Vaishnavi Mahant
Vaishnavi MacDonald is an Indian film and TV actress who is best known for playing Geeta Viswas in Mukesh Khanna's television series Shaktimaan, telecasted on Doordarshan. She is currently seen in Dangal's recently launched Aye Mere Humsafar[1] She has acted in various Bollywood films such as Bambai Ka Babu, opposite Saif Ali Khan, Ladlaa and Barsaat Ki Raat (1998). She is also known for playing Shilpa Sharma in Miley Jab Hum Tum, Shail in the Zee TV show Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke and Leela Taneja in the television series Tashan-E-Ishq.
Vaishnavi Mahant | |
|---|---|
 Vaishnavi MacDonald at Zee Gold Awards 2013 | |
| Born | 9 September 1974 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Known for | Shaktimaan, Miley Jab Hum Tum, Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke |
| Spouse(s) | Leslie Macdonald |
| Children | 1 |
Early life and career
Her father is a Vaishnav Hindu (the reason she took the screen name Vaishnavi), while her mother is Christian. Raised as a Hindu, she converted to Christianity in the early 1990s. She is currently a born again Christian believer who is more into a relationship with God not religion.[2]
As a child she moved to Hyderabad where she decided to become a scientist. However, while vacationing in Mumbai, she had the opportunity to appear in the Ramsay Brothers' horror film Veerana and decided to pursue acting as a profession. She subsequently appeared in Barsaat Ki Raat, Ladlaa, Maidan-E-Jung, Bambai Ka Babu, Daanveer and Oru Mutham Manimutham (a 1997 Malayalam film with actor Mukesh).
From 1998 to 2005, she played the female lead Geeta Vishwas in the superhero series Shaktimaan on Doordarshan. The show, as well as her character, got high acclaim and was considered her breakthrough role. When her journalist character Geeta Vishwas was written out of the series, fan protests prompted the producers to bring her back. In 2000, she played the role of ACP Ratna, a daring police officer in the comedy serial Raju Raja Rajasaab on Sahara TV.[2]
She went on to play leading roles in several Telugu films.
She played the role of Sameera's mother Sapna in Chhoona Hai Aasmaan and Bhaskar's mother in the Sony Entertainment Television serial Bhaskar Bharti. She also appeared in Karmyudh on Doordarshan in the role of Inspector Shivangi Chauhan.
She is married to Leslie Macdonald and has a daughter Margaret Macdonald.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Veerana | Child Jasmine Pratap | |
| 1994 | Laadla | ||
| 1995 | Maidan-E-Jung | Radha | |
| 1996 | Bambai Ka Babu | Anita | |
| 1996 | Daanveer | Sudha | |
| 1997 | Oru Mutham Manimutham | Lekha | Malayalam Movie |
| 1998 | Barsaat Ki Raat | Rangeeli | |
| 2001 | Dal – The Gang | Reshma | |
| 2006 | Baabul | ||
| 2006 | Mata | Swamini ("dil wanted" song) | Kannada movie |
| 2008 | Saanchaa | ||
| 2011 | Mummy Punjabi | Amrita (Jackie Shroff's wife) | |
| 2014 | Super Nani | Mann's mother | |
| 2017 | Who Is the First Wife of My Father | Nikita | |
| 2018 | Raja Abroadiya | Prakash Kaur | |
| 2019 | Dosti Ke Side Effects | Shristi's mother | |
| 2019 | Hansa Ek Sanyog |
Television
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1998–2005 | Shaktimaan | Geeta Vishwas |
| 1998– 99 | Main Dilli Hoon | Sanyogita |
| 1998 | Saturday Suspense | |
| 1998 | Awaz Ki Duniya | Herself (co-anchor) |
| 1999 | Naagin | Cameo |
| 1999 | Baat Ban Jaaye | Guest Appearance |
| 1999 | Zee Horror Show – The Party | |
| 2000 | Raju Raja Rajashaab | ACP Ratna |
| 2000 | Naqab | |
| 2001 | Dushman | |
| 2001 | Chingari | |
| 2001 | Gharana | |
| 2001 | Choti Maa – Ek Anokha Bandhan | Sharda/Shakti |
| 2001 | Chandan Ka Palna Resham Ki Dori | Shreya (Surrogate mother) |
| 2001 | Suraag – The Clue | |
| 2004 | Dekho Magar Pyaar Se | Priyanka |
| 2004 | K. Street Pali Hill | Ishita Khandelwal |
| 2005 | Kasautii Zindagii Kay | Madhavi Bose/Madhavi Vineet Khanna |
| 2005–2007 | Ek Ladki Anjaani Si | Meera Sachdev |
| 2006 | Mamta | Vasundhara |
| 2007–2008 | Chhoona Hai Aasmaan | Sapna/Anupama Singh |
| 2007–2008 | Kahe Naa Kahe | Urmila |
| 2008 | Saas v/s Bahu | Herself (contestant) |
| 2008–2010 | Miley Jab Hum Tum | Shilpa Sharma (Mayank's Mother) |
| 2009 | Mere Ghar Aayi Ek Nanhi Pari | |
| 2009 | Bhaskar Bharti | Bhaskar's mother |
| 2010 | Bairi Piya | Sunanda Devi Pundir |
| 2010 | Karmyudh | Shivangi Chauhan |
| 2010 | Sapnon Se Bhare Nena | Anjali |
| 2010–2012 | Sasural Genda Phool | Suhana's Mother |
| 2011 | Maa Exchange (Reality Show) | Herself |
| 2012–2015 | Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke | Shail Garg |
| 2015–2016 | Tashan-E-Ishq | Leela Taneja |
| 2016 | Pardes Mein Hai Mera Dil | Cameo Role |
| 2017–2018 | Dil Se Dil Tak | Indu Bhanushali (Parth's mother) |
| 2017–2018 | Hum Paanch Phir Se | Parikrama (Anand's first wife) |
| 2017–2019 | Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai | Vishakha Maheshwari/Somani (Sameer's mother) |
| 2017 | Savdhaan India (1 Episode) | |
| 2018 | Mitegi Laxman Rekha | Devyani( Vishesh's Mother) |
| 2019–2020 | Divya Drishti | Mahima Shergill aka Lal Chakor |
| 2020–present | Aye Mere Humsafar | Surajmukhi Sharma |
| 2020–present | Shaadi Mubarak | Mrs. Gopalani |
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Serial | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Indian Telly Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Ek Ladki Anjaani Si | Nominated |
| 2014 | Indian Telly Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Jury Award) | Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke | Nominated |
| 2014 | Zee Rishtey Awards | Best Mata Pita Award | Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke | Won |
| 2015 | Zee Rishtey Awards | Tashan-E-Ishq | Won | |
| 2016 | Zee Gold Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Tashan-E-Ishq | Nominated |
| 2020 | Padmashri Award | Art | Nominated | |
| 2020 | Global Book Awards | For her book | Nominated |
References
- Suthar, Author: Manisha (24 August 2020). "Vaishnavi MacDonald bags Dangal TV's Aye Mere Humsafar". IWMBuzz. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- An Interview with Vaishnavi Mahant. 12 October 2001. www.indiantelevision.com Accessed 1 February 2011.
External links
She is going to launch her first book "The Invisible Hand Of God" on 1st October 2020.
She has also launched her website – https://sites.google.com/view/vaishnavi-reinvented