Before Devdas, there was Rajeshwari. Directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, this film was a visual and auditory masterpiece. While the male lead was Anil Kapoor, it was Manisha’s Rajeshwari—gutsy, patriotic, and tragic—that stayed with audiences.
The 2010s brought a brutal pause. Manisha was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Her battle, documented on social media and in her memoir Healed, transformed her from a movie star to a symbol of resilience.
The late 90s saw Manisha collaborate with the biggest stars, but she never played the arm-candy. She played the spine of the story.