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Raveena Tandon (born 26 October 1974) is an Indian actress, producer, television personality and

a former model who primarily appears in Hindi films. She is the daughter of director Ravi Tandon.
She has received a National Film Award and two Filmfare Awards.

Tandon made her acting debut in 1991 with Patthar Ke Phool, for which she won a Filmfare Award
for Lux New Face of the Year. She featured briefly in several commercial successes,
including Laadla (1994), Dilwale (1994), Mohra (1994), Khiladiyon Ka
Khiladi (1996), Ziddi (1997), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998) and Dulhe Raja (1998). In the early
2000s, she ventured into arthouse and parallel cinema, and received critical recognition for her
performances, in the 1999 action drama Shool, the 2001 drama Daman: A Victim of Marital
Violence for which she won National Film Award for Best Actress and the 2001 supernatural
thriller Aks.

Contents

 1Early life and background

 2Acting career

o 2.11991–94: Debut and early success

o 2.21995–96: Career fluctuations

o 2.31996–99: Box office success

o 2.42000–2006: National Award and rise to prominence

o 2.52015–present: Comeback

 3Off-screen work

 4Personal life

 5Awards and nominations

 6See also

 7References

 8External links

Early life and background[edit]

Tandon was born in Bombay (Mumbai) to Ravi Tandon and Veena Tandon. In an interview
with Rediff, Tandon stated: "I never thought I would become an actress. I was an intern at Genesis
PR, helping Prahlad Kakkar. I refused film offers. Prahlad kept saying millions of people are waiting
for this chance and you keep refusing it. So I thought there is nothing to lose. Then Patthar Ke
Phool happened.[2]" Tandon is a niece of character actor Mac Mohan and thus a cousin of Manjari
Makijany, his daughter.[3] Tandon is also a cousin of actress Kiran Rathod.[4]

Acting career[edit]

Main article: Raveena Tandon filmography

1991–94: Debut and early success[edit]


Raveena Tandon debuted with the film Patthar Ke Phool (1991) which was a hit;[5] she received
the Filmfare Award for Lux New Face of the Year for her performance.

Her next films Mohra (1994), Dilwale (1994) and Laadla (1994) were box office hits while the third
from these earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting
Actress. Mohra and Laadla were the second and seventh biggest hits of 1994 respectively.[6] Her
other releases of that year included the thriller Imtihaan and the cult comedy Andaz Apna Apna.

1995–96: Career fluctuations[edit]

In 1995, she starred with Shahrukh Khan for the first time in Zamaana Deewana; the film failed to
do well.[7]

1996–99: Box office success[edit]

Her career was back on track with hit films such as Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996)[8] and Ziddi (1997),
both being big hits of their respective year.[9] She also received praise for her performance
in Ghulam-E-Mustafa,another hit of the year 1997. 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 be the second biggest hit of the year.[10] 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.[11] Her other
releases of that year were Gharwali Baharwali which gained a below average
status, Vinashak, Pardesi Babu and Aunty No. 1, all of which were unsuccessful.[10]

In 1999, Tandon starred opposite Upendra in his self-titled Kannada psychological


thriller film, Upendra.[12] Her film Anari No.1oppossite Govinda became super hit the at the box
office. She also received praise from critics for her performance in Shool.

2000–2006: National Award and rise to prominence[edit]

In the 2000s, Tandon turned her career professional. She went on to work more with art
film directors and realistic cinema. It proved to be a good turning as films such
as 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.[13]

Her years in the industry paid off when she won the coveted National Film Award for Best
Actress for her performance in Kalpana Lajmi's Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence (2001), where
she played a battered wife to an abusive husband.[14] 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".[15]

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".[16] Her role as a
schizophrenic in Dobara was also praised with one critic saying: "Raveena is in sync with her
character, playing her part with elaan".[17] Her only release in 2006 was Sandwich which opened to
poor reviews and reception.[18]
2015–present: Comeback[edit]

In 2015, she made a comeback to Bollywood in longtime friend Anurag Kashayp's magnum
opus Bombay Velvet. Playing a sultry jazz singer, her brief performance was lauded by critics.[19] In
2017, she was seen in the thriller movie Maatr in which she played a mother who seeks revenge
for her daughter's rape. Her performance was appreciated and gained critical acclaim for her
performance. Her next release of the year was Onir's Shab, where she played a socialite.[20] In
addition, she has also reportedly committed to Anurag Kashyap's Return Gift.

Off-screen work[edit]

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 organisation'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.[21]

In November 2005, Tandon sued the websites, Shaadi.com and Shaaditimes.com, claiming that
they were using unauthorized images of her to promote the site. She also sued the owner of
Satyanet Solutions, as they claimed that Tandon and her husband had met through the website.[22]

In November 2002, Tandon sang to support People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. She has
posed in many advertisement campaigns joining the likes of John Abraham, Shilpa
Shetty and Amisha Patel . 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".[23]

Tandon has produced two films. She featured as a host on the TV shows Isi Ka Naam
Zindagi and Simply Baatien With Raveena and as a talent judge on Sabse Bada Kalakar and The
Drama Company.[24]

as a better gin rummy player, once stating,

Some day, I suppose it's possible for someone to be a better no limit hold 'em player than me. I
doubt it, but it could happen. But, I swear to you, I don't see how anyone could ever play gin
better than me.

