let me correct u reeth,mumtaz got best actress award for khilona(1970) and got it in 1971,and according to her she was deserving best actress award for tere mere sapne(1971) too,but that year (1972) asha parekh got it for kati patang(1970's release),but she was given award in 1971's year..
thats big confusion of filmfare awards..i mean how come they ignored asha in 1970,and later gave her nominee in 1971 for kati patang..

but in my opinion if we compare performances of both asha(kati patang) and mumtaz(tere mere sapne),asha did grt job

Yes Nasir, she is supposed to have made a comeback with 'Aandhiyaan' many years later, anyone know anything abt this movie??



Alright I stand corrected jassi.........As you say Asha Parekh did a good job in 'Kati Patang', another movie that i particularly liked was(Asha Parekh's)'Baharon ke sapne' again with Rajesh Khanna..

yes i know abt aandhiyan..now dont surprise as it was directed by david dhawan,and it was not comedy,but social film...
accoding to story both mumtaz and shatru are in love,but shatru's father is against this relation,i think she was shown as unwed mother in film,her son grows up..it was something like this..and i notice one thing that actresses started looking more beautiful with age,but 44 year old mumtaz was not looking that grt in that film...

Thanks jassi........i agree that mumtaz does not look as good as other older actresses like Simi ,Hema malini,Neetu singh even Vyjayantimala and others...besides she has put on a lot of weight.....

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yeah..

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Both Leela Naidu and Priya Rajvansh had small career,they could get more success and stardom,but they did not try much.Apart from this they both are having an another common thing,Go through profile of both actresses,you will get to know it.


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Leela Naidu was small time actress,who did selective films.But all of those movies can be considered classics.Leela Naidu was Born to an Irish Mother and an Indian father. She was a femina Miss India. She chose to be a part of Bollywood,So She joined movies.She made her debut with Rishikesh Mukherji's Anuradha and got good acclaim for her performances.Later she did Yeh Raaste Hai Pyar Ke with Sunil Dutt.Her choice of films remained limited to rare thinking women's characters all along.But what Leela Naidu is known for is not just for her sensitive performances in umforgettable films like Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar ke, Anuradha but for the serene grace and statuesque beauty. She also did an English Film The Householder by Ismayil Merchant,This film was also made in Hindi.She had very short but impressive acting career. Offers were coming her way but she quit movies to marry (and later divorce) poet Dom Moraes, who was her childhood sweetheart.
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Guide was also going to be made in English,So English Director was willing to cast Leela Naidu for both version,but later Waheeda Rehmaan did the english version too.

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Anuradha(with Balraj Sahni),Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke(with Ashok K,Sunil D),The Householder(with Shashi Kapoor),Umeed(with Ashok K,Joy M ,Nanda),The Guru(with Aparana Sen,Nadira,Utpal Dutt),Trikaal(with Kulbhushan Kharbanda,Neena Gupta,Aneeta Kanwar,Soni Razdan,Lucky Ali) and Electric Moon(with Naseerudinshah,Roshan Seth)

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Priya Rajvansh was small time actress of Bollywood,but she was part of Successful Films and gave some grear Performances.Priya led an enigmatic life. For one, she was perhaps the only heroine educated in London, at a time when most of the leading ladies were hardly literate! After her debut film 'Haqeeqat', her professional and personal life were so intricately fused that it became difficult to seperate one from the other. Chetan Anand met the actress her once and immediately chose for his HAQEEQAT. The duo struck chords in a horde of films and Priya was a part of Chetan's unit till his death. Chetan was so madly in love that he bought the actress a flat, much to the displeasure of his wife and children. She only starred in seven films in her entire career and all of them were directed by Chetan Anand. He went on to become her friend, philosopher and guide. Priya remained faithful to him.However the personal rapport between Chetan Anand and Priya Rajvansh could not crystallize into memorable performances from the latter. Whether it was the Heer of Heer Ranjha, the call girl of 'Hanste Zakhm' or the modern day Cinderella of Sahib Bahadur.After Death of Chetan Anand,His Sons had probblem with Priya,So she was murdered by them.It was tragic end of this Actress.She devoted her whole life to the family,but she could not get the same from them.She is the only Indian actress to have graduated from Royal School of Drama, London. It also carries a picture of her on its Hall of Fame.
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Raj Kapoor offered her a movie(its believed Mera Naam Joker),but she refused it coz she was not willing to work with any other production house.She was also considered for Guide.

