Varsha Usgaonkar

Varsha Usgaonkar (born 28 February 1968[1]) is an Indian actress, model and singer. She has worked in various Marathi as well as Hindi movies as a leading actress. During the 1990s, she was the most popular actress in Marathi cinema.[2]

Varsha Usgaonkar
Usgaonkar in March 2015
Born (1968-02-28) 28 February 1968
Usgao, Goa, India
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
  • singer
Years active1987–present
Spouse
Ajay Shankar Sharma
​
​
(m. 2000)​
Parent
RelativesManisha Usgaonkar
Tosha Usgaonkar (Siblings)
Ravi Shankar Sharma (father-in-law)

Career

Usgaonkar first shot to fame in 1984 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,[3] Hamal De Dhamal, Saglikade Bombabomb, Sawat Majhi 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).[4] 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,[5] 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.[6] She is currently playing the supporting role of Nandini Yashwant Shirke-Patil in Star Pravah's popular serial Sukh Mhanje Nakki Kay Asta.

Personal life
Usgaonkar with husband Ajay Sharma in 2014

Usgaonkar is a Konkani speaker born and raised in Goa.[7][8] She is the daughter of Goa's former deputy speaker, A. K. S. Usgaonkar. She has two sisters, Tosha Kurade and Manisha Tarcar.[9]

Usgaonkar married Ajay Sharma, son of Indian film music director, Ravi Shankar Sharma in March 2000.[10]

Filmography

Films
YearTitleRole Language
1987Gammat JammatKalpana Korde Marathi
1988Sagalikade BombabombRajani Bala
1989Hamaal De DhamaalNandini Patwardhan
Atmavishwas Nisha
Bhutacha Bhau Anjali
Pasant Aahe Mulgi Madhu
1990Doodh Ka KarzKajri Hindi
Shejari ShejariPreeti Marathi
Aamchya Sarkhe AamhichNandini
1991Shikari: The HunterChanchal Hindi Russian
SaathiNisha Hindi
Hafta BandhMaria
AflatoonBitti Marathi
1992Sone Ki ZanjeerSonali Hindi
HoneymoonAsha S. Verma
Dilwale Kabhi Na HareShabnam
Ghar JamaiMona
Maal MasalaVarsha Deshmukh Marathi
Shubh Mangal SavdhanJaya
1993Savat Mazi LadkiDr. Beena Karnik
Ek Hota VidushakMenaka
TirangaaShanti Hindi
ParwaneSuzie
Insaniyat Ke DevtaHusna Bano
LapandavRasika Samarth Marathi
HastiAnita Hindi
Khal-NaaikaaVarsha Sharma
Ghar Aaya Mera PardesiRadha
1994Pathreela RaastaMona
1996ShohratNikhil's wife
MuqadamaSeema
1997Ghar JamaiMiss Chamcham
1998Haste HasateVarsha
1999Rang PremachaChampa Marathi
Dhangad Dhinga Madhura Mone
LadhaaiSunita Nadkarni
ChehraaUncredited Hindi
Sei To Abar Kache EleIshita Bengali
2001 Dhyaas Parva Shakuntala Paranjpye Marathi
Style Police Inspector Hindi
2003 Baap Ka Baap Uma Dixit
2004Hatya: The Murder Kavita Jaiswal
Sakshatkaar Saudamini Marathi
2005 Sawal Majha Premacha Jayshree Karadkar
The Rising: Ballad of Mangal PandeyRani Laxmibai Hindi
Mr Ya Miss Devi Parvati
2006JigyaasaTeacher Malini Mathur
2009 Mare Paryant Phashi Jailor's wife Marathi
2010 Bayko Zali Gayab Hausa
Ladigodi Rekha
2011ArjunMaya Thackeray
2013 Thoda Tuza Thoda Maza Malti
DuniyadariRani Maa
NaamUnreleased Unreleased
2014Super NaniChandani Hindi
Hututu Madhu Marathi
Capuccino Sunanda
2016 KanganaKangana Rajasthani
Ardhangini Ek Ardhsatya Noor's wife Hindi
2017 Bhavishyachi Aishi Taishi Megha's mother Marathi
Oli Ki Suki Advocate
2018Zanvoy No.1Diana's mother-in-law Konkani
Madhav - Every Child Needs Mentor Sharda Mehta Marathi
2019Benddkar[11]Jessy Konkani
2022Sher Shivraj Badi Begum Marathi

Television
Year Title Role Language Notes
1988 Mahabharat Uttara Hindi [12]
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
2009-2011 Man Udhan Varyache Anuradha Mohite Marathi Parallel lead
2014 Jamai Raja Kritika Khurana Hindi [13]
2020-2023 Sukh Mhanje Nakki Kay Asta Nandini Shirke-Patil (Maisaheb) Marathi

See also

References
  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. "Gammat Jammat". The Times of India. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  4. Jain, Arushi (21 May 2020). "Mahabharat actor Varsha Usgaonkar revisits the epic show". The Indian Express. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  5. "I feel sad and deprived, I do miss Chamatkar". The Indian Express. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  6. "Rock and Raaga". rockandraaga.in. 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  7. "Konkani Parishad's silver jubilee session in February - The Hindu". The Hindu. 18 January 2006. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  8. 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.
  9. "Goa's emerald eyed 'Sridevi' | iGoa". Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  10. "Redirection From Mobile URL". m.outlookindia.com. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  11. "Konkani movie 'Benddkar' sees good opening". Deccan Herald. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  12. "Mahabharat actor Varsha Usgaonkar revisits the epic show". The Indian Express. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  13. "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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