Actor Manisha Koirala recently met with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Street, representing Nepal as it celebrated 100 years of its ‘friendship treaty’ with the UK.
Manisha took to Instagram to share pictures from the meeting. She expressed her honor and excitement, writing, “It was an honour to be invited to 10 Downing Street to celebrate United Kingdom – Nepal relations and 100 years of our friendship treaty. It was such a pleasure to hear the Prime Minister @rishisunakmp speak fondly of our country #nepal. I took the liberty of inviting the P.M. and his family to come trek to Everest Base Camp.”
She also shared her delight in discovering that many attendees had watched her latest release, Heeramandi, and loved it. “Can you believe that most of the attendees had seen #heeramandionnetflix and loved it? I was thrilled,” she added.
On the acting front, Manisha is receiving acclaim for her role as Mallika Jaan in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s debut web series Heeramandi. In a heartfelt Instagram post, she chronicled her journey of resuming work after battling ovarian cancer and expressed gratitude for the evolving opportunities for female actors.
“Heeramandi has been a significant milestone,” Manisha wrote. “As a 53-year-old actor who has bagged an important role in a high-profile web series, I am overjoyed that I’m not stuck playing insignificant peripheral roles, thanks to OTT platforms and changing audience profiles. Finally, female actors, technicians, and other professionals have started getting the long overdue and well-deserved good quality of work and respect in a professional environment. I am fortunate to be a part of this evolving era.”
Manisha reflected on her initial doubts and anxiety about her physical strength post-cancer, particularly during demanding scenes like the fountain sequence, which required her to be immersed in water for over 12 hours. Despite the challenges, she felt a profound sense of achievement and resilience.
“Even though I was beyond exhaustion by the end of the shoot, I felt a deep happiness within my heart. My body had taken the stress and remained resilient. I knew I had passed a critical physical test,” she shared.
Manisha concluded her post with a message of hope and gratitude, encouraging others to never give up despite setbacks. “To you, who think your time has come and gone, whether it’s due to age, illness or any setback, never give up! You never know what could be waiting for you around the bend! I’m deeply grateful for your love and generosity of spirit! #50andfabulous #heeramandionnetflix #netflix #grateful #hope.”
In Heeramandi, Manisha stars alongside Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Shaikh, and Aditi Rao Hydari.
