Early life

 

Meenakshi Seshadri was born into a Tamil Iyengar family in Sindri, Jharkhand. She is trained in four Indian classical dance forms, namely, Bharata Natyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak and Odissi. She studied dance under Vempati Chinna Satyam and Jaya Rama Rao.

 

Career

 

Meenakshi Seshadri, born as Shashikala Seshadri, made her debut in Painter Babu , Telugu/Hindi bilingual film (1982) opposite Rajiv Goswami, Brother of Manoj Kumar. She shot to fame with the mega hit film Hero directed by Subhash Ghai. She was nominated for a Filmfare Award for her role in the film Damini. She acted in her last film Ghatak in (1997). Meenakshi appeared in a number of films like Awara Baap alongside Madhuri Dixit and Rajesh Khanna, Bewafai alongside Rajnikant and Rajesh Khanna, Meri Jung opposite Anil Kapoor, Inaam Dus Hazaar opposite Sanjay Dutt, Shahenshah opposite Amitabh Bachchan, Vijay opposite Anil Kapoor. Meenakshi Sheshadri had the privilege of working with the best Bollywood banners as well as distinguished actors.

 

Known for her angelic beauty and impeccable dance performances, Meenakshi is among the few actresses who did not stereotype their on screen image. Her magnetism would bring liveliness to every film she worked in. Although she was appreciated for all her films, her high came when she was paired opposite superstar Amitabh Bachchan in 1988's Shahenshah. The film, though considered then as a flop, was a money-spinner and is said to have made more money than any other blockbuster film. Her groundbreaking performance was in Damini released in 1993. Directed by famed filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi, it also starred Rishi Kapoor, Sunny Deol, Amrish Puri, Tinu Anand, and Paresh Rawal. The film was based on the sensitive subject of injustice towards a rape victim. Damini became a mega-success and received a number of awards including the coveted National Film Award. Meenakshi won accolades for her versatility and display of varied sets of emotions on screen.

 

In the 1993, she appeared in Aadmi Khilona Hai opposite Govinda. Meenakshi played the female lead in 1996 blockbuster Ghatak opposite Sunny Deol. Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, it was her last film.

 

 

Personal life

 

She retired from cinema after marrying investment banker Harish Mysore. She had a civil wedding, a registered shaadi (marriage), in New York. The couple have two children, daughter Kendra and son Josh. Meenakshi lives in Plano, Texas,. There, she teaches Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Odissi. She performs with her students at charity events and fundraisers.[citation needed] A philanthropist, Meenakshi and her disciples performed at the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) convention in California.

 

Awards and nominations

 

Seshadri was nominated for Filmfare Best Actress Award for Jurm in 1991 and for Damini in 1994.

 

Filmography

 

    Ghatak: Lethal (1996) .... Gauri

    Duet (1994) .... Anjali (Tamil film)

    Damini - Lightning (1993) .... Damini Gupta

    Kshatriya (1993)

    Aadmi Khilona Hai (1993) .... Punam Verma

    Badi Bahen (1993) .... Jyoti Dwarkaprasad

    Sadhna (1993) .... Madhu

    Aapathbandhavudu (1992) .... Hema (Telugu film)

    Humshakal (1992) .... Sarah

    Police Aur Mujrim (1992) .... Kiran

    Aaj Ka Goonda Raj (1992) .... Shalu Sharma

    Humla (1992) .... Seema

    Yeh Raat Phir Na Ayegi (1992)

    Akayla (1991) .... Seema

    Brahmarishi Vishwamitra (1991) .... Menaka (Telugu film)

    Ghar Parivar (1991)

    Amba[disambiguation needed] (1990) .... Lajjo

    Jurm (1990) .... Meena S. Varma

    Ghayal (1990) .... Varsha Bharti

    Awaargi (1990) .... Meena

    Ghar Ho To Aisa (1990) .... Seema

    Pyar Ka Karz (1990) .... Dr. Naina

    Shandaar (1990) .... Rani

    Aag Se Khelenge (1989) .... Geeta

    Toofan (1989) .... Radha

    Bade Ghar Ki Beti (1989) .... Mala

    Sachché Ká Bol-Bálá (1989) .... Reema

    Joshilaay

    Gharana (1989) .... Radha

    En Rathathin Rathame (1989) (Tamil film) with Bagyaraj

    Mahaadev 1989) .... Geeta

    Mohabat Ka Paigham (1989) .... Zeenat Banu

    Nache Nagin Gali Gali (1989)

    Teri Payal Mere Geet (1989) .... Laila-Jaan / Leela

    Vijay (1988) .... Sapna

    Shahenshah (1988) .... Shalu

    Aurat Teri Yehi Kahani (1988) .... Savitri

    Bees Saal Baad (1988) .... Kiran Thakur

    Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswathi (1988) .... Jamuna

    Inteqam (1988)

    Main Tere Liye (1988) .... Rinku Sagar

    Satyamev Jayate (1987) .... Seema

    Dacait (1987) .... Javli

    Inaam Dus Hazaar (1987) .... CBI Officer Kamal Malhotra aka Sonia

    Muqaddar Ka Faisla (1987) .... Meena

    Parivaar (1987) .... Anita

    Swati (1986)

    Dilwaala (1986) .... Padma

    Allah Rakha (1986) .... Rani

    Dahleez (1986) .... Naini Saxena

    Maa Beti (1986) .... Meenu / Asha

    Main Balwan (1986) .... Natasha

    Rikcy (1986)

    Lover Boy (1985) .... Radha

    Mera Ghar Mere Bachche (1985) .... Sarita

    Meri Jung (1985) .... Geeta Mathur

    Maha Shaktimaan (1985) .... Madhuri

    Bewafai (1985) .... Vinny

    Mahaguru (1985) .... Basanti

    Aandhi Toofan (1985) .... Meena Kapoor

    Mera Jawab (1985) .... Poonam

    Awara Baap (1985)

    Hoshiyar (1985) .... Jyoti

    Paisa Yeh Paisa (1985) .... Sapna

    Love Marriage (1984) .... Ritu Mafatlal

    Hero (1983) .... Radha Mathur

    Painter Babu (1983) .... Renu Kailashnath

 

 

Refrence : Wikipedia