Manisha Koirala was born on August 16, 1970 in Kathmandu, Nepal. This acclaimed Bollywood actress is known for her intricate Nepali beauty. Manisha Koirala was born into the politically well-known Hindu Koirala family. She was the granddaughter of Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala who was the Prime Minister of Nepal during the late 50s-early 60s. Manisha studied at Vasant Kanya Mahavidhyalaya (VKM) Varanasi and Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi. She used to stay with her grandmother in Varanasi during her studies. She aimed her career to be in the medical field but a modelling opportunity opened her career path into Bollywood. She is also an UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and social activist. Other than being an actor she is also a skilful Bharatnatyam and Manipuri dancer.

Career of Manisha Koirala
Manisha Koirala made her acting debut in Nepali movie Pheri Bhetaula (1989). In Bollywood Koirala made her acting debut with Subhash Ghai`s top ranking drama Saudagar (1991). She went on to work together with some of the outstanding Indian film directors of her times and throughout the 1990s. Manisha Koirala principally experimented with serious and realistic cinema and had a strong willingness to portray dramatic characters. She starred in many films during 1992-1993 but Vidhu Vinod Chopra`s love saga 1942: A Love Story (1994) and Mani Ratnam`s Tamil drama Bombay (1995) turned out her career to be at the climax. She was also seen in many more commercial films like Mansoor Khan`s romantic musical Akele Hum Akele Tum (1995) that earned her a Filmfare nomination for Best Actress. Koirala had a predominantly successful year in 1996. She received positive reviews for films like Agni Sakshi, Khamoshi: The Musical and others. Manisha Koirala played the leading role alongside Kajol and Bobby Deol in the thriller Gupt: The Hidden Truth. The film became one of the biggest hits of 1997. She starred in Mani Ratnam`s award-winning film Dil Se (1998) opposite Shahrukh Khan. She worked in several critically and commercially successful projects like Kachche Dhaage (1999) Lajja (2001) along with Rekha, Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit and Jackie Shroff, Grahan (2001).

After several years of success Koirala left the mainstream cinema in 2003. She was seen in several low budget films. She started working in strong woman-oriented films in 2003 including Escape from Taliban, Market, Paisa Vasool and others. Her brother Siddharth Koirala is also an actor and worked with her once in the film Anwar in 2007. She returned from New York in 2004 after receiving a diploma in filmmaking and took the membership in an independent documentary filmmaker`s society.

Manisha Koirala as a Social Worker
Manisha Koirala was appointed as a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador in September 1999. Since then she is actively involved in social work particularly working with organizations to promote women`s rights, prevention of violence against women and also to avoid the human trafficking of Nepali girls for prostitution.

Awards and Honours of Manisha Koirala
Manisha won several awards in her film career. In 2004 the Bengal Film Journalists` Association Awards honoured her with the Best Actress Awards for Escape from Taliban. She won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance in Company in 2003. The Star Screen and the Filmfare Critics Award gave her the Best Actress Award for Khamoshi: The Musical in 1997.In the year 1996 Manisha got the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance in Bombay.

Filmography of Manisha Koirala

Year Film
1989 Pheri Bhetaula
1991 Saudagar, First Love Letter
1992 Yalgaar
1993 Insaaniyat Ke Devta, Anmol, Dhanwan
1994 Yun Hi Kabhi
1942: A Love Story, Sangdil Sanam, Criminal
1995 Bombay, Anokha Andaz, Milan, Guddu, Ram Shastra, Akele Hum Akele Tum
1996 Dushmani, Agni Sakshi, Majhdhaar, Khamoshi: The Musical
1997 Sanam, Loha, Gupt: The Hidden Truth, Dil Ke Jharokhe Mein
1998 Yugpurush, Salaakhen, Achanak, Dil Se, Maharaja
1999 Kachche Dhaage, Lal Baadshah, Laawaris, Jaihind, Mudhalvan, Kartoos, Mann, Hindustan Ki Kasam
2000 Champion, Khauff, Baaghi, Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya
2001 Grahan, Chhupa Rustam, Lajja, Aalavandhan, Moksha
2002 Company, Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani, Ek Chotisi Love Story, Baba
2003 Escape from Taliban, Calcutta Mail, Market
2004 Paisa Vasool, Tum - A Dangerous Obsession
2005 Chaahat - Ek Nasha, Mumbai Express, Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story, Anjaane - The Unknown
2006 Darwaza Bandh Rakho
2007 Anwar
2008 Tulsi, Sirf, Mehbooba, Khela
2010 Ek Second... Jo Zindagi Badal De?, Dharmaa, Elektra