Varsha Usgaonkar

Varsha Usgaonkar (born 28 February 1968) 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.

Varsha Usgaonkar first shot to fame in 1982 as the lead heroine in the super-hit Marathi stage play "Brahmachari". 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, Aflatoon and others. She has also 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 the 1988 playing role of Uttara, wife of Abhimanyu and mother of Parikshit, (the future of the Bharat Dynasty TV serial Mahabharata).The role lead her many Hindi movies offers and most of them failed to create box office success . She also played role of Roopmati (Snake Queen) in 1994 TV serial Chandrakanta. She has appeared in the Marathi shows Aakash Zep and Eka Mekansathi, and she has also acted in the Hindi television serials Alvida Darling, Tanha and Anhonee.

One of her most prominent performance is from TV Serial Jhansi Ki Rani in 1990s on Doordarshan where she played the lead character of Rani Lakshmibai.

Usgaonkar has also sung in a Konkani music album Roop Tujem Laita Pixem with Ulhas Buyao.

Usgaonkar with husband Ajay Shankar in 2014

Varsha is a Konkani. She is the daughter of Goa's former Deputy Speaker A. K. S. Usgaonkar. She has two sisters Dr Mrs Tosha Kurade and Mrs Manisha Tarcar. Usgaonkar married in March 2000 to Ajay Sharma, son of Indian film music director Ravishankar Sharma or Ravi.