Varsha Usgaonkar (born 28 February 1968) 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.

Early life

Usgaonkar was born in Usgao, Goa, India, on 28 February 1968, to A. K. S. Usgaonkar and Manikabai Usgaonkar. Konkani is her native language. Her father served as a Cabinet Minister in Goa, while her mother was a classical singer. Under the tutelage of Pandit Sudhakar Karandikar, she honed her skills in classical music. She pursued her B.Com degree in Goa and actively engaged in theatrical productions during her academic years.

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'', ''Hamaal De Dhamaal'', ''Saglikade Bombabomb'', ''Savat Mazi 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''). ''Hamaal De Dhamaal'', ''Saglikade Bombabomb'', ''Savat Mazi 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''). 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'', ''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. ''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. 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

She is the daughter of Goa's former deputy speaker, A. K. S. Usgaonkar. She has two sisters, Tosha Kurade and Manisha Tarcar.Usgaonkar was dating Nitish Bharadwaj in late 80s soon they broke up in 1991. She married Ajay Sharma, son of Indian film music director, Ravi Shankar Sharma in March 2000.