Raveena Tandon

Infobox actor
name = Raveena Tandon

---

caption =
birthdate = birth date and age|1974|10|26
location = Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
yearsactive = 1991 - 2006
spouse = Anil Thadani (2004 - present)
birthname = Raveena Tandon
homepage =
filmfareawards=Lux New Face for "Patthar Ke Phool" (1993)
Special Performance for "Aks" (2002)
nationalfilmawards=Best Actress: ""

Raveena Tandon ( _hi. रवीना टंडन, born October 26 1974 [http://movies.indiatimes.com/articleshow.cms?msid=489824&right=1&fright=1&botlink=1] in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) is a National Film Award winning, Indian Bollywood actress, producer, and a former model who also appeared in few Tamil, Telugu, Kannada films.

Tandon made her acting debut with "Patthar Ke Phool" (1991), and won a Filmfare Lux New Face Award for her performance in the film. During the 90s, she was a popular star and was part of several commercial successes such as "Mohra" (1994), "Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi" (1996) and "Ziddi" (1997), followed by many more, yet she was not particularly recognized as an actor though. However, she surprised critics and audiences in the early 2000s, when she ventured into more serious roles and turned to work in art and parallel cinema. She was highly acclaimed for her performances in films like "Aks" (2001) and "Satta" (2003), and had the peak of her career in 2002, when she won the coveted National Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in Kalpana Lazmi's "" (2001).

Early life

Raveena Tandon is the daughter of filmmaker Ravi Tandon and his wife Veena. Her name is an amalgamation of her parents' name. She attended Jamnabai Narsee School in Juhu and studied at Mithibai College. [cite web|title=Schooling|work=Raveena Tandon info|url=http://iceburns.blogspot.com/2007/08/raveena-tandon.html|accessdate=September 11|accessyear=2007] She completed her first and second years at the college. During her time as an intern she got her first film offer from Shantanu Sheorey which she accepted. [cite web|title=Education|work=Raveena Tandon's early life|url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/2004/jun/25raveena.htm|accessdate=September 11|accessyear=2007] She dropped out of college and decided to pursue her film career. [cite web|title=Education|work=Raveena Tandon's early life|url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/2004/jun/25raveena.htm|accessdate=September 11|accessyear=2007]

Career

Raveena got her name from a combination of her father's name Ravi Tandon and mother's name Veena. Her father was a producer and director of some films in the 1970s and 1980s. She has a brother called Rajiv Tandon.She also has an cousin name Kiran Rathod who is a popular south Indian actress [cite web|title=Brother|work=Raveena Tandon's family|url=http://www.bollyvista.com/article/a/32/7000|accessdate=September 13|accessyear=2007]

Her first film "Patthar Ke Phool" (1991) was a hit,cite web | title=boxofficeindia.com| work=Debut film a hit for Raveena | url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/1991.htm| accessdate=25 January | accessyear=2007] she received the Filmfare Lux New Face Award for her debut performance.

Her next films "Mohra" (1994) and "Dilwale" (1994) were big hits at the box office whilst "Laadla" although an average performer, still earned her a Filmfare nomination as best supporting actress. Mohra was the second biggest hit of 1994. [cite web|title=1994 box office report|work=1994 box office chart|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/1994.htm|accessdate=September 12|accessyear=2007] Her other releases of that year included the thriller "Imtihaan" and the comedy "Andaz apna apna". The former was an average performer whilst the latter was unsuccessful at the box office [cite web|title=1994 box office report|work=1994 box office chart|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/1994.htm|accessdate=September 12|accessyear=2007] but has since gained a strong cult following over the years. She reportedly got into a fight with her co-star Karisma Kapoor on the sets of the film. In 1995, she starred with Shahrukh Khan for the first time in "Zamana Deewana", the film failed to do well. [cite web|title=1995 box office report|work=1995 box office chart|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/1995.htm|accessdate=September 12|accessyear=2007] Her following films failed to do well at the box office and her career saw a drop in her success. Her career was back on track with hit films like "Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi" (1996) [cite web|title=KKK: A Hit|work=1996 box office chart|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/1996.htm|accessdate=September 12|accessyear=2007] and "Ziddi" (1997), being big hits each of its respective year. [cite web|title=Ziddi: A Hit|work=1997 box office chart|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/1997.htm|accessdate=September 12|accessyear=2007] . In 1997 she was to play her first villainous role in "Dus" but the film was shelved after the director's death when 40% of the film's shooting had been completed.

