Manisha Koirala (born on August 16, 1970 in Kathmandu, Nepal), is a prominent Bollywood actress, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and social activist. She is also an accomplished Bharatnatyam and Manipuri dancer.

Making her acting debut in the Nepali movie Pheri Bhetaula (1989), Koirala made her acting debut in Bollywood with Subhash Ghai's top grossing drama Saudagar (1991). She went on to collaborate with some of the most prominent film directors of her times, and throughout the 1990s, was one of the popular actresses in India, mostly credited for her critically acclaimed performances.

Noted for her willingness to portray diverse characters, Koirala primarily ventured into serious and realistic cinema, and though most of her films have not done well at the box office, her niche as an actor remains unharmed irrespective of box office collections.