Urmila Matondkar (born 4 February 1974) is an Indian film actress.
Matondkar, who made her screen debut as a child artist in the 1980 film
Kalyug, debuted as an adult in
Narasimha (1991). She established herself as a popular actress in mainstream Hindi cinema with her films such as
Rangeela (1995),
Judaai (1997), and
Satya (1998), all of which earned her
Filmfare
nominations. These roles contributed to a new screen persona, where she
was known for her intense style and dancing skills, and was frequently
featured in the Indian media as a sex symbol.
She subsequently took on several psychological roles, delivering a
range of critically acclaimed performances. These parts include a
psychopath in
Kaun (1999), an obsessive lover in
Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (2001), a possessed woman in
Bhoot (2003), and a merciless avenger in
Ek Hasina Thi (2004). For her performance in
Bhoot, she won her first
Filmfare Award in the
Best Actress (Critics) category, among others. She followed with leading roles in art and independent films, such as
Tehzeeb (2003),
Pinjar (2003),
Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara (2005), and
Bas Ek Pal (2006).
Early life
Urmila Matondkar was born in Mumbai on February 4, 1974. Her father was a lecturer. Her mother tongue is
Marathi.
Career
As a child artist (1977-1983)
Urmila's first role as a child artist was in 1977 in the film 'Karm'. 1981 with
Kalyug and she achieved success at the age of 9 in
Shekhar Kapur's
Masoom in 1983.
Professional expansion (1989-1994)
Rangeela and commercial success (1994-2003)
Urmila returned to film as the female protagonist Mili Joshi, in the romantic comedy
Rangeela (1995). Featured opposite
Aamir Khan,
the film relates the story of two people with contrasting
personalities. The film was received favourably by critics and became
successful at the box office with gross earnings of
1160.5 million (US$19 million).
Gomolo described "urmila looking the glam girl as ever and superb perfomances", at the
41st Filmfare Awards,
Rangeela was nominated for twelve awards including a
Best Actress nomination for Matondkar. Following RGV projects were
Anaganaga Oka Roju (1997),
Daud (film) (1997),
Satya (1998),
Kaun (1999),
Mast (2000),
Jungle (2000),
Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (2001),
Bhoot (2003), and
Ek Hasina Thi (2004).
In 1998, she earned critical acclaim for her performance in
Satya,
for which she received another Filmfare nomination. The film was
received favourably by critics and became successful at the box office
with gross earnings of
690.1 million (US$11 million)
Mohammad Ali Ikram of Planet Bollywood described Matondkar as "Urmila
Matondkar as Vidhya, an aspiring singer caught in the deceptive web of
Satya's love, proves she is a multi-faceted actress. If in one movie
this actress can be street-smart and sexy (Daud), the next minute she is
convincingly conservative, innocent and docile".
In 1999, she got rave reviews for her performance as a psychopath in
Kaun, which was a moderate success.
Khalid Mohamed of
The Times of India (who would later cast her in
Tehzeeb)
wrote that she "rivets the viewer's interest, carrying off entire reels
on her shoulders, through a gamut of quicksilver facial expressions.
Vulnerable and baffled, she is utterly believable as the traumatised
girl-next-door."
She saw further success with
Jaanam Samjha Karo,
Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain and
Khoobsurat, all moderate successes at the box office.
During the 2000s, Matondkar revealed strong, dramatic and
psychological features in her roles, and delivered a number of
critically acclaimed performances. In 2000, Matondkar co-starred in
David Dhawan comedy Kunwara, the film under-performed at the box office grossing of
430.3 million (US$7.1 million).
She won favourable reviews for her role as an obsessive lover in
Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (2001), and received various
Best Villain
nominations for her performance.The film was received favourably by
critics and became successful at the box office with gross earnings of
280.5 million (US$4.7 million).
In 2003, she was part of several projects. She played the role of a north Indian girl in the background of the
1947 India partition in the critically acclaimed
Pinjar. She played the title role in
Khalid Mohammed's drama
Tehzeeb, starring along
Shabana Azmi. However, she was mainly noted for her performance in
Bhoot,
a horror movie. Matondkar enacted a ghost-possessed woman; her
performance was much appreciated by critics and audiences and she won
her first
Filmfare Award under the
Best Actress (Critics' Choice) category, as well as various
Best Actress awards at different award ceremonies, such as
Star Screen Awards,
Zee Cine Awards and
Bollywood Movie Awards. She later received the national honour
Rajiv Gandhi Award for the film, as a recognition to her achievement in
Bollywood.
Taran Adarsh
wrote of her performance, "...the film clearly belongs to Urmila
Matondkar all the way. To state that she is excellent would be doing
gross injustice to her work. Sequences when she is possessed are simply
astounding. If this performance doesn't deserve an award, no other
performance should. It beats all competition hollow."
Continuing in other roles and Critical acclaim (2004-2008)
In 2004, she got critical recognition for her performance as a merciless avenger in Ram Gopal Verma's
Ek Hasina Thi, co-starring
Saif Ali Khan.
She played the role of a deceived woman who is jailed because of her
lover, played by Khan, and later flees from prison to avenge him. Once
again, Matondkar was nominated for a Filmfare for her performance in the
film.
Ek Hasina Thi was a financial success with global revenues of
170.4 million (US$2.8 million).
Apart from holding a successful acting career, she is regarded as an
outstanding dancer and has been a featured performer in many Bollywood
item numbers. Her best-known item number is the
Chamma Chamma sequence from the 1998
China Gate. Other hit numbers include
Aaiye Aajaye from the hit film
Lajja. She was signed to perform the item song in
Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag, a remake of the 1975 blockbuster
Sholay. She played the role originally played by
Helen.
In 2007, Matondkar lent her voice for
Asha Bhonsle's album
Asha and Friends Vol 1,
where she performed with Bhosle the duet song "Mehbooba Dilruba". In
fact, throughout the 1990s – 2000s, Bhosle sang the maximum number of
songs for Urmila. In that same year, she was seen on the second season
of the dance reality show
Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa on
Sony Television as a judge along with
Jeetendra and
Shiamak Davar.
In 2008, Matondkar was seen with
Himesh Reshammiya in a remake of the 1980 film
Karz, titled
Karzzzz.
Even though the film flopped miserably at the box office, Urmila was
praised for her acting and adding her own flavour to the role of Kamini.
In 2012, Urmila Matondkar stated her comeback with an animated
Hindi feature film
Delhi Safari.
As a reality show judge (2008-2012)
Matondkar in July 2010
In 2012 Urmila Matondkar is a judge on a Marathi dance reality show Dance Maharashtra Dance on Zee Marathi.
In 2014, Urmila Matondkar made her Marathi film debut with the movie 'Ajoba'.
Filmography
Television
