She was a beauty queen before yesteryear star Manoj Kumar selected her to play the romantic lead opposite his younger brother in his film Painter Babu.
The film flopped but Shashikala Sheshadri, re-christened Meenakshi Sheshadri, made an impact with her good looks and dancing abilities in Bollywood. Soon Subhash Ghai cast her in Hero and Meenakshi's success story began.
Several films opposite leading stars including the Big B made Meenakshi hot property. She was flooded with offers and acted in almost all big-bannered films. On the personal front, the actress was known for her reserved ways. She had gone on to earn the epithet of 'Ice Maiden'.
Meenakshi's potential as an actress was truly tapped by Raj Kumar Santoshi who made two very good films with her in meaty leading roles, Ghaayal and Daamini. The director was particularly interested in the actress but Meenakshi did not wish to extend the relationship beyond the professional realms.
The actress simultaneously pursued a career in classical dances (Odissi, Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi) and eventually settled down in her personal life with an NRI software professional. Unfortunately, Meenakshi's marriage did not last for long. We hear that she is back to Mumbai and has been calling producers up for roles. For us, it will always be a pleasure to watch Meenakshi on screen or on stage.
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