Namrata Shirodkar

Namrata Shirodkar (born 22 January 1972) is an Indian actress and former model known for her works in Bollywood. She was awarded the Femina Miss India in 1993. She is best known for her works in films such as Kachche Dhaage (1999), Ezhupunna Tharakan (1999), Vaastav: The Reality (1999) and Pukar (2000), for which she was nominated for the IIFA Best Supporting Actress Award, Astitva (2000), Dil Vil Pyar Vyar (2002), LOC Kargil (2003), and the crossover cinema Bride and Prejudice (2004), which was a hit overseas, particularly in the UK. She married Telugu actor Mahesh Babu on 10 February 2005, and the couple has a son and a daughter.

Early life

Namrata Shirodkar was born on 22 January 1972 in a Maharashtrian family of Goan origin. She is the elder sister of the actress Shilpa Shirodkar, and the grand daughter of noted Marathi actress Meenakshi Shirodkar, who starred in Brahmachari (1938).

Modelling career

Shirodkar worked as a model, and was crowned Miss India in 1993. She represented India in the Miss Universe pageant and finished in sixth place. The same year, she also represented India in the Miss Asia Pacific contest and was chosen as first runner-up.

Acting career

She appeared in a brief role as a child artiste with Shatrughan Sinha in the 1977 film Shirdi Ke Sai Baba.

Shirodkar’s debut film was meant to be Purab Ki Laila Pachhim Ki Chhaila, with Manoj Kumar and Sunil Shetty in the lead and music by Nadeem Shravan. This movie was never released. The movie was completed after her retirement and the title was changed to Hello India but it is still awaiting release. Shirodkar made her actual debut with a small role in the film Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai (1998), along with Salman Khan and Twinkle Khanna. She then went on to star in the hit films Vaastav and Kachche Dhaage (both 1999). Her performance was appreciated and she became a known name in Bollywood. In 2004, she appeared in the English language film Bride and Prejudice. Her last film was Rok Sako To Rok Lo in 2004.

Personal life

In 2000, Shirodkar met Telugu cinema actor Mahesh Babu on the sets of their movie Vamsi. They began dating shortly after filming finished. They married on 10 February 2005 at the JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu during the shooting of Athadu. Shirodkar now lives in Hyderabad with her husband. Their first child, a boy named Gautam Krishna Ghattamaneni, was born on 31 August 2006. Their second child, a daughter Sitara Ghattamaneni was born on 20 July 2012.

Filmography

Year Film Role Language Notes
1998 Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai Pooja (Kabir’s Mother) Hindi Special appearance
Mere Do Anmol Ratan Kiran Hindi
Hero Hindustani Namrata ‘Nikki’ Agarwal Hindi
1999 Kachche Dhaage Ragini Pandit Hindi
Chora Chittha Chora Ravi’s love interest Kannada
Ezhupunna Tharakan Ashwini Varma Malayalam
Vaastav: The Reality Sonia Hindi
2000 Pukar Pooja Mallapa Hindi Nominated – IIFA Best Supporting Actress Award
Hera Pheri Ms. Chinga Hindi Special Appearance
Vamsee Shilpa Telugu
Astitva Revati Marathi / Hindi
Aaghaaz Gittika Hindi
2001 Albela Nina Hindi
Tera Mera Saath Rahen Suman Gupta Hindi
2002 Hathyar: Face to Face with Reality Sonu Raghunath Shivalkar Hindi
Dil Vil Pyar Vyar Raksha Hindi
Maseeha Pinky Hindi
2003 Pran Jaaye Par Shaan Na Jaaye Mona Hindi
Tehzeeb Aloka Hindi
LOC Kargil Lt. Col. Y.K. – Joshi’s wife Hindi
2004 Anji Swapna Telugu
Charas: A Joint Operation Pia Hindi
Insaaf: The Justice Mrs. Kunti V. Prasad Hindi
Bride and Prejudice Jaya Bakshi English/Hindi
Rok Sako To Rok Lo Sandra (Narrator) Hindi