Manisha Koirala, born on August 16, 1970, is a renowned Nepalese actress who has made a significant mark in Indian cinema, predominantly in Hindi, along with appearances in Tamil, Nepali, and English films. Her versatile talent has earned her numerous accolades, including four Filmfare Awards. In recognition of her contributions, the Government of Nepal honored her with the prestigious Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu in 2001.

Coming from the influential Koirala family, she is the daughter of Prakash Koirala and the granddaughter of Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala, a former Prime Minister of Nepal. Manisha's cinematic journey began with the Nepali film "Pheri Bhetaula" in 1989, and she gained recognition in the Hindi film industry with "Saudagar" (1991) after overcoming initial commercial challenges. She established herself as a leading actress with iconic films like "1942: A Love Story" (1994) and the Tamil classic "Bombay" (1995). Her career was marked by several commercial hits, including "Agni Sakshi" (1996), "Indian" (1996), "Gupt: The Hidden Truth" (1997), "Kachche Dhaage" (1999), "Mudhalvan" (1999), "Company" (2002), and "Ek Chhotisi Love Story" (2002).

Manisha Koirala gained critical acclaim for her diverse portrayals, including an ambitious wife in "Akele Hum Akele Tum" (1995), a daughter of deaf-mute parents in "Khamoshi: The Musical" (1996), a complex character in "Dil Se.." (1998), a mistreated woman in "Lajja" (2001), and Sushmita Banerjee in "Escape From Taliban" (2003). Post-2003, she ventured into independent and art-house projects, earning praise for her roles in films like "Tulsi" (2008), "Elektra" (2010), "I Am" (2010), and "Mappillai" (2011). Her career took a pause in 2012 when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, but she made a triumphant return five years later with the film "Dear Maya" (2017). In subsequent years, she appeared in notable projects like Netflix's "Lust Stories" and the biography "Sanju," which became one of the highest-grossing Indian releases.

Beyond her acting career, Manisha Koirala has been appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund and has actively participated in humanitarian efforts, including relief work following the 2015 Nepal earthquake. She passionately advocates for women's rights, the prevention of violence against women, the fight against human trafficking, and cancer awareness. In addition, she has contributed as an author to the novel "Healed," sharing her inspiring journey of battling ovarian cancer.