Subsequently, she quickly rose to one of the top heroines in the Marathi film industry with super-hits such as "Gammat Jammat", "Hamal De Dhamal", "Saglikade Bombabomb", "Sawat Majhi Ladki", "Shejari Shejari", "Ek Hota Vidushak", "Lapandav" and "Aflatoon". She starred as the lead actress in the Bollywood films "Ghar Aaya Mera Pardesi" and "Pathreela Raasta". In 2005, she appeared in the Bollywood films "" and "Mr Ya Miss" as a supporting actress. In the Faisal Saif-directed controversial Hindi feature film, "Jigyaasa", she played mother to Hrishitaa Bhatt. Usgaonkar started her television career in 1988 playing the role of Uttara, wife of Abhimanyu and mother of Parikshit, (the future of the Bharat Dynasty TV serial "Mahabharata"). The role led her to many Hindi movie offers and most of them failed to create a box office success. She also played Roopmati (Snake Queen) in the 1994 TV serial "Chandrakanta". She has appeared in the Marathi shows "Aakash Zep" and "Eka Mekansathi", and she has acted in the Hindi television serials "Alvida Darling", "Tanha" and "Anhonee".