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Her Performances-Haqeekat(with Balraj Sahni,Dharamendra,Vijay Anand,Indrani Mukherji),Heer Ranjha(with Rajkumar),Hindustan ki Kasam(with Balraj Sahni,Rajkumar,Vijay Anand,Parikshit Sahni),Hanste Zakham(with Balraj Sahni,Naveen Nishchal,Nadira),Saheb Bahadur(with Dev Anand) and Kudrat(with Rajkumar,Rajesh Khanna,Hema Malini,Vinod Khanna).

Thanks a lot Jassi.....Leela naidu was extremely good looking........very feminine and regal....
I have seen Anuradha and Yeh raaste hai pyar ke......i feel that she was not a good actress...but she did make an impact because of her classy looks...

A tragedy indeed.

Nasir.

i really wonder abt her looks and these vintage photographs,her look is so fresh as she is girl of today..

i mentioned apart from doin few films there is an another thing common between both actresses is guide..but i really feel its good that waheeda rehmaan did it..she was superb..

When Lux and Times of India come together to produce a book what should one expect? Lux Inspiring Beauty boasts of columns and pictures of the most beautiful women seen in Hindi Cinema. Edited and compiled by Omar Qureshi, this book includes various topics and pictures right from veteran actors, filmmakers and actresses themselves talking about their idea of beauty to some timeless beauties being spoken of.

The book begins with film-makers talking about what they think of beauty and about some of the leading ladies they have worked with. The list is quite impressive which includes Dilip Kumar, Subhash Ghai, Rakesh Roshan, Dev Anand, Mahesh Bhatt, Karan Johar and Rishi Kapoor (speaking about Raj Kapoor's vision of beauty). Words being more engrossing than the pictures here, this one is something a cinema lover would love to read.

After that the actresses themselves speak about their idea of beauty and some of their ideals. Interestingly, along with their features, a small comment is given on them by a person connected to them in the film industry. For instance Amitabh Bachchan speaks on Aishwrya Rai, “Aishwarya's inner beauty is far greater than her much renowned external beauty.” The chapter is aptly titled Mirror Mirror on the wall.

Then comes along Timeless beauty. The chapter opens with a poem penned by Gulzar- his eulogy to the perfect face. The chapter speaks of the ever beautiful actresses seen on Hindi celluloid. Moving by the decade, it includes unforgettable names like Leela Chitnis, Nargis, Madhubala, Vyajantimala, Sharmila Tagore and many more.

Next in line is Perfect 10 which speaks of the actresses assets. Most beautiful eyes, perfect nose and most lustrous locks are just some of the categories. Though some names are repetitive, the picture used here are a visual treat to the eyes.

Move forward (or backwards) - all the lovely ladies of Bollywood have promoted the brand of Lux. Be it Meena Kumari, Asha Parekh, Waheeda Rehman, Sharmila Tagore, Babita or Jayalalitha - the list is endless. Something really to look forward to!

The next section is different and quite interesting. Titled Beauty-makers, the chapter consists of articles written by photographers like Subi Samuel and Dabboo Ratnani, Make up artists like Jaywant Thackrey, Mickey Contractor etc. and fashion designers like Neeta Lulla and Manish Malhotra.

What is even more interesting is the next part where the book tells us on some of the beauties that Lux had missed on. The list includes Nutan, Jaya Bachchan, Dimple Kapadia, Sonali Bendre, Amrita Rao etc.

Coming closer to the end we see a topless Shah Rukh Khan in a bath-tub. Ring a bell? Yes, that's the same image you got when you saw the Lux ad. He being the first Indian male to endorse the brand has written a column for the book. Talking about the lovely ladies (Hema Malini, Sridevi, Kareena Kapoor and Juhi Chawla) in the ad he was associated with, he praises their beauty.

And the last part and probably the most nostalgic of them all is when they showcase old Lux print advertisements featuring faces like right from Nanda to Sumitra Mukherji to Rekha to Zarina Wahab to the more recent Tabu.

