Mumbai’s spotlight has always welcomed young talents with open arms, but few have navigated its highs and lows quite like Namrata Shirodkar. As she turns 54 on January 22, let’s revisit the journey of this former beauty queen who dazzled Bollywood in the 90s before choosing family over fame.
Born into a traditional Maharashtrian family with deep roots in cinema, Namrata inherited her acting prowess from her grandmother, the legendary Marathi actress Meenakshi Shirodkar. Known for boldly donning a bikini on screen long before Zeenat Aman or Sharmila Tagore, Meenakshi set a precedent of trailblazing performances. Namrata, alongside her sister Shilpa Shirodkar, stepped into Bollywood carrying this legacy forward.
Her tryst with the silver screen began early. At a tender age, she appeared as a child artist in the 1977 film ‘Shirdi Ke Sai Baba’. But her real breakthrough came after completing her studies. In 1993, at just 21, she clinched the Femina Miss India title and placed sixth at Miss Universe. These victories flung open the doors of Bollywood.
Namrata made her leading debut in 1998’s ‘Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai’ opposite Salman Khan and Twinkle Khanna. Though her role was brief, it caught eyes. The next year, ‘Vaastav’ with Sanjay Dutt catapulted her to stardom. The film’s gripping narrative of a man’s descent into the underworld, coupled with box-office success, made it a landmark hit.
Riding this wave, Namrata starred in ‘Pukar’, ‘Astitva’, ‘Kacche Dhaage’, ‘Tera Mera Saath Rahe’, and ‘LOC Kargil’. While not all were blockbusters, they showcased her versatility. Her career took a southern turn with ‘Vamsi’ alongside Mahesh Babu, where on-set chemistry blossomed into romance. After five years of dating, they tied the knot, and Namrata bid farewell to acting to embrace motherhood and married life.
Interestingly, her very first adult film project, the big-budget ‘Purb Ki Laila Pashchim Ki Chaiela’ featuring Suniel Shetty and Akshay Kumar, never saw the light of day despite being shot in 1977. Today, Namrata enjoys a blissful life with Mahesh Babu and their two children, a testament to her choice of personal happiness over professional pursuits.
