay Khan announcedSarzameen with Anil Kapoor, Meenakshi, andVinod Khanna,Ramesh Sippy announcedAalishaan with Amitabh Bachchan and Meenakshi but none of these movies took off. Then Subhash Ghai signed Bachchan for the first time in filmDevaa opposite Meenakshi Seshadri, but it was shelved after a song picturised on Bachchan and Shammi Kapoor that was sung byMohammed Aziz.

In 1989, she was directed by Dev Anand inSachché Ká Bol-Bálá. In 1989, she also made her Tamil film debut withEn Rathathin Rathame, a remake of the Hindi filmMr. India, oppositeK. Bhagyaraj, which bombed at the box office. She also appeared in Kalpataru's family dramasBade Ghar Ki Beti andGharana which were moderate successes.^[4]

She worked with fellow dancerMithun Chakraborthy inAandhi Toofan,Main Balwan,Dilwaala,Parivaar,Bees Saal BaadPyar Ka Karz, andShandaar. Her pairings withSunny Deol,Jackie Shroff,Vinod Khanna andRishi Kapoor were hugely popular and often praised by the media.^[4][17] Her best and most successful pairing, as well as her best on-screen chemistry was with Anil Kapoor. Her successful films with Anil Kapoor includeAag Se Khelenge,Meri Jung,Humlaa andGhar Ho Toh Aisa, while some others likeLove Marriage,Amba,Joshilaay were box office duds.

In 1990, Meenakshi appeared in two films byMahesh Bhatt, the first beingAwaargi, an art house film. Many critics call this her best performance.^{[citation needed]} The second film wasJurm, released in the same year. The film was a critical and commercial success. Her role as a wife who has to face her problems after her husband gets involved with another woman gained immense critical praise. She received her firstFilmfare Award nomination for best actress for her role in the film. She also appeared in the filmGhar Ho To Aisa opposite Anil Kapoor; the film was a hit and Meenakshi was noted for her comedic timing.^[5] She then appeared inGhayal alongsideSunny Deol. This film started her long association withRajkumar Santoshi.Ghayal was the highest-grossing film of the 1990.

In 1991, she appeared opposite Amitabh Bachchan inAkayla, directed byRamesh 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 asSatyamev Jayate,Mahaadev,Jurm,Humshakal, andPolice Aur Mujrim. She acted in the successful family dramaGhar Parivar in 1991, withRajesh Khanna and Rishi Kapoor as her co-stars. Meenakshi made her Telugu film debut withBrahmarshi Viswamitra in 1991. The same year, Raj Kumar Santoshi started the filmDil Hai Tumhara with Sunny Deol. Meenakshi paired for the first time with Salman Khan; they only shot once before the film was shelved.

In 1992, she appeared in the Telugu filmAapadbandhavudu oppositeChiranjeevi. In 1992 her filmAaj Ka Goonda Raaj opposite Chiranjeevi was a hit.

In 1993, she appeared in the filmDamini – Lightning. Directed by filmmakerRajkumar Santoshi, it also starred Rishi Kapoor, Sunny Deol,Amrish Puri,Tinnu Anand, andParesh Rawal. The film depicted the sensitive subject of injustice towards a rape victim.^{[citation needed]} She won many accolades for her performance in the film.Damini received a number of awards, including aNational Film Award and a Filmfare Award nomination.^[4]Damini is regarded as Meenakshi's career-defining role^[18] and considered a cult feminist film.^[19][20] She performed aTandav dance in the film, choreographed by Ravindra Atibudhi. In 1993, she also appeared inAadmi Khilona Hai oppositeGovinda; andKshatriya oppositeVinod Khanna – both the films were successful at the box office.

In 1994, she appeared in the Tamil filmDuet oppositePrabhu, directed byK. Balachander.^[21] The same year, she was in a dance show of songs fromDamini: "Bin Sajan Jhula Jholu" with Aamir Khan.