Finally a book on some of the most beautiful women in India! However priced at Rs. 1000 per copy, this one will be something which people will think twice before purchasing. But with spectacular pictures and equally competent columns, this one is a noteworthy book. Whoever said Beauty is only skin deep surely hasn't read this book.

http://www.indiafm.com/features/2007/05/30/2715/index.html

now a days many yesteryear stars are coming outt with their autobiographies..

i was looking for this coffee table book inspiring beauties by lux(mentioned in upper msg),but i could not get it in my town..even its not availble online..
anyone have any information regarding it,where i can get it..

Exclusive: Nargis Letter To Daughter Warning About Sanjay Dutt's Friends

Tanya Palta, September 10, 2007


Hindu has obtained an exclusive letter written by yesteryear actress Nargis and mother to Superstar Sanjay Dutt. The letter is extremely poignant and is addressed to Sanjay’s sister Namrata.

“Please look after Sanju, see that he does not get mixed up with those silly boys again. He is too stupid in his head, he does not realize what he is doing and know it is going to hurt him,” wrote Nargis to Anju, as Namrata is fondly called by the family, while going to US for her treatment.

Talking about the fear and pain of the realisation that she might just have to leave her family behind forever, Nargis wrote, “I am in such a mental condition, I have gone far away from all of you, and I don’t know what is going to happen but I have faith in God, he is not going to be so cruel as to not send me back to all of you. I know how much all of you love me, keep praying for me that all will be well with me.” The letters are part of a forthcoming book written by Priya, Namrata along with some contribution by Sanjay Dutt titled, ‘Mr and Mrs Dutt, Memories of our Parents’ and is scheduled to be released by Roli Books later this month.

In a letter to Sanjay after he was sent to a boarding school, Nargis asking him to concentrate on his studies and keep doing well without even giving a chance to teachers to get angry at him.

“Now you have promised to do even better and I promise I will come and see you every month. You know you are our only son and we have great hopes on you. You must study hard and become a big man so that you can look after us in the old age,” she wrote.

In another letter to Sanjay, she advised, “So no more crying. Pay attention in your class. There is plenty of time for you to play. Please Sanjay, be attentive in your class, you must do this much to please your mother.”

Sanjay has often talked about the trauma that the family had undergone because of the demise of Nargis and how he turned to drugs to overcome his griefs but Namrata provides much deeper insights into how the family reacted after Nargis’ death.

She writes, “Dad was devastated. He couldn’t sleep in their bedroom any more. We volunteered to sleep in the same room as he did, but he’d wake up in the middle of the night and leave. In a panic, we’d get up and look for him, only to discover he was lying on the sofa in the living room, having fallen asleep again. Sometimes he would go to the graveyard at four in the morning and just sit by Mom’s grave. Finally we realized we had to act maturely and be strong for him. He must have felt completely alone. He must have wondered, “What am I going to do with these three children? There’s no one to share my life. No one I can talk to.” He had shared everything with Mom. His work, his life, everything, and now she had gone,” says Namrata in the book.

She adds, “Priya and I gradually took over the running of the house. I had never entered the kitchen before, and now had to take charge. Fortunately we had a cook and staff who lived on the premises, and so the house began to function again. But the ordeal of the past few years caught up with Dad. He was overwhelmed with grief. He was unable to work or sleep. He was falling apart. Nothing made sense to him any longer. He had tried to save Mom, but failed. All the statues and images of gods and goddesses were removed from the house and immersed in the flowing seawater. We were angry with God. How could He have done this to us?”

Sunday MiD DAY culls out the personal notes in Mr. And Mrs. Dutt, a memoir of Sunil and Nargis Dutt

Nargis’s tender letter to Sanjay, while he was studying at Lawrence boarding school, Sanawar near Kasauli

Darling son Sanjay,

After I left you in school I was terribly disturbed — you were crying and I was feeling very bad. Sanjay — I know my boy that you must be missing home and me, we miss you too.

The house is empty without you — but Sanjay you must try to understand that it is for your own good — you will be a good student — and study well over there — Your results there are much better than what they were in Bombay. Now you have promised to do even better and I promise I will come to see you every month — you know you are our only son and we have great hopes on you — You must study hard and become a big man so that you can look after us in our old age.

