Vaishnavi Macdonald Explained

Vaishnavi Mahant Macdonald
Birth Name:Vaishnavi Mahant
Birth Place:Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Known For:Shaktimaan, Miley Jab Hum Tum, Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke
Spouse:Leslie Macdonald
Children:1
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:1988–present

Vaishnavi Macdonald (née Mahant) 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. 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.

Early life and career

Her father is a Vaishnav Hindu (the reason she took the screen name Vaishnavi).

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.[1] She subsequently appeared in Barsaat Ki Raat, Ladlaa, Maidan-E-Jung, Bambai Ka Babu, Daanveer and Oru Mutham Manimutham.

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[3] and has a daughter.

Filmography

Films

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988VeeranaChild Jasmine Pratap
1994Laadla
1995Maidan-E-JungRadha
1996Bambai Ka BabuAnita
1996DaanveerSudha
1997Oru Mutham ManimuthamLekhaMalayalam Movie
1998Barsaat Ki RaatRangeeli
2001Dal – The GangReshma
2006Baabul
2006MataSwamini ("dil wanted" song)Kannada movie
2008Saanchaa
2011Mummy PunjabiAmrita (Jackie Shroff's wife)
2014Super NaniMann's mother
2017Who Is the First Wife of My FatherNikita
2018Raja AbroadiyaPrakash Kaur
2019Dosti Ke Side EffectsShristi's mother
2019Hansa Ek Sanyog

Television

YearTitleRole
1998–2005ShaktimaanGeeta Vishwas
1998–1999Main Dilli HoonSanyogita
1998Saturday Suspense
X Zone
Awaz Ki DuniyaHerself (co-anchor)
1999NaaginCameo
Baat Ban JaayeGuest appearance
Zee Horror Show – The Party
2000Raju Raja RajashaabACP Ratna
Naqab
2001Dushman
Chingaari
Gharana
Choti Maa – Ek Anokha BandhanSharda/Shakti
Chandan Ka Palna Resham Ki DoriShreya
Suraag – The Clue
2004Dekho Magar Pyaar SePriyanka
K. Street Pali HillIshita Khandelwal
2005Kasautii Zindagii KayMadhavi Bose/Madhavi Vineet Khanna
2005–2007Ek Ladki Anjaani SiMeera Sachdev
2007MamtaVasundhara
2007–2008Chhoona Hai AasmaanSapna/Anupama Singh
Kahe Naa KaheUrmila
2008Saas v/s BahuContestant
2008–2010Miley Jab Hum TumShilpa Sharma
2009Mere Ghar Aayi Ek Nanhi Pari
Bhaskar BhartiBhaskar's mother
2010Bairi PiyaSunanda Devi Pundir
KarmyudhShivangi Chauhan
Sapnon Se Bhare NenaAnjali
2010–2012Sasural Genda PhoolSuhana's Mother
2011Maa Exchange Herself
2012–2015Sapne Suhane Ladakpan KeShail Garg
2015–2016Tashan-E-IshqLeela Taneja
2016Pardes Mein Hai Mera DilCameo Role
2017–2018Dil Se Dil TakIndu Bhanushali
Hum Paanch Phir SeParikrama
2017–2019Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat HaiVishakha Maheshwari Somani
2017Savdhaan India
2018Mitegi Laxman RekhaDevyani
2019–2020Divya DrishtiMahima Chetan Shergill
2020–2021Aye Mere HumsafarSurajmukhi Sharma
2020Shaadi MubarakMrs. Gopalani
2021Kyun Utthe Dil Chhod AayeZahida Iqbal Baig
Tera Yaar Hoon MainShobha Roy
2021–2022Anubha Ashok Hooda
2022Banni Chow Home DeliveryVandana Hemant Singh Rathore
2022–presentParineetiiParminder Rajveer Bajwa

Publications

Awards

width=5%YearAwardCategorySerialOutcome
2006Indian Telly AwardsBest Actress in a Supporting RoleEk Ladki Anjaani Si
2014Indian Telly AwardsBest Actress in a Supporting Role (Jury Award)Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke
2014Zee Rishtey AwardsBest Mata Pita AwardSapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke
2015Zee Rishtey AwardsTashan-E-Ishq
2016Zee Gold AwardsBest Actress in a Supporting RoleTashan-E-Ishq
2020Padmashri AwardArt
2020Global Book AwardsFor her book

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021-05-25. First of Many: Vaishnavi MacDonald revisits Veerana. 2021-07-07. The Indian Express. en.
  2. https://www.indiantelevision.com/interviews/actor/vaishnavi.htm An Interview with Vaishnavi Mahant.
  3. Web site: Christmas 2019: Here's how Vaishnavi Macdonald celebrates the festival. 2021-07-06. India Today. en.