Urmila Matondkar

Urmila Matondkar
Urmila Matondkar at Karan Birthday Bash 2016
Born	(1974-02-04) 4 February 1974 (age 43) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Actress, Television presenter
Years active	1980–2014
Spouse(s)	Mohsin Akhtar Mir (m. 2016)

Urmila Matondkar (born 4 February 1974) is an Indian film actress. Primarily known for her work in Bollywood films, Matondkar has also appeared in Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam language films. She is particularly known for her work in the thriller film genres, and is cited in the media as a sex symbol. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including one Filmfare Award among six nominations. Her film roles contributed to a then-new screen persona for a Hindi film heroine, in which she was known for her intense style and dancing skills.

Matondkar made her acting debut as a child artist in the 1980 Marathi film Zaakol, and had her first Bollywood release with the drama Kalyug (1981). She later gained recognition for her child role in the highly acclaimed drama Masoom (1983), following which she appeared in few other films as a child artist. Matondkar played her first adult role in the blockbuster Malayalam film Chanakyan (1989), and followed it with the box office hit Narsimha (1991), her first Bollywood film as an adult. This initial success was followed by a series of critical and commercial failures, which failed to propel her career forward.

Matondkar's career prospects improved when filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma cast her as the female lead in the highly successful romantic drama Rangeela (1995), following which she received widespread praise for her performances in the drama Judaai (1997) and the crime thriller Satya (1998). Matondkar also achieved success in Telugu and Tamil cinema with roles in Antham (1992), Gaayam (1993), Indian (1996), and Anaganaga Oka Roju (1997). She later garnered critical recognition for portraying a range of intense psychological characters, including that of a serial killer in the 1999 thriller Kaun, an obsessive lover in the 2001 thriller Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya, a possessed woman in the 2003 horror film Bhoot, for which she won a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress, and a violent avenger in the 2004 thriller Ek Hasina Thi. Matondkar has also played leading roles in lesser-publicized films of independent filmmakers, including the dramas Tehzeeb (2003), Pinjar (2003), Naina (2005), Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara (2005), Bas Ek Pal (2006), and the Marathi film Ajoba (2014).