So no more crying — pay attention in your class — there is plenty of time for you to play — please Sanjay for my sake be more attentive in your class. You must do this much to please your mother — I hope you secure better marks. Be a good boy; don’t give any chance to your teachers to be angry with you anytime.

Promise me that you will study well — look after yourself you are a big boy — we love you too too much — you know that — God bless you and keep you away from all harm.

With all my love and kisses to you,
Your loving mama


Nargis’s letter to Namrata (whose pet name was Anju), just after she left for the US the first time for cancer treatment. Everyone imagined she would be home within weeks. But it was almost a year before she could returnDearest Anju,

Your most affectionate letter — I opened in flight, but could not read right through — because I started crying — I am in such a mental condition, I have gone far away from all of you, and I don’t what is going to happen, but I have faith in God, he is not going to be so cruel as to not send me back to all of you — I know how much all of you love me, keep praying for me that all will be well with me.

Please look after Sanju, see that he does not get mixed up with those silly boys again. He is too stupid in his head, he does not realize what he is doing and how it is going to pain him.

We are heading towards London, and from London there is another 7 hours journey — it is very tiring. As soon as we reach New York we will talk to you — give my love to Nix and tell her, her card was really sweet.

I won’t forget to bring your candy, shoes, anything else you want, you must let me know after we give you the address. Lots of love & look after yourself and the house.

Yours,
Mom

Nargis Dutt’s will, bequeathing everything to her loving husband

I am writing my will in control of all my faculties and in complete senses. This is to record that in eventuality of my passing away anytime anywhere any day, I want that all my belongings should be given to my husband Shri Sunil Dutt. My locker should be allowed to be opened by him.

He should be in full possession of everything in the locker and deal with the things in them as he likes.

My property should be transferred to him. I consider him the only person who can deal with every possession I have. Actually there is nothing that belongs to me; in fact everything is given to me by him.

He has been my mentor, my friend and a very loving husband, and a wonderful father to my children. I love them all with all my heart and soul. So God be with them at this hour of separation and I pray for a good life for all of them.

(signed)
Mrs Nargis S Dutt




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Letters from the Dutts
By Mid-Day, October 8, 2007 - 09:54 IST






In 1979, the Dutt family posed for this photograph, which was sent to friends as a New Year card. It was impossible for any of these smiling faces to guess that two years later, life would turn so bleak

Sanjay Dutt’s letter to his sister Priya while he was held at Thane jail for possessing illegal arms

Thane Jail,
29th Oct, ’94

My dearest darling sister Pri,

Hi! I hope you all are fine, and I hope you all have got my speed post. The days are passing slow and it get (sic) boring in here, but I have to pass them somehow — I read, write and pray a lot.

I started reading the “Ramayan” today and it is fantastic. I really haven’t seen you properly nor have I received any letter from you — please write back to me and tell me what’s happening.

It’s 11.30 at night right now and I can’t sleep. I am thinking about all the Diwalis we all spent together and it makes me sad that I can’t be with you all this year, but God willing and with the grace of Baba, we will have many more beautiful Diwalis together. Pri, this Diwali call Rhea (Pillai) home and let her spend Diwali with the family — it will make me real happy.

You know Pri today, I washed my room — I put water and then Dettol soap, took a jhadoo and really did safai (written in Hindi) like we used to do on our terrace and now my room is all shining.

Dad came to see me today and he was sounding pretty good and positive and that was good. I wonder what’s happening. He keeps telling me (that in) November things will fall in place — I hope it is TRUE — I am dying to come back home now. It’s enough.

How is (sic) Anju, Saachi and Siya (Namrata and her daughters)? Tell them I miss them and how is Bunts (Kumar Gaurav)? Tell him to have a drink for me. Rest all is fine. I just hope to be out soon — at least by Dec end or early Jan.

I pray to God to make that possible. I miss you all and love you all too much. Write and tell me what’s happening, anything positive? Rest all fine — I love you and miss you too much.

Lots of love,
Your Bhaiya

PS: Where is Baba’s photograph Anju was sending? Send it soon.


for rare pics of this article..visit
http://www.indiafm.com/slideshow/2007/10/08/114/index1.html

Jassi thanks a lot for these articles ......i know a lot of effort has gone into it....

