Subhash K Jha celebrates Manisha Koirala’s birthday on August 16 by looking back at her best films.
1942: A Love Story (1994)
Cinematographer Binod Pradhan made her look even more stunning in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's love saga set during the British Raj, inspiring Javed Akhtar to pen Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga.
Bombay (1994)
Manisha initially refused the role as she didn't want to play mum to twins.
Cinematographer Ashok Mehta insisted she do it.
Criminal (1994)
This Mahesh Bhatt film featured Manisha as a murdered wife with her accused husband (Nagarjuna) on the run.
She didn't have much screen time but her haunting presence stayed on, uplifted by M M Kreem's song, Tum Mile Dil Khile.
Akele Hum Akele Tum (1995)
Mansoor Ali Khan's unofficial adaptation of Kramer Vs Kramer is about a husband (Aamir Khan) trying to cope with the demands of a young son when his mother suddenly leaves.
Manisha was convincing in her unsympathetic role.
Agni Sakshi (1995)
Nana Patekar plays an abusive husband to Manisha's woman-on-the-run in this dark adaptation of Sleeping With The Enemy.
Manisha brought a lot of angst to her character.
Khamoshi: The Musical (1996)
A year after playing her sinister husband, Nana Patekar plays her deaf and mute father in Khamoshi.
Dil Se.. (1998)
After Bombay, Manisha reunites with Mani Ratnam for this under-rated masterpiece about a journalist's obsession about a mysterious woman.
Grahan (2000)
As an innocent woman who loses her psychological balance after being kidnapped and repeatedly raped by a politician's son, Manisha highlights the trauma effectively.
Lajja (200l)
As Manisha tries to escape a bad marriage, she gives her character a lot of heart.
Do Paise Ki Dhoop Chaar Aane Ki Baarish (2013)
Playing an aging, desperate, prostitute in Deepti Naval's directorial debut was not easy for Manisha.