Urmila Matondkar

Filmgoers will perhaps know Urmila Matondkar only for Rangeela. Where she displayed considerable oomph. But you see, she needed that break, and I'm not saying in the sense that the role was regretful. Indeed, the film was centered around her, and gave her a lot of room to showcase her talent. Rangeela also gave Urmila the much needed "break". Although she was already a veteran in acting by then, believe it or not.

Urmila made her debut as a child artiste in Masoom. And even right then, you can see her body techniques, a kind of stiff but methodical style of acting and body language. It was just the nature of her acting skill, nothing you can do about. Which is perhaps why she sometimes comes out as fake in her expressions and emotions. But actually, she's pushed the boundaries by playing every kind of role out there, almost preferring roles with shades of grey. If you see her dance style, be it in movies or film awards, the stickling to method than grace is seen, but then, that's her!

Urmila's phase as a struggling heroine is seen in TV serials, and even "Chamatkar" with Shah Rukh Khan, when he was a struggling actor himself. She looked chubby and did a complete makeover in looks by Rangeela, recognizing the platform and the need of the role, and has hung on to those looks since then.

To her credit also, Urmila did not stick to Rangeela kind of roles, although she must've agreed to her mentor Ram Gopal Verma, to do the forgettable "Daud". Many of her roles, the crest of which was the award-winning performance in "Bhoot", were very difficult to perform.

Someone has once said I'm the first die-hard Urmila fan they've seen. But the fact is, I actually find Urmila's performances remarkable, and am not a fan due to her looks or ooze.

She seems to have taken a slow approach to career now, choosing roles and public performances selectively. I guess she has reached that stage. Hats off, and wish her an even more fulfilling career ahead!