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She never planned to act — Surprising facts about Raveena Tandon’s life

TOI Entertainment Desk
| ETimes.in | Last updated on - Aug 15, 2025, 21:00 IST
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1/5

Her Name Carries Family Legacy

Raveena’s name is a blend of her parents’ names—father Ravi Tandon and mother Veena Tandon. Off-screen, she’s fondly called “Munmun,” a nickname given by her maternal uncle, actor Mac Mohan.

2/5

From PR Intern to Bollywood’s ‘Mast Mast’ Girl

Before entering films, she was interning at Genesis PR under ad guru Prahlad Kakkar. While there, photographer-director Shantanu Sheorey spotted her potential and offered her a modeling assignment, which led to her film debut.

3/5

Never Wanted to Be an Actress

Despite becoming one of the biggest stars of the 90s, Raveena initially dreamed of becoming a film director like her father, Ravi Tandon. Acting happened by chance, not by choice.

4/5

Adopted Two Girls at Age 21

At the peak of her early career, Raveena adopted her cousins Pooja and Chhaya, who were facing family difficulties. She raised them as her own, balancing her film career with parental responsibilities.

5/5

First Indian Actress to Win the National Film Award for a Non-Commercial Role

Raveena broke stereotypes with her intense performance in Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence (2001), a women-centric film with no song-and-dance glamour. The role earned her the National Film Award for Best Actress—making her one of the few mainstream Bollywood stars to win for an offbeat, socially relevant role.

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Copyright © May 28, 2026, 08.42AM IST Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service