Jassi..thankyou verymuch. Nargis Ji's will is so touching. Am a great admirer of Sunil Dutt ..he is a very nice humanbeing...the best.

yeah its very touching..such grt letters,i was so sad when i read it

Luminaries....Mumtaz

Mumtaz realised an impossible dream. In an industry notorious for its non-egalitarianism, she was that rare actress who rose from non-featured roles to become the most saleable actress of the early 70s, through sheer charm, sunny good humour, and feisty sexuality.

Though Mumtaz, with her youth and jaunty insouciance, very obviously fit into the image of the conventional Hindi film heroine, it took producers a long time to recognise it. Little Mumtaz and her sister, Mallika, had started going to the studios, as soon as they entered their teens, doing whatever roles came their way. Their origins were strictly middle-class but their mother Naaz, and their aunt, Neelofer, had been celebrated beauties in their times. Mumtaz inherited their allure and soon outpaced Mallika as she started winning attention for small roles in major films like Sehra (1963) and Mere Sanam (1965).

Mumtaz realised an impossible dream. In an industry notorious for its non-egalitarianism, she was that rare actress who rose from non-featured roles to become the most saleable actress of the early 70s, through sheer charm, sunny good humour, and feisty sexuality.

Though Mumtaz, with her youth and jaunty insouciance, very obviously fit into the image of the conventional Hindi film heroine, it took producers a long time to recognise it. Little Mumtaz and her sister, Mallika, had started going to the studios, as soon as they entered their teens, doing whatever roles came their way. Their origins were strictly middle-class but their mother Naaz, and their aunt, Neelofer, had been celebrated beauties in their times. Mumtaz inherited their allure and soon outpaced Mallika as she started winning attention for small roles in major films like Sehra (1963) and Mere Sanam (1965).

Mumtaz became the toast of the early 70s. She magnanimously forgave those who had snubbed her in the past. Shashi Kapoor had once rejected films opposite her, yet she cheerily did Chor Machaye Shor when he was going through a low phase. Mumtaz strongly espoused the cause of the other artistes. Her protégéé, Shatrughan Sinha, swears eternal gratitude to Mumtaz.

Onscreen, she was a mantrap, yet every gesture was calculated for cuteness. A stray Khilona (1970) won her praise for her acting but Mumtaz never disavowed the oft-repeated analysis that her appeal lay in her flagrant sexiness. She continued to flaunt her physicality in Apradh and Loafer. Unfortunately, her attempts at respectability, Aap ki Kasam and Prem Kahani, did not quite come off, and the film industry once again under-utilised an actress whose forte was not melodrama but a joie de vivre that gave her a direct link to the audience.
The maverick was on the crest of fresh wave of success in 1974 (Roti, Chor Machaye Shor) when she decided to give it all up for marriage to London-based Gujrati Millionaire, Mayur Madhwani. Sixteen years and two daughters later, rumbles of trouble invaded her marital paradise. "I have 10 houses but no home", she lamented. Mumtaz took an ill-advised plunge back into films with Aandhiyaan (1990). But the audience turned away disappointed. This was not the vibrating reincarnation of the Mumu they expected. This was not the full-of-beans jeune fille they had loved. The button nose was still there but that trademark sparkle in the eyes was conspicuous by its absence.


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i really wonder if mumtaz was missing her early days in bollywood that she signed nagin when she was abt retire,ofcourse by that time rekha and reena were not that big stars,and rajkumar kohli wanted some star face too,so he signed mumtaz,but this film might have upset her many fans,i think if zeenat eat mumtaz in hare rama hare krishna,reena beat mumtaz in nagin..

Rakhee - Born 15 August 1947

One looks at Raakhee and are immediately drawn to her gaze. There is a melancholy there, an
exquisite languid beautiful sadness. Her oval face, doe shaped honey colored eyes and perfectly
shaped royal Begali nose captures the attention.....She was truly a photographers dream....

Raakhee is born August 15, Independence Day. That might count for why this light-eyed and beauteous
Bengali actress has always exhibited a strongly independent streak in the manner in which she steered
the course of her life and career.
Raakhee had to learn to be self-reliant at a very young age. She was born in a big family just outside
Kolkata. After her father suffered losses in his business, a young Raakhee went to live with actress
Sandhya Roy. While still in her teens, Raakhee had an ill-starred marriage to filmmaker
Ajay Biswas.

