Manisha Koirala was born on September 19, 1970, in Kathmandu, Nepal. She began her acting career in 1991 with the Nepali film "Bholey," but it was her Bollywood debut in 1994 with the film "Raja Hindustani" that brought her to the attention of a wider audience. Her performance in the film earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.