In 1998, Tandon had eight releases. Her last release of that year "Bade Miyan Chote Miyan" co-starring Amitabh Bachchan and "Govinda" turned out to the second biggest hit of the year. [cite web|title=1998 box office chart|work=1997 box office chart|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/1998.htm|accessdate=September 12|accessyear=2007] Coincidentally, Tandon was offered the second lead in "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" which went on to be the biggest hit of 1998, but she turned it down. [cite web|title=KKHH|work=Raveena Tandon offered KKHH|url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/2004/jun/25raveena.htm|accessdate=September 12|accessyear=2007] Her other releases of that year were "Gharwali Baharwali" which gained a below average status and "Vinashak", "Pardesi Babu" and "Aunty No. 1" all of which were un-successful. [cite web|title=1998 box office chart|work=1997 box office chart|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/1998.htm|accessdate=September 12|accessyear=2007]

In the 2000s, Tandon turned her career professionally. She went on to work more with "art film" directors and realistic cinema. It proved to be a good turning as films like "Shool" (1999), "Bulandi" (2000) and "Aks" (2001) won her huge acclaim. She won many awards as well as the Filmfare Special Performance Award for her performance in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's "Aks". [cite web|title=Raveena wins Special Performance award|work=Filmfare awards 2001|url=http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com/articleshow/368739.cms|accessdate=September 12|accessyear=2007]

Her years in the industry paid off when she won the coveted National Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in Kalpana Lazmi's "" (2001), where she played a battered wife to an abusive husband. [cite web|title=Raveena wins National Film Award|work=National Film Awards results|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1247986.stm|accessdate=September 12|accessyear=2007] She surprised critics and audiences with her performance in the film and received much appreciation for her work. Critic, Taran Adarsh said "Raveena Tandon lends credibility to the role of a battered wife and walks away with the honours. The pathos she conveys through her expressions makes you realise that she's a performer of substance". [cite web|title=Raveena steals the show|work=Taran Adarsh review|url=http://www.indiafm.com/movies/review/6736/index.html|accessdate=September 12|accessyear=2007]

Since then, she has starred in a number of critically acclaimed films, such as "Satta" (2003) and "Dobara" (2004), but has not had much box office success. Her role as a middle class woman thrust into the world of politics in the former was praised. Critic, Taran Adarsh wrote "Raveena Tandon delivers a bravura performance. The actress takes giant strides as a performer, giving the right touches to her character. Here's a performance that's bound to be noticed". [cite web|title=Raveena's performance in Satta|work=Taran Adarsh review|url=http://www.indiafm.com/movies/review/7065/index.html|accessdate=September 12|accessyear=2007] Her role as a schizophrenic in "Dobara" was also praised with one critic saying, "Raveena is in sync with her character, essaying her part with elaan". [cite web|title=Raveena's performance in Dobara|work=Taran Adarsh review of Dobara|url=http://www.indiafm.com/movies/review/7233/index.html|accessdate=September 12|accessyear=2007]

Her last release was "Sandwich" in 2006 which opened to poor reviews and reception. [cite web|title=Disaster for Sandwich|work=Taran Adarsh review|url=http://www.indiafm.com/movies/review/7259/index.html|accessdate=September 12|accessyear=2007] She has not acted in films since.

Tandon has produced the films "Stumped" (2003) and "" (2005), neither had much success at the box office.

Personal life

She adopted two children Pooja and Chhaya as a single mother in the 1990s. Tandon previously dated actor Akshay Kumar from 1997 and they were set to be engaged, however they broke up soon after.citeweb|title=indiafm.com|work=Raveena on Akshay|url=http://www.bollywhat.com/Biographies/raveena_bio.html| accessdate=13 September| accessyear=2007]