She was given a break by the producer-actor Sunil Dutt in his movie Reshma aur Shera
and though noticed, she did not make it to the top. But Rakhee did not give up. She went on to do
small roles in movies like Falak and Laal Patthar in which she was overshadowed by
the already established Hema Malini.

After winning raves for her breakthrough Bengali film, Badhu Baran (1967), Raakhee caught the
Rajshri banner's attention and its head honcho Tarachand Barjatya gave her a dream
break with Jeevan Mrityu (1970). She was paired opposite an A-list star Dharmendra.
Armed with doe-eyed innocence and innate charm, Raakhee played a young girl led to believe that she
is a widow.....

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Within a year, Raakhee swept into the critics' vision like a desert storm with Sunil Dutt's sand-and-vendetta
drama, Reshma Aur Shera. She had only a cameo but left a lasting impression with her electrifying
and justifiably much-touted scene as the bride who finds out she is widowed soon after marriage and
breaks down completely.

Still in the nascent stages of her career, Raakhee played a double role in Sharmilee (1971) and
doubled producer Subodh Mukherjee's investments too. Cast opposite a suave Shashi Kapoor,
Raakhee played twin sisters -a vampish, smoking-drinking libertine and a traditional, demure,
domesticated devi - with judiciously-administered sass and sucrose.

Audiences adored her for both her acting prowess and her haunting beauty with a lilting voice and colored
eyes. She went on a winning spree of Film Fare awards for the movies Daag and Sharmilee.
She was paired with all the popular heroes of her time and almost all her movies were great successes.
But her best pairing was with none other than the Big B Amitabh Bachchan....
She also worked with actors like Parikshit Sahni (Tapasya, Humkadam), Rakesh Roshan
(Ankhon Ankhon Mein), Vinod Mehra (Bemisal). She acted with most of the heroes of her time...
Manoj kumar,Rajendra kumar,Sanjeev kumar,Sanjay khan,Dev Anand,Rajesh khanna,Jeetendra...

Raakhee had her share of indifferent films (Wafaa, Shehzaada, Yaar Mera) in this stage of her
career, and even appeared in as many as ten movies in 1972. She was often cast as a glamour doll,
but her histrionic adeptness was never in doubt, whether it was a commercial film like Blackmail
or a defiantly unconventional foray into art cinema like the acclaimed 27 Down. There was both
frost as well as fire in those exquisite honey-coloured eyes.

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Raakhee starred and co-stared in 5 Yash Chopra films from the 70s, notably "Daag" [1973]
"Kabhi Kabhie" [1976] and "Trishul" [1978] that are all considered great classics of Hindi 'Bollywood'
cinema. In Yash Chopra's "Kaala Patthar" [1979] the love story sequences between Raakhee and
Amitabh Bachchan in their quietly subtle and naturalistic delivery are some of the most touching acting
moments in Bollywood film. "Kaala Patthar" was Amitabh and Raakhee's third film together under
Yash Chopra's direction and marked acting peaks for both actors.

In a film and social culture where marriage often means retirement for an actress. Raakhee who was
already married and divorced by the time she was 18 was one of the few married woman to become a
star in Bollywood


Her Landmark films....

Jeevan Mrityu
Sharmilee
Reshma aur shera
Tapasya
Aaan baan
Shehzada
Heera panna
Daag
Kabhie kabhie
Trishul
Shakti
27 down
Kasme wade
Jurmana
Shaan
Paroma
Baazigar
karan Arjun

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The actress got involved with the established writer and budding director Gulzar and in 1973,
she wrapped up her assignments and plunged into marriage. She won Best Supporting Actress Award
for playing Yash Chopra's Daag (1973), but she was busy concentrating on her pregnancy.
The arrival of her beloved daughter Bosky marked a major landmark in Raakhee's life.

But by the mid-1970s, Raakhee and Gulzar had separated; and Raakhee returned to the film
industry...Raakhee couldn't stay away from acting and made a film comeback that strained and
eventually ended her second marriage...
Raakhee became an alcