Raveena Tandon won the National Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film Daman (2001). The film was directed by Kalpana Lajmi. She won the award even before the theatrical release of the film.
Raveena plays the character of Durga Saikia, a battered wife struggling against an abusive husband (Sayaji Shinde).
The film also broke her onscreen glamourous image. Her portrayal was recognised for her authencity and depth capturing the intense fear and emotional trauma of an abused woman.
Raveena Tandon did this film free of charge. Juhi Chawla was the first choice for this role. Singer Shaan too made his debut as an actor with this film (previously did a special appearance in a song in Tarkieb).
The film transferred Raveena's image from a commercial “glamour girl” to a critically acclaimed serious actress, prompting her to pick up more challenging, socially relevant projects such as Shool and Satta.
Image(s) Courtesy: Google