Tandon began dating film distributor Anil Thadani during the making of her film "Stumped" (2003). Their engagement was announced in November 2003. [cite web|title=Engagement|work=Raveena Tandon gets engaged!|url=http://www.yourdreamshaadi.co.uk/Community/Celebrity%20Weddings/raveena_tandon1.htm|accessdate=September 13|accessyear=2007] She married Thadani on February 22, 2004 in Jag Mandir Palace in Udaipur, Rajasthan according to Punjabi style. [cite web|title=Marriage|work=Raveena Tandon gets married!|url=http://www.yourdreamshaadi.co.uk/Community/Celebrity%20Weddings/raveena_tandon1.htm|accessdate=September 13|accessyear=2007] She gave birth to a baby girl called Rasha on March 16, 2005. She gave birth to her second child, a boy, on July 12, 2007.citeweb|title=indiafm.com|work=Raveena expecting her second child|url=http://www.indiafm.com/news/2007/07/13/9727/index.html| accessdate=13 July| accessyear=2007]

Controversies

Tandon's win at the 2001 National Film Awards, caused some controversy as her uncle was one of the jury members. Another jury member Pradeep Krishnan resigned indicating that it was the personal connections of some nominees that caused them to win. [cite web|title=National Award controversy|work=National Film Awards results|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1247986.stm|accessdate=September 11|accessyear=2007] Krishnan later issued a public apology. [cite web|title=Krishnan issues public apology|work=Krishnan apologizes|url=http://iceburns.blogspot.com/2007/08/raveena-tandon.html|accessdate=September 11|accessyear=2007] On the controversy, Tandon said: cquote|It still makes me angry that the biggest high of my career, my special moment was tarnished by one stupid man." [cite web|title=Raveena speaks out on award controversy|work=Raveena reacts to Krishnan comments|date=September 9, 2001|url=http://iceburns.blogspot.com/2007/08/raveena-tandon.html|accessdate=September 11|accessyear=2007]

Tandon was chairperson of the Children's Film Society of India from 2003 but from 2004 the actress began to get complaints that she did not attend the organization's meetings and that she was not involved with the activities set up by the society. In September 2005, Tandon resigned from her post citing personal reasons. [cite web|title=Tandon resigns from CFSI|work=Raveena Tandon resigns from CFSI|url=http://www.indiafm.com/news/2005/09/06/5777/index.html|accessdate=September 11|accessyear=2007]

In November 2005, Tandon sued "Shaadi.com" and "Shaaditimes.com", claiming that they were using un-authorized images of her to promote the site. She also sued the owner Satyanet Solutions, as they claimed that Tandon and her husband had met through the website. [cite web|title=Tandon files case|work=Raveena Tandon sues Shaadi.com|url=http://www.indiafm.com/news/2005/11/01/6138/index.html|accessdate=September 11|accessyear=2007]

Commitments

In November 2002, Tandon signed on to support the "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals". She posed in many ad campaigns joining the likes of Shilpa Shetty, Amisha Patel and John Abraham. On the issue of cows being slaughtered for their skin, she said "their abuse at the hands of corrupt skin and meat traders must be stopped". [cite web|title=Raveena joins PETA|work=Raveena Tandon on PETA issues|url=http://movies.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1047735,prtpage-1.cms|accessdate=September 13|accessyear=2007]

In June 2006, Tandon contributed to the Lotus Eye Hospital in Mumbai for underprivileged children. [cite web|title=Raveena's charitable cause|work=Raveena Tandon joins Lotus Eye Hospital|url=http://www.bollyvista.com/article/a/32/6703|accessdate=September 13|accessyear=2007]

Awards

* 1992: Filmfare Lux New Face Award, "Patthar Ke Phool"
* 2002: Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards Best Supporting Actress, "Aks" [cite web|url=http://www.bfjaawards.com/awards/winlist/winlist02.htm|title=www.bfjaawards.com/awards/winlist/winlist02.htm ]
* 2002: National Film Award for Best Actress, "Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence"
* 2002: Filmfare Special Performance Award, "Aks"
* 2002: Star Screen Award Best Supporting Actress, "Aks"
* 2002: Bollywood Movie Award - Best Supporting Actress, "Aks"
* 2002: Bollywood Movie Award - Critics Award Female, "Aks"

Filmography

ee also

* List of Indian movie actresses
-! colspan="3" style="background: #DAA520;" | Filmfare Award
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-! colspan="3" style="background: #DAA520;" | National Film Award
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References

External links

*imdb name|id=0849199