Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala, who made her mark with Subhash Ghai’s Saudagar (1991), recently opened up about her career, her early experiences in the industry, and her evolving relationship with Madhuri Dixit, with whom she was once frequently compared due to their striking similarity in looks.

In a candid interview, Koirala revealed that, initially, she was not flattered by being constantly compared to Madhuri. However, her perspective changed when the two actresses worked together in the 2001 film Lajja. “My eyes had opened, and I was seeing a super-talented person,” Koirala said, acknowledging Madhuri’s exceptional skill and grace. She described the Dhak Dhak girl as “marvellous” and praised her as a source of inspiration. Koirala also shared that Madhuri played a pivotal role in launching her Bollywood career.

After seeing her in a photoshoot by renowned photographer Rakesh Shrestha, Koirala explained that Madhuri recommended her to director Subhash Ghai for Saudagar. The director, impressed by her potential, subsequently asked Shrestha for Koirala’s photograph, leading to her casting in the film.

Reflecting on her debut in Saudagar, Koirala admitted that she was young and naive at the time, having just completed her 12th grade. “I was too inexperienced, and I felt fearful on set,” she confessed, revealing that she preferred keeping a distance from others due to her lack of exposure to the industry.

Despite her initial apprehensions, Saudagar proved to be a successful launchpad for Koirala’s career, though it was only a few years later that she found herself in a unique position—replacing Madhuri Dixit in 1942: A Love Story (1994), a romantic drama by Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

Since then, Koirala’s career has spanned decades, with notable roles in films like Dil Se, Bombay, and Lajja. More recently, Koirala has been seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Netflix series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, where she shares the screen with other talented actresses like Sonakshi Sinha and Richa Chadha.

As she continues to take on diverse roles, Manisha Koirala’s journey reflects both the challenges and triumphs of a Bollywood icon who has grown to be respected for both her talent and resilience.