When Marathi film industry was shaken by Varsha Usgaonkar’s topless photoshoot; Where is this actress of Tiranga film now?

A girl born in a small Goan village, Usgaon, whose father is a prominent politician and mother a classical singer. This girl has been immersed in the world of music and dance since childhood, but her dream is to shine on the stage. This is the story of Varsha Usgaonkar, who became a superstar of Marathi cinema in the 1980s and 1990s, but then suddenly moved away from the industry. Varsha Usgaonkar described her resemblance to Kimi Katkar when she came to Hindi cinema industry from Marathi. Varsha was a Marathi superstar actress but her Hindi films were also very memorable.

Varsha was born on 28 February 1968 in Usgaon, Goa. His father A.K.S. Usgaonkar was a cabinet minister in the Goa government, and mother Manikabai was a classical singer. Varsha learned music and Kathak dance from her mother. After completing her commerce degree from Dempo College, Panaji, she joined the theater group ‘Kala Shuklendu’. Here he worked in plays like Mahapur, Ek Hoti Vaghinn, and Ashrunchi Jhali Phule, which won him awards. Varsha always aspired to become an actress, so when she did not get admission in FTII, Pune, she did a theater science course in Aurangabad Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University. Her first big break came in 1984 with the drama ‘Brahmachari’, where she was in the lead role with Prashant Damle.

When did you get your first break?

In 1986, Varsha’s first Marathi film was a supporting role in ‘Tujya Vachun Karmena’. But the real breakthrough came in 1987 with ‘Gammat Jammat’. Director Sachin Pilgaonkar chose him after seeing him in ‘Brahmachari’. In the film, she plays the role of a rebellious daughter, who lives on her own terms even after being kidnapped. This film became a superhit, and Varsha received the Maharashtra State Film Award. After this film she started being called ‘Wonder Girl’.

Affair with Nitish Bhardwaj

Varsha’s career was not limited to films, she was seen in the role of Uttara in the TV show ‘Mahabharat’. Uttara also entered TV in a small role in ‘Mahabharat’ in 1988, where she was with Nitish Bhardwaj. There was a relationship between the two, but it broke up in 1991 due to Bhardwaj’s family. But Varsha continued moving forward in her career.

one hit after another

There was a flood of hits in Marathi films ‘Hamaal De Dhamaal’ (1989, with Laxmikant Barde), ‘Shejari Shejari’ (1990), ‘Ek Hota Vidushak’ (1993), ‘Savat Majhi Ladki’ (1993), ‘Lapandaav’ (1993), ‘Dhangad Dhinga’ Varsha tried in Hindi ‘Saathi’ (1991, with Aditya Pancholi. Nana ‘Tiranga’ (1993) with Patekar, ‘Insaniyat Ke Devta’ (1993) with Rajnikanth but did not get lead roles here, mostly supporting ones.

topless photoshoot

Varsha was Marathi’s top actress in the 1990s but was surrounded by controversies. In the mid-1990s, she did a topless photoshoot for an English magazine, which led to public criticism and a debate on celebrity image. In 2000, Varsha married Ajay Sharma, son of music director Ravi Shankar Sharma, through an arranged marriage. In 2010, father-in-law Ravi filed a case of mental harassment, alleging that he was not allowed to enter the house. After the death of father-in-law Ravi, there was a property dispute with Ajay’s sisters Chhaya Ojha and Veena Upadhyay over the Santa Cruz bungalow in Mumbai. Which lasted from 2013 to 2018 and was settled in the court.

comeback in tv

In 2020, Varsha made a comeback on TV in the role of Nandini in ‘Sukh Mitta Nakki Kay Asint’, which ran till 2024. Konkani films like ‘Jhanvoy No.1’ (2018), ‘Bendkar’ (2019), ‘Hindi Sher Shivraj’ (2022). Participated in ‘Bigg Boss Marathi’ 5 in 2024, stood at 7th place. Reunion with Prashant Damle in the play ‘Sarkha Kahsain Hotay’ in 2022, and theater debut Devachem Naav, Jitaan Haav in 2025. Received Lifetime Achievement Award from Goa State Film Festival in 2025.