Manisha Koirala (Nepali: ) (Born: 16 August 1970) is an Indian and Nepalese actress,

[1]

as well as a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and social activist.

Koirala has primarily worked in Bollywood, though she appeared in

severalNepali, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films as well. She is also
a Bharatnatyamand Manipuri dancer. She made her acting debut in the Nepali film Pheri
Bhetaula (1989). A year later, Koirala made her Bollywood debut with the top-grossing
drama Saudagar (1991). She went on to establish herself as one of the leading actresses in the 90s
with such mainstream films as 1942: A Love Story (1994), Agni Sakshi (1996) and Gupt (1997).
[2]

Recognised for her acting prowess, Koirala was noted for her performances in films such

asBombay, Akele Hum Akele Tum (both 1995), Khamoshi: The Musical (1996),Dil Se.. (1998),
and Company (2002). She has won the Filmfare Critics' Awardthrice and has received four
nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress so far. Although box-office collections of her
films have varied considerably, critics have noted that her niche as an actor remains unharmed
irrespective of her commercial potent.[2][3]
She is the daughter of politician Prakash Koirala and Sushma Koirala in theKoirala family of Nepal.
Off-screen she is frequented in the media as a "controversy's child" with her bohemian stance and
candid comments often described as "outspoken" and "bold".[4][5][6]