Meenakshi Seshadri

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Meenakshi Seshadri Mysore (pronounced [miːnaːkʂiː ʃeːʂaːdrɪ]; née Seshadri; born 16 November 1963) as Shashikala Seshadri, is an Indian former actress and beauty pageant titleholder who worked primarily in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil films. Seshadri established herself as one of the most popular and highest-paid actresses of her time and is considered among the leading actresses of Indian cinema.^[1]

Prior to her acting career, Seshadri won the Eve's Weekly Miss India contest in 1981 at the age of 17.^[2][3] She became one of Hindi cinema's leading actresses in the 1980s and 1990s, and was acknowledged for several of her performances, her beauty, and her accomplished dancing.^[4] She made her debut with the film Painter Babu (1983) produced by Manoj Kumar, and her second film Hero (1983) catapulted her to instant stardom. She was noted for her performances in films including Hero (1983), Aandhi-Toofan (1985), Meri Jung (1985), Swati (1986), Dilwaala (1986), Dacait (1987), Inaam Dus Hazaar (1987), Parivaar (1987), Shahenshah (1988), Mahaadev (1989), Awaargi (1990), Jurm (1990), Ghayal (1990), Ghar Ho To Aisa (1990), Damini (1993), Duet (1994) and Ghatak (1996).^[4] She received particular critical acclaim for Swati (1986), Dahleez (1986), Satyamev Jayate (1987), Awaargi (1990) and Damini (1993).^[5] She also performed at the Khajuraho Dance Festival in the 1990s.

After the release of her film Ghatak, she left the film industry to raise her children in the United States with her husband, where she runs the Cherish Dance School. A documentary was made about her life, titled Meenakshi Accept Her Wings.^[6][7]