1980 and 1981 WSOP Main Event titles[edit]

In 1980, Ungar entered the World Series of Poker (WSOP) looking for more high-stakes action. In
an interview for the 1997 Main Event Final Table, Ungar told ESPN TV commentator Gabe
Kaplan that the 1980 WSOP was the first time he had ever played a Texas hold'em tournament.
(Ungar's first tournament, however, was the 1980 Super Bowl of Poker Main Event, which Kaplan
himself won. Stu finished 34th of 41 players.) Poker legend Doyle Brunson remarked that it was
the first time he had seen a player improve as the tournament went on.[5][12]

Ungar won the main event, defeating Brunson to become the youngest champion in its history
(surpassed first by Phil Hellmuth in 1989, then others). Ungar looked even younger than he was,
and was dubbed "The Kid."

Ungar would defend his title successfully at the 1981 WSOP by defeating Perry Green. Ungar was
nearly not allowed to defend his title. Several days before the main event, he was banned
from Binion's Horseshoe by Benny Binion because he spat in the face of a dealer after losing a
sizable pot in a high-stakes game. It was only when Binion's son, Jack, interceded and convinced
his father to let Ungar play, citing the media attention that the defending champion would attract.
Other WSOP bracelets[edit]

As the reigning world champion, Ungar won his second bracelet in 1981 in the $10,000 Deuce to
Seven Draw event, defeating 1978 world champion Bobby Baldwin in heads-up play. For this
victory, Ungar received $95,000.

In the 1983 World Series of Poker, Ungar won his fourth bracelet. He defeated professional poker
player and multi-WSOP bracelet winner Dewey Tomko in the $5,000 Seven Card Stud event,
winning $110,000.

Blackjack[edit]

Ungar's prodigy-level IQ and total recall[3] contributed to his blackjack card counting abilities,
which were so sharp that he was frequently banned from playing in casinos; he was eventually
unable to play blackjack in Las Vegas or anywhere else.[13]

In 1977, Ungar was bet $100,000 by Bob Stupak, an owner and designer of casinos, that he could
not count down a six-deck shoe and determine what the final card in the shoe was. Ungar won the
bet.[14]

Ungar was fined in 1982 by the New Jersey Gaming Commission for allegedly cheating while
playing blackjack in an Atlantic City casino. The casino said that Ungar "capped" a bet (put extra
chips on a winning hand after it was over to be paid out more), something he vehemently denied.
The fine for this offense was $500; however, paying it would have also forced Ungar to admit that
he had cheated. Ungar believed that his memory and card counting ability were natural skills and
thus he did not need to cap bets or partake in any form of blackjack cheating. Ungar fought the
case in court and won, avoiding the $500 fine. The court battle, though, cost him an estimated
$50,000 in legal and travel expenses. In his biography, Ungar claimed he was consequently so
exhausted from travel and court proceedings that he was not able to successfully defend his
WSOP main event title.

In 1997, a near-broke Ungar convinced the management at the Lady Luck Hotel & Casino to let him
play single-deck blackjack. Since Ungar was a known card counter, the casino managers agreed on
the condition that his betting would have a high and a low limit (a limited spread), which, they
presumed would render useless Ungar's card counting ability. However, in the game of single-deck
blackjack, playing strategy (i.e. how to play a hand and deviate from basic strategy) brings more
benefits to the player than betting strategy (i.e. how much to bet on the upcoming
round).[15] Ungar continued to play blackjack at the Lady Luck for six months. He built his bankroll
up to as much as $300,000 but eventually busted out.[16]

Drug addiction and divorce[edit]

Ungar's mother had died in 1979. It was also around this time that Ungar began using cocaine. He
noted in his biography that at first he used it on the advice of fellow poker players because of the
drug's ability to keep someone up and energized for a long period of time, something that would
come in handy during marathon poker sessions. However, recreational use soon led to
addiction.[5]

Ungar and Madeline were married in 1982 and had a daughter, Stefanie, that same year. Ungar
also legally adopted Madeline's son from her first marriage, Richie, who adored Ungar and took
his surname.
Ungar and Madeline divorced in 1986.[6] Richie committed suicide in 1989, shortly after his high
school prom.[5]

Ungar's drug problem escalated to such a point that during the WSOP Main Event in 1990, Ungar
was found on the third day of the tournament unconscious on the floor of his hotel room from a
drug overdose. However, he had such a chip lead that even when the dealers kept taking
his blinds out every orbit, Ungar still made the final table and finished ninth pocketing $25,050.[6]

His addiction took such a physical toll that in an ESPN piece, many of Ungar's friends and fellow
competitors said that they thought that he would not live to see his fortieth birthday. In the same
piece, one friend said that the only thing that kept him alive was his determination to see his
daughter grow up.

Most of Ungar's winnings at the poker table he lost quickly betting on sports or horses, always
looking for "action".[5]

Many of Ungar's friends, including Mike Sexton, began to encourage him to enter drug rehab and
offered to pay for Ungar to receive treatment at any facility in the world. Ungar refused, citing
several people he knew who had been to rehab previously who told him that drugs

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