Koirala has had an eventful 33 years in Bollywood. Last year, she brought vulnerability and courage of her life's battles to her role in Heeramandi
Manisha Koirala at her Mumbai home in Versova
Image: Neha Mithbawkar for Forbes India
As you enter Manisha Koirala’s Mumbai home in Versova, you’re greeted by an unexpected yet harmonious duo: Mowgli, her energetic fur baby, and Simba, his little brother from the feline clan. The walls are adorned with stunning paintings by artists like Deepti Naval, Laila Khan and Kisalay Vora, and the fragrance of fresh white rajanigandha (tuberose) flowers wafts through the air.
Dressed in a simple and elegant white shirt paired with blue denims, Koirala radiates a sense of calm confidence. Looking back on her three-decade-long journey, the 54-year-old actor, who made her debut in the 90s iconic film Saudagar, says, “I never imagined I’d have such a long career. I thought actresses had a shelf life of 10 years, max. But here I am, 33 years later, and it feels like it’s never-ending—which is amazing.”
Koirala, who has nearly 100 films under her belt and hits like Bombay (1995), 1942: A Love Story (1994) and Dil Se (1998), made her OTT series debut with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar in 2024. The eight-part historical drama series, which streamed on Netflix, delves into the lives of courtesans in Lahore’s walled city during the pre-Partition era. Koirala, who played courtesan Mallikajaan, earned praise for her performance despite mixed reviews for the show.
Koirala had earlier worked with Bhansali in his 1996 debut film Khamoshi: The Musical and when he approached her for this role, she immediately agreed. “It’s one of the most challenging roles I’ve ever done,” she says adding that she found some scenes tough, especially in the beginning when she was still getting into character. She had to work hard to get the right tone and mannerisms, especially speaking Urdu, which was essential for the part.
As a cancer survivor, Koirala also knew that taking on a project like Heeramandi would be physically demanding. But she was determined to give it her all without compromising on her health. Koirala was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer in 2012 and underwent treatment in the US, including surgery and chemotherapy. After a tough battle, she was declared cancer-free in 2013.
(This story appears in the 10 January, 2025 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)