# Varsha Usgaonkar

Varsha Usgaonkar (born 28 February 1968) is an Indian actress, model, singer and television personality. Referred to as the "Wonder girl of Marathi cinema," she has appeared in over 100 Marathi and Hindi films. She is regarded as one of the most finest, accomplished and influential actresses of Marathi Cinema. Noted by critics for her beauty, dancing skills, and strong characters that played by her on screen, she received three Maharashtra State Film Award.

## Early life

Varsha Usgaonkar was born in Usgao, Goa, India, on 28 February 1968, to politician 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 1982 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). 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. She is currently playing the supporting role of Nandini Yashwant Shirke-Patil in Star Pravah's popular serial Sukh Mhanje Nakki Kay Asta. In 2024, she competed on Bigg Boss Marathi 5, whereby she was evicted in the Final Week in a mid-week eviction, finishing in 7th place.

## Personal life

Usgaonkar is a Konkani speaker born and raised in Goa. She is the daughter of Goa's former deputy speaker, A. K. S. Usgaonkar. She has two sisters, Tosha Kurade and Manisha Tarcar.
Usgaonkar dated fellow actor Nitish Bharadwaj in the late 1980s, and broke up in 1991. She married Ajay Sharma, son of Indian film music director, Ravi Shankar Sharma in March 2000.

