# Sarika

Sarika Thakur, known mononymously as Sarika is an Indian actress and costume designer. In 2005, she won the National Film Award for Best Actress for the English-language film Parzania. She was also awarded the National Film Award for Best Costume Design for her work in Hey Ram (2001).

## Early life

Sarika was born in New Delhi into a family of Marathi and Rajput descent. Her father abandoned the family when she was very young. From then on, she became the breadwinner of the family. As she had to engage in prostitution for a living, she did not attend school.

## Career

Sarika started her film career as a child actor at the age of 5, playing the role of a boy, Master Sooraj, during the 1960s in Hindi language films. Her most notable and popular appearance as a child artist was in the year 1967 in the musical superhit Hamraaz, where she was seen as the daughter of Vimi named baby Saarika. She appeared in many children's movies. Later, she moved on to films with Rajshri Productions Geet Gaata Chal with Sachin, with whom she starred in many Hindi and Marathi films.
After separating from her husband, she made a comeback in Hindi films. She played Ipsita Ray Chakraverti in the film Sacred Evil – A True Story which failed at the box office. In year 2000, Sarika won the National Film Award for Best Costume Design for the film Hey Ram.
Her performance in Parzania in which she plays the role of a Zoroastrian woman who loses her child during the 2002 riots of India, earned her the National Film Award for Best Actress. Khalid Mohamed wrote for Hindustan Times of her performance, "Sarika is marvelously restrained and lifelike, making you care for Parzania straight from the heart."
Sarika has starred as Sheetal Thadani in the movie Bheja Fry (2006), where she played the wife of Rajat Kapoor. She also had a small but important role in Manorama Six Feet Under. Her latest movie is Shoebite, which has been delayed for production, where she stars opposite Amitabh Bachchan.
Sarika made her television debut in Sony TV's Yudh which stars Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role. Apart from acting, she also served as the costume designer, sound designer and associate director for Kuruthipunal (1995) under Raaj Kamal Films International.

## Personal life

Sarika and actor Kamal Haasan began living together in 1988, marrying after the birth of their first child, Shruti (born 1986). Shruti is a singer and a Tollywood-Kollywood actress. Their younger daughter, Akshara (born 1991) is an assistant director and actress. Sarika stopped acting soon after their marriage, Sarika worked as Haasan's costume designer for the movie Hey Ram and won the National Film Award for Best Costume Designer. In 2002, the couple filed for divorce, which was granted in 2004.

## Filmography

| Year | Film | Role |
| 2022 | Uunchai | Mala Trivedi |
| 2016 | Baar Baar Dekho | Varsha Varma, Jai's mother |
| 2014 | Purani Jeans | Sherry Lawrence |
| 2013 | David | |
| 2013 | Club 60 | Dr. Saira Shaikh |
| 2012 | Jab Tak Hai Jaan | Dr. Zoya Ali Khan |
| 2012 | Shoebite (Unreleased) | Aditi |
| 2010 | Society | |
| 2009 | Kaccha Limboo | |
| 2008 | Hari Puttar: A Comedy of Terrors | Hari Puttar's Mother |
| 2008 | Yeh Mera India | Sushma Talreja |
| 2008 | Tahaan | (uncredited) Tahaan's Mother |
| 2007 | Manorama Six Feet Under | Manorama |
| 2007 | Bheja Fry | Sheetal R. Thadani |
| 2006 | Baabul | Pushpa Kapoor |
| 2006 | Sacred Evil | Ipsita |
| 2005 | Kal: Yesterday and Tomorrow | Ira Haksar |
| 2005 | Parzania | Shehnaz |
| 2004 | American Daylight | Dolly |
| 2003 | Raghu Romeo | Party guest |
| 2003 | Punnagai Poove (Tamil) | |
| 1997 | Aakhri Sanghursh | Seeta |
| 1989 | Santosh | Munni/Sarika |
| 1989 | Ajeeb Itefaq | Aparna/Arpana |
| 1988 | Kharidar | |
| 1986 | Qatl | Rohini |
| 1986 | Swati | Dancer/Singer |
| 1986 | Shart | Ruhi |
| 1986 | Dilwaala | Sapna |
| 1986 | Mangal Dada | |
| 1986 | Zinda Laash | |
| 1985 | Ek Daku Saher Mein | Ranjana |
| 1985 | Ram Tere Kitne Nam | (uncredited) Lily (scene from Devta) |
| 1985 | Ek Bhool | (TV) |
| 1984 | Karishmaa | Neeta |
| 1984 | Gangvaa | Chameli |
| 1984 | Ram Tera Desh | Lily D'Souza |
| 1984 | Aasmaan | |
| 1984 | Akalmand | Advocate Shobha |
| 1984 | Raaj Tilak | Gypsy |
| 1983 | Bade Dil Wala | Juhi Sinha/Juhi V. Gupta |
| 1983 | Nastik | (as Baby Sarika) Mala |
| 1983 | Kalka | Gauri |
| 1983 | Bagga Daku | |
| 1983 | Razia Sultan | |
| 1982 | Vidhaata | Neelima |
| 1982 | Badle Ki Aag | Asha |
| 1982 | Meharbaani | |
| 1982 | Teesri Aankh | Rekha |
| 1982 | Yeh Vaada Raha | Rita Saxena |
| 1982 | Shriman Shrimati | Aruna Gupta |
| 1982 | Satte Pe Satta | Sheela |
| 1982 | Daulat | Sushma |
| 1982 | Dil Hi Dil Mein | Gulabo/Rani |
| 1981 | Khara Khota | With actor Raj Kiran |
| 1981 | Tik...Tik...Tik (Tamil) | Miss India Sherley |
| 1981 | Sannata | |
| 1981 | Dahshat | Kiran |
| 1981 | Paanch Qaidi | |
| 1981 | Kranti | Sheetal |
| 1981 | Nai Imarat | Ratna |
| 1981 | Plot No. 5 | |
| 1981 | Sharada | Anita Kohli |
| 1980 | Jyoti Bane Jwala | Asha |
| 1980 | Nazrana Pyar Ka | Anuradha |
| 1980 | Pyaara Dushman | |
| 1980 | Yeh Kaisa Insaaf? | Sudha |
| 1979 | Bin Phere Hum Tere | Shikha |
| 1979 | Griha Pravesh | Sapna |
| 1979 | Jaan-E-Bahaar | Kuku Rai |
| 1979 | Jaani Dushman | Bindiya |
| 1979 | Raakhi Ki Saugandh | Paro/Tina |
| 1979 | Til Til Dalekha | |
| 1978 | Dil Aur Deewaar | Laxmi Rai |
| 1978 | tail chitr | |
| 1978 | Geeta "Anpadh" |
| 1978 | Devata | Lily |
| 1978 | Madhu Malti | |
| 1977 | Paradh | Marathi Film (Nutan Sachin Pilgaonkar Shreeram Lagoo) |
| 1976 | Bundal Baaz | (uncredited) TV Newscaster |
| 1976 | Raksha Bandhan | Asha |
| 1976 | Zid | |
| 1975 | Khushboo | Kali |
| 1975 | Geet Gaata Chal | Radha |
| 1975 | Kaagaz Ki Nao | |
| 1975 | Vandana | |
| 1972 | Haar Jeet | Child artist |
| 1971 | Chhoti Bahu | (uncredited) Gopi |
| 1971 | Jawan Muhabat | Child artist - Rekha Sareen |
| 1970 | Devi | (as Moppet Suraj) Deepak |
| 1969 | Beti | Little Nanda |
| 1969 | Balak | Child artist - Deepak "Deepu" |
| 1969 | Jyoti | (as Moppet Suraj) Munna/Nandan |
| 1969 | Satyakam | Child artist - Kabul S. Archarya |
| 1969 | Aashirwad | Child artist - Neena |
| 1967 | Hamraaz | Child artist - Sarika |
| 1967 | Majhli Didi | Uma – Hemangini |

### Television

| Year | Show | Role |
| 2014 | Yudh | Gauri Sekhar |
| 2015 | Darr Sabko Lagta Hai | Miss Consica |
| 2022 | Modern Love: Mumbai | Dilbar |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 1982 | Filmfare Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Sharda | Nominated |
| 2000 | National Film Awards | Best Costume Design | Hey Ram | Won |
| 2005 | National Film Awards | Best Actress | Parzania | Won |
| 2013 | BIG Star Entertainment Awards | Most Entertaining Actor in a Social Role – Female | Club 60 | Won |
| 2023 | Indian Television Academy Awards | Best Actress - Drama (OTT) | Modern Love Mumbai | Nominated |