Matondkar, who made her screen debut as a child artist in the 1980 film Kalyug, debuted as an adult in earnest two decades later with Narasimha (1991). She established herself as a popular actress of mainstream Hindi cinema with her roles in films like Rangeela (1995), Judaai and Satya (1998), all of which earned her Filmfare nominations. These roles contributed to a change in her public persona, where she was known for her intense style and dancing skills, and was frequently featured in the Indian media as a sexy symbol.
