PremiumWhen Vidhu Vinod Chopra told Manisha Koirala she was 'very bad actor'!
In a recent interview, Manisha Koirala revealed that Vidhu Vinod Chopra had dismissed her acting chops during the reading session for 1942: A Love Story.
Last Updated: 06.06 PM, Mar 09, 2024
Heeramandi actress Manisha Koirala has come a long way from her debut film Saudagar. However, her journey to becoming one of Hindi cinema’s leading ladies has been full of memorable moments. Sharing one such instance, Manisha opened up about 1942: A Love Story in a recent interview.
Manisha Koirala’s sub-par acting skills
Reflecting on the time when she was in a reading session for 1942: A Love Story with Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who wrote and produced the romantic drama, Manisha told Pinkvilla, “During my first reading of the scene, I was horrible, and Vidhu Vinod Chopra clearly told me, 'You are very bad.' So, I requested him to give me 24 hours. If, even then, you don't find me good, I'll accept it.”
After going back home that fated day, Manisha practiced the dialogues, re-did the screen test the following, got selected for Rajeshwari Pathak’s role and the rest is history.
Manisha Koirala’s work projects
The Sanju actress will be seen next in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming period drama series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar in April 2024. Heeramandi, which is about the lives of tawaifs living in Lahore's Heera Mandi red-light district and their tale of love, power struggles, treachery, and a steadfast quest for independence, is set against the backdrop of the 1940s Indian independence movement against the British Raj. The Bhansali creation also stars Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh and Sharmin Segal alongside Manisha in equally significant roles.
Also seen in Kartik Aaryan's film Shehzada (2023), Manisha’s impeccable filmography includes regarded movies like Bombay (1995) with Arvind Swamy, the cult classic Dil Se (1998) with Shah Rukh Khan, Khamoshi: The Musical (1996) with Salman Khan, and Mann (1999) opposite Aamir Khan and Anil Kapoor.
Manisha Koirala’s humanitarian projects
Apart from her acting career, Manisha was selected by the United Nations Population Fund as their Goodwill Ambassador for India in 1999 and Nepal in 2015. She also participated in relief efforts following the April 2015 earthquake in Nepal. As an author of the book Healed, which details her battle with ovarian cancer, she supports causes like women's rights, the abolition of violence against women, the prevention of human trafficking, and cancer awareness.