Heeramandi: 5 underrated films of Manisha Koirala aka Mallikajaan that you cannot miss

Revisiting five underrated films of Manisha Koirala

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi has got mixed to extremereviews from viewers. But there is one thing everyone is unanimous about. The actress who has stolen the show is none other than Manisha Koirala. Mallikajaan is the heart and soul of the series. She is intelligent, evil, ambitious, arrogantwith her moments of vulnerability. Manisha Koirala has given the role her best,and social media wants more of her in films and OTT. Many Gen-Z viewers have also discovered her acting prowess. Here is a look at five underrated performancesof Manisha Koirala that fans should watch besides known classics like Bombay,Dil Se, Khamoshi and others. 

Agni Sakshi (1996)

The 1991 Hollywood hit Sleeping with the Enemy spawned off many remakes in Bollywood. Partho Ghosh’s Agni Sakshi was the most successful one. Manisha Koirala did a great job as Shivangi, a victim of consistent physical and mental abuse from a controlling husband. While Nana Patekar sent shivers down the spine of desi audiences, Manisha Koirala managed to hold her presence even in front of the stalwart. 

Do Paise Ki Dhoop, Chaar Aane Ki Baarish (2009)

Fans of Manisha Koirala can watch the actress in Deepti Naval’s Do Paise Ki Dhoop, Chaar Aane Ki Baarish on Netflix. The film is about a sex worker who hires a homosexual songwriter to care for her disabled son. The tender narrative coupled with nuanced performances made it a movie way ahead of its times. 

Yugpurush (1998)

Partho Ghosh reunited the pair of Nana Patekar andManisha Koirala for Yugpurush after Agni Sakshi (1994) and Khamoshi: TheMusical (1996). While Nana is the undisputed star of the film, even ManishaKoirala has done a stellar job. People feel it is criminally underrated as compared to the other two. 

I Am (2010)

Juhi Chawla and Manisha Koirala played childhood friends in I Am (2010). They were part of the anthology movie with their film being titled 'Megha'. While Juhi Chawla played a Kashmiri Hindu woman named Megha, Manisha Koirala was a Muslim lady Rubina. The two actresses did a great job making us wonder why filmmakers do not tell enough stories where women are central to the narrative. 

Sirf (2008)

Manisha Koirala was one of the 90s actresses who did quite a few anthology movies. Kay Kay Menon and she played an urban couple in Sirf (2008).