Manisha Koirala
Manisha Koirala

I’m recapping films/actors/actresses/songs that I feel deserve more credit in Bollywood.  I’ll start with one of the top actresses of the 1990’s, Manisha Koirala.

Madhuri Dixit made a semi-comeback last year (she returned to India, but no movies). Another ’90s actress I’d love to see return is Manisha Koirala,  a great actress who worked with the best directors: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Ram Gopal Varma and Mani Ratman. While Kareena Kapoor makes a big deal out of working with all the Khans, Manisha Koirala did so previously, working with Aamir Khan in Akele Hum Akele Tum and Mann, with Shah Rukh Khan in Dil Se, with Salman Khan in Khamoshi, and with Saif Ali Khan in Khachche Dhaage.

She was nominated for Filmfare Best Actress consecutively between 1995-1997 and also in 1999, and won multiple times in the Critics’ Choice category. While I would have loved to see her win the Best Actress trophy at least once, we all know certain awards shows are biased to certain filmi camps, so let’s not go down that path.

What’s next? She’s in the critically acclaimed I Am with Juhi Chawla and the unreleased Do Paise Ki Dhoop, Chaar Aane Ki Baarish, (shelved since 2009 despite international acclaim). She’s also rumoured to be in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s My Friend Pinto, starring Prateik Babbar. I really hope we see more Manisha in the future!

PS: Here’s a link to Dil Se, man that movie had a great soundtrack!