
Manisha Koirala
Personal Details
Biography
Manisha Koirala is an actress of Nepali origin who works in Hindi and other Indian-language cinema and is regarded as one of the finest actresses of the 1990s. Born on 16 August 1970 in Biratnagar, Nepal, into the politically prominent Koirala family — she is the grand-daughter of former Nepalese prime minister B. P. Koirala — she made her Hindi debut in Saudagar (1991) and delivered landmark performances in 1942: A Love Story, Bombay and Dil Se. A survivor of ovarian cancer who chronicled her journey in the memoir Healed, she returned to acclaim with Sanju (2018) and Heeramandi (2024), and features in the 2025 political drama Emergency.
Manisha Koirala is an actress of Nepali origin who works in Hindi and other Indian-language cinema and is regarded as one of the finest actresses of the 1990s. Born on 16 August 1970 in Biratnagar, Nepal, into the politically prominent Koirala family — she is the grand-daughter of former Nepalese prime minister B. P. Koirala — she made her Hindi debut in Saudagar (1991) and delivered landmark performances in 1942: A Love Story, Bombay and Dil Se... A survivor of ovarian cancer, she returned to acclaim with Sanju (2018) and Heeramandi (2024), and features in the 2025 political drama Emergency.
Physical Stats & More
Early Life and Background
Manisha Koirala was born on 16 August 1970 in Biratnagar, Nepal, into the influential Koirala family. Her grandfather, Bishweshwar Prasad (B. P.) Koirala, was a former prime minister of Nepal, and her father, Prakash Koirala, was a Nepalese politician. She was raised partly in Kathmandu and Varanasi.
Family
Her brother, Siddharth Koirala, is also an actor. Long associated with social causes, she serves as a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and has written a memoir, Healed, about her journey through cancer.
Relationships & Affairs
Manisha Koirala married Nepalese businessman Samrat Dahal in 2010; the marriage ended in divorce in 2012. She has spoken openly about her personal journey, including her recovery from ovarian cancer. The actress has no children and generally keeps her private life low-key.
Debut and Peak Years
Manisha Koirala made her Hindi film debut in Subhash Ghai's Saudagar (1991) and quickly rose to prominence with critically acclaimed performances in 1942: A Love Story (1994), Mani Ratnam's Bombay (1995) and Dil Se.. (1998).
Range Across Languages
She worked across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and other film industries, earning a reputation for choosing challenging, women-centred roles alongside mainstream films.
Comeback and Recent Work
After overcoming cancer, she returned to acclaim with Dear Maya (2017), Sanju (2018) and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's series Heeramandi (2024). In 2025 she features in Emergency.
Favourite Things
Net Worth
Manisha Koirala's net worth is reported by third-party sites at around ₹80–100 crore, an estimate rather than a confirmed figure. Her income comes from a long acting career across languages, along with endorsements. She has not officially disclosed her earnings.
Some Lesser Known Facts
- She is the grand-daughter of former Nepalese prime minister B. P. Koirala.
- She is celebrated for landmark 1990s films such as Bombay and Dil Se...
- She overcame ovarian cancer and wrote a memoir, Healed, about the experience.
- She serves as a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador.
- She earned renewed acclaim for Sanju (2018) and Heeramandi (2024).
- She features in the political drama Emergency (2025).
Known For
Awards & Recognition
FAQs
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