## Filmography
### Films

| Year | Title | Role | Language |
| 1986 | Tuzya Wachun Karamena | Dolly | Marathi |
| 1987 | Gammat Jammat | Kalpana Korde | Marathi |
| 1987 | Kathyal Sasu Nathal Soon | Maya Jagde | Marathi |
| 1988 | Majjach Majja | Kamini Pratap Singh | Marathi |
| 1988 | Reshimgathi | Shimpli | Marathi |
| 1989 | Saglikade Bombabomb | Rajni Bala | Marathi |
| 1989 | Hamaal De Dhamaal | Nandini Patwardhan | Marathi |
| 1989 | Atmavishwas | Nisha | Marathi |
| 1989 | Bhutacha Bhau | Anjali | Marathi |
| 1989 | Pasant Aahe Mulgi | Madhumati Dhurandhar | Marathi |
| 1989 | Navra Baiko | Varsha | Marathi |
| 1990 | Doodh Ka Karz | Kajri Lohar | Hindi |
| 1990 | Shejari Shejari | Preeti | Marathi |
| 1990 | Aamchya Sarkhe Aamhich | Nandini Deshpande | Marathi |
| 1990 | Changu Mangu | Herself | Marathi |
| 1990 | Ghanchakkar | Herself | Marathi |
| 1990 | Patli Re Patli | Nanda | Marathi |
| 1990 | Kuthe Kuthe Shodhu Me Tila | Sujata | Marathi |
| 1990 | Baap Re Baap | Naina | Marathi |
| 1990 | Dokyala Taap Nahin | Vandana | Marathi |
| 1991 | Shikari: The Hunter | Chanchal | Hindi Russian |
| 1991 | Saathi | Nisha | Hindi |
| 1991 | Hafta Bandh | Maria | Hindi |
| 1991 | Aflatoon | Bitti | Marathi |
| 1991 | Mumbai Te Mauritius | Aarti/Bharti | Marathi |
| 1991 | Yeda Ki Khula | Aarti Divekar | Marathi |
| 1991 | Jeeva Sakha | Paru | |
| 1992 | Sone Ki Zanjeer | Sonali | Hindi |
| 1992 | Honeymoon | Asha S. Verma | Hindi |
| 1992 | Dilwale Kabhi Na Hare | Shabnam | Hindi |
| 1992 | Ghar Jamai | Mona | Hindi |
| 1992 | Maal Masala | Varsha Deshmukh | Marathi |
| 1992 | Shubh Mangal Savdhan | Jaya | Marathi |
| 1992 | Sone Ki Lanka | Roma | Hindi |
| 1993 | Savat Mazi Ladki | Dr. Beena Karnik | Marathi |
| 1993 | Ek Hota Vidushak | Menaka | Marathi |
| 1993 | Tirangaa | Shanti | Hindi |
| 1993 | Parwane | Suzie | Hindi |
| 1993 | Insaniyat Ke Devta | Husna Bano | Hindi |
| 1993 | Lapandav | Rasika Samarth | Marathi |
| 1993 | Aikava Te Navalach | Dr. Vandana | Marathi |
| 1993 | Paisa Paisa Paisa | Tanuja (Tannu) Kelkar | Marathi |
| 1993 | Hasti | Anita | Hindi |
| 1993 | Pardesi | Shanker's love interest | Hindi |
| 1993 | Khal-Naaikaa | Varsha Sharma | Hindi |
| 1993 | Ghar Aaya Mera Pardesi | Radha | Hindi |
| 1994 | Pathreela Raasta | Mona | Hindi |
| 1994 | Beta Ho To Aisa | Mini | Hindi |
| 1994 | Yadnya | Nisha | Marathi |
| 1995 | Painjan | Jaswanti | Marathi |
| 1995 | Jamla Ho Jamla | Radha | Marathi |
| 1995 | Dushmani: A Violent Love Story | Dancer | Hindi |
| 1995 | Aboli | Mona | Marathi |
| 1995 | Zakhmi Kunku | Inspector Rajlaxmi | Marathi |
| 1996 | Shohrat | Rajani, Nikhil's (Avinash Wadhawan) wife | Hindi |
| 1996 | Muqadama | Seema | Hindi |
| 1997 | Ghar Jamai | Miss Chamcham | Hindi |
| 1998 | Haste Hasate | Varsha | Hindi |
| 1998 | Paij Lagnachi | Pooja | Marathi |
| 1998 | Bayko Chukli Standvar | Hausa/Sribaby | Marathi |
| 1999 | Rang Premacha | Champa | Marathi |
| 1999 | Navra Mumbaicha | Gauri | Marathi |
| 1999 | Dhangad Dhinga | Madhura Mone | Marathi |
| 1999 | Ladhaai | Sunita Nadkarni | Marathi |
| 1999 | Chehraa | Uncredited | Hindi |
| 1999 | Sei To Abar Kache Ele | Ishita | Bengali |
| 2001 | Dhyaas Parva | Shakuntala Paranjpye | Marathi |
| 2001 | Style | Police Inspector | Hindi |
| 2003 | Baap Ka Baap | Uma Dixit | Hindi |
| 2004 | Hatya: The Murder | Kavita Jaiswal | Hindi |
| 2004 | Sakshatkaar | Saudamini | Marathi |
| 2005 | Sawal Majha Premacha | Jayshree Karadkar | Marathi |
| 2005 | The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey | Rani Laxmibai | Hindi |
| 2005 | Mr Ya Miss | Devi Parvati | Hindi |
| 2006 | Jigyaasa | Teacher Malini Mathur | Hindi |
| 2009 | Mare Paryant Phashi | Jailor's wife | Marathi |
| 2010 | Bayko Zali Gayab | Hausa | Marathi |
| 2010 | Ladigodi | Rekha | Marathi |
| 2011 | Arjun | Maya Thackeray | Marathi |
| 2013 | Thoda Tuza Thoda Maza | Malti | Marathi |
| 2013 | Duniyadari | Rani Maa | Marathi |
| 2013 | Naam | Unreleased | Unreleased |
| 2014 | Super Nani | Chandani | Hindi |
| 2014 | Hututu | Madhu | Marathi |
| 2014 | Capuccino | Sunanda | Marathi |
| 2016 | Kangana | Kangana | Rajasthani |
| 2016 | Ardhangini Ek Ardhsatya | Noor's wife | Hindi |
| 2017 | Bhavishyachi Aishi Taishi | Megha's mother | Marathi |
| 2017 | Oli Ki Suki | Advocate | Marathi |
| 2018 | Zanvoy No.1 | Diana's mother-in-law | Konkani |
| 2018 | Madhav - Every Child Needs Mentor | Sharda Mehta | Marathi |
| 2019 | Benddkar | Jessy | Konkani |
| 2022 | Hawahawai | Varsha | Marathi |
| 2022 | Sher Shivraj | Badi Begum | Marathi |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
| 1988 | Mahabharat | Uttara | Hindi | |
| 1994 | Rani Lakshmi Bai | Rani Laxmi Bai | Hindi | Lead role |
| 1994 | Chandrakanta | Roopmati Nagrani | Hindi | |
| 1995 | Aahat 1 | Varsha | Hindi | Episodic role |
| 1998 | Ghar Jamai | Ms. Chamcham | Hindi | |
| 2001 | Vishnu Puran | Mohini | Hindi | |
| 2005 | Tuzyavina | Sai Deshmukh | Marathi | Parallel lead |
| 2009-2011 | Man Udhan Varyache | Anuradha Mohite | Marathi | Parallel lead |
| 2014 | Jamai Raja | Kritika Khurana | Hindi | |
| 2020-2024 | Sukh Mhanje Nakki Kay Asta | Nandini Shirke-Patil (Maisaheb) | Marathi | |
| 2024-present | Bigg Boss Marathi 5 | Contestant | Marathi | 7th Place |

## Accolades

* 1987 – Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress for Gammat Jammat.
* 1989 – Nominated, Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress for Hamaal De Dhamaal.
* 1992 – Nominated, Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress for Ek Hota Vidushak.
* 1993 – Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for Savat Mazi Ladki.
* 1998 – Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress for Paij Lagnachi.
* 1998 – Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Actress for Paij Lagnachi.