Meenakshi played the female lead in the 1996 filmGhatak opposite Sunny Deol, directed byRajkumar Santoshi. It was one of the highest-grossing films of 1996. This was her last film, as she moved to theUnited States after marriage.^[6][7]

After her marriage, she made a rare appearance onShekhar Suman's talk show.^{[citation needed]} After a few years of marriage, she shifted her base toPlano, Texas, in the United States.^{[citation needed]} 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."^{[citation needed]} However, with the passage of time she has settled there.^{[citation needed]} Now she is running her own dance school inCarrollton called Cherish Institute of Dance;^{[citation needed]} 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".^{[citation needed]}

Meenakshi retired from cinema after marrying investment banker Harish Mysore in 1995. They had a civil wedding and a registered marriage in New York.^[22] The couple have two children, a daughter and a son.^[23] Meenakshi lived in Plano, Texas.^[24] There, she taughtBharatanatyam,Kathak, andOdissi. She performs with her students at charity events and fundraisers,^[7] including theAmerican Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) convention in California. She has since shifted to Washington D.C.^{[citation needed]}

Meenakshi is not only known for her acting skills, but for her dancing skills as well.^[25] Often referred to as"Damini", she is famous for her dance in the song "Tu Mera Hero Hai" from the film Hero. She is also known for her dance sequences to Bollywood songs such as "Pyar Karne Wale" (fromHero), her one of great dance sequences in songs such as "Rock’N’Roll" and "Tu Nache Main Gaoon" - with Mithun (fromMain Balwaan andParivaar), "Teri Payal Mere Geet" with Govinda (fromTeri Payal Mere Geet), "Jaane Do Jaane Do" (fromShahenshah) opposite Amitabh Bachchan, "Badal Pe Chalke" (fromVijay) opposite Anil Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor, "Bin Saajan Jhula" (fromDamini) oppositeAamir Khan, "Sajan Mera Uss Par Hai" (fromGangaa Jamunaa Saraswati), "Mujre Wali Hoon" (fromAwaargi), "Jab Koi Baat Bigad Jaye" (fromJurm), and "Badan Main Chandni" (fromGhatak).

She considers herself more of a dancer than an actress.^[7] Her desire to continue the art and extend this culture in a foreign land led her to found the Cherish Dance School.^[7]

Meenakshi sang some poetic notes in J.P. Dutta's movieKshatriya, in a composition by Laxmikant Pyarelal. She sang a song in another movie,Tadap, withChunkey Pandey andNana Patekar, but the movie was not released. She sang "Tumhare Roop Ka", composed byR.D. Burman, withAmit Kumar andSuresh Wadkar.

She has made few appearances on talk shows and rarely gives interviews.^{[citation needed]} In 1987, she appeared in an interview inLondon, in which she discussed her personal and professional life.^{[citation needed]}

In 1992, Meenakshi featured in the television documentaryWorld of Film: India about the Indian film industry; she appeared with stalwarts such asShashi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, andMira Nair.^{[citation needed]}

In 1997, she made a rare public appearance onShekhar Suman's talk showMovers & Shakers (TV series); this was also her last television appearance before she left the industry to raise her children.^{[citation needed]} She discussed her entire career, her personal life, and her passion for dance and her stage performances.^{[citation needed]}

In 2006, a documentary was made on her life calledMeenakshi Accept Her Wings, directed by Margret Stephens; the two-hour musical documentary depicted her lifestyle transition from a dancer and actress to a homemaker.^{[citation needed]} The movie gave a deeper insight to her life after quitting film and her successful marriage.^{[citation needed]}

• 1986 – Lux Award as Best Actress forSwati
• 1991 –Filmfare Nomination asBest Actress forJurm^[26]
• 1992 –Filmfare Award South nomination asBest Actress – Telugu forAapadbandhavudu
• 1994 –Filmfare Nomination asBest Actress forDamini^[27]
• 1993 –Smita Patil Memorial Award as Best Actress forDamini^[28]

• Meenakshi Seshadri atIMDb
• Meenakshi Seshadri atBollywood Hungama

• 1963 births
• Living people
• Indian film actresses
• Actresses in Hindi cinema
• Actresses in Tamil cinema
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• Actresses from Jharkhand
• Femina Miss India winners
• Miss International 1981 delegates
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• Dancers from Jharkhand
• Women artists from Jharkhand
• Performers of Indian classical dance
• People from Dhanbad district
• Indian expatriates in the United States
• American actresses of Indian descent
• 20th-century Indian actresses
• 21st-century Indian actresses
• 20th-century Indian dancers
• 20th-century Indian women artists
• Tamil actresses
• American people of Indian Tamil descent
• Tamil Brahmins

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