Ravina Tandon: Life Beyond Bollywood Stardom
Bollywood actress Ravina Tandon is celebrated for her films, acting skills and popular songs. Her rise in the 1990s made her one of the leading names of that era. Beyond her achievements on screen, her personal journey reveals a story of compassion and commitment that sets her apart.
While she was beginning her career, Ravina took a life-changing decision at the age of 21. Without being married, she chose to take responsibility for two girls, Pooja and Chhaya. She cared for them and oversaw their upbringing. The decision attracted questions at the time, yet she stayed committed to giving the girls a better life.
Ravina Tandon was born in Mumbai on October 26, 1972. Her father, Ravi Tandon, was a noted director in Hindi cinema. Being raised around films gave her early exposure to the industry, but her success came through her own dedication.
She entered Bollywood in 1991 with Patthar Ke Phool, alongside Salman Khan. Her work in the film was praised, and she received the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. Following this, she starred in films such as Dilwale, Mohra, Ladla and Andaz Apna Apna, quickly becoming one of the popular actresses of the 1990s.
The 1994 film Mohra stood out as one of her biggest releases. Its songs Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast and Tip Tip Barsa Paani became favourites among audiences. Her dance in Tip Tip Barsa Paani is remembered even now.
In 1995, another important change took place in her life. Ravina chose to take responsibility for Pooja and Chhaya, the daughters of a relative. She has spoken in several interviews about her childhood visits to orphanages with her mother, which introduced her to the needs of vulnerable children. When she saw that the two girls needed better care, she decided to raise them herself.
In a 2021 interview with Filmfare, she shared that the girls were her relative's daughters and that concern for their wellbeing grew after their mother's death. After discussions with the family, she took on the role of their legal guardian. At that point, she was only 21.
Ravina has also talked about the advice she received, with some people suggesting that taking on two girls might affect her chances of marriage. She believed that the right partner would accept her family. She later married film distributor Anil Thadani in 2004, and the couple have two children, Raasha and Ranbirvardhan.
In later years, she took on serious roles in films including Daman, Satta, Shool and Maatr. Her role as a woman dealing with domestic violence in Daman won her the National Film Award for Best Actress in 2002. She also made a mark on OTT, with her portrayal of police officer Kasturi Dogra in the Netflix series Aranyak drawing notice.
In 2023, Ravina Tandon was awarded the Padma Shri for her contributions to cinema and social work.