Shrimant Rajkumari Bhagyashree Raje Patwardhan, known mononymously as Bhagyashree, was born on February 23, 1969, into the very conservative, Marathi-speaking Patwardhan royal family. Despite this, she managed to make a mark as an actress, even though she only made a handful of onscreen performances. She began her acting career in a television show called Kachhi Dhoop (1987), which was based on Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. Her entrance into acting came by chance as her neighbor, Amol Palekar, needed her to fill a spot in his show since the previous actress had abandoned the production without notice.

The timing of this first project worked out perfectly for her, as she was soon to be sent by her father to the United States to pursue an MBA – something she was not in favour of. The start of her acting career gave her yet another reason to avoid this step, and she was later approached by Sooraj R. Barjatya for another project. This was Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) – the film she is best remembered for till date – in which she appeared with actor Salman Khan. She even won the Filmfare Award for Lux New Face of the Year for this movie.

Bhagyashree continued to make appearances in television shows as well as films. Some of her prominent projects include Ghar Aaya Mera Pardesi (1993), and Humko Deewana Kar Gaye (2006). She was able to act in films in various Indian languages, including Telugu, Kannada and Bengali, partly due to the fact that she was well-versed in Sanskrit and found it much easier to understand different Indian languages.

Bhagyashree is married to Himalay Dasani and has mothered two children. Her acting career took a hit after this, as she became uncomfortable appearing in any sort of intimate capacity with other men on screen. This prompted her husband to act in three movies alongside her, with little success. He now runs his own production company, Shrishti Entertainment, working on television shows, with Bhagyashree assisting in the production and acting in them.

Bhagyashree has acted in films set in a range of contexts and has had many interesting experiences during their filming. She was once approached while shooting for a Telugu, women-oriented film (with actual convicts acting in it) by a large man who surprised her when all he had to say was “Muje aap ki picture achi lagi.” (I liked your film). It is in these unorthodox films where she has spent much of her acting career since her big debut alongside Salman Khan, who has promised to mentor her son in his upcoming career in Bollywood. More recently she has reappeared in television with the series Laut Aao Trisha (2014), an adaptation of the popular Spanish telenovela Donde Esta Elisa, which will air on Life OK.