Manisha Koirala, one of the most popular actresses of the 1990s, never fails to make the viewers 'wow' with her roles. In the 1990s, the actress became well-known for her diverse roles, and she still doesn't hesitate to play difficult parts. The captivating diva, who is well-known for her flawless beauty, grace, and skilled acting abilities, has won audiences' hearts of all ages with her performances. Her films such as 1942: A Love Story, Mann, Gupt, Bombay, Akele Hum Akele Tum, and numerous others are most renowned works to date. In a recent interview with ANI, Manisha Koirala acknowledged that, at first, she didn’t like the comparisons to Madhuri Dixit.
When Manisha Koirala made her Bollywood debut in Saudagar (1991), directed by Subhash Ghai, she was frequently compared to Madhuri Dixit as a doppelganger. In a recent interview, Manisha revealed that the similarity didn't originally make her feel flattering. But after working and getting to know Madhuri in Lajja, she realised how talented she was. In her words:
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"My eyes had opened, and I was seeing a super-talented person."
In the same interview with ANI, Manisha Koirala acknowledged that she now feels honoured by comparisons to Madhuri Dixit. Previously, she had not felt flattered by them. She described Madhuri as a lovely lady whom she greatly respects. Manisha also expressed admiration for her beauty, grace, and character. When Manisha reflected on her early career, she also revealed that she had been a "rebel" at the time, frequently choosing to follow her own route over advice from others.
However, years later, when Manisha Koirala shared the screen with Madhuri Dixit in Rajkumar Santoshi's 2001 crime drama, Lajja, she was more receptive. By then, Manisha thought she was more mature and genuinely appreciated Madhuri's beauty, brilliance, and extreme humility. She remembers how hard she had to fight to keep up with Madhuri during their iconic dance performance, Badi Mushkil.
According to Manisha Koirala, she later learnt that Madhuri Dixit had a crucial part in securing Manisha's Bollywood debut. The Heeramandi actress praised Madhuri, calling her 'marvellous' and mentioning that Madhuri had suggested her to filmmaker, Subhash Ghai after spotting her in Rakesh Shrestha's photoshoot. Manisha claims that Subhash Ghai asked Rakesh Shrestha for her picture since Madhuri Dixit had recommended that he take her into consideration for Saudagar.
Going further in the interview, Manisha Koirala said she had a good experience working on Saudagar, although she was "too young and naive" at the time because she had just finished the 12th grade. Because of her lack of exposure to life and the industry, the Dil Se actor remembers feeling scared and inexperienced and wanting to keep distance from other people on set. Notably, Manisha Koirala took Madhuri Dixit's position in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 1994 period drama, 1942: A Love Story, three years after her debut.
Let us know your thoughts on Manisha Koirala's journey and her evolving admiration for Madhuri Dixit!
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