Varsha Usgaonkar

Subsequently, she quickly rose to one of the top heroines in the Marathi film industry with super-hits such as Gammat Jammat, Hamal De Dhamal, Saglikade Bombabomb, Sawat Majhi Ladki, Shejari Shejari, Ek Hota Vidushak, Lapandaav and Aflatoon. She starred as the 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 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 a 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 she has acted in the Hindi television serials Alvida Darling, Tanha and Anhonee.

Usgaonkar married Ajay Sharma, son of Indian film music director Ravishankar Sharma or Bombay Ravi, in March 2000.

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.

Varsha Usgaonkar (Marathi: वर्षा उसगांवकर) first shot to fame in 1982 as the lead heroine in the super-hit Marathi stage play Brahmachari.

Varsha Usgaonkar (born 28 February 1965) is an Indian film actress from Goa, who has worked in various Bollywood and Marathi movies as the leading lady. During the 1990s, she was the most popular actress in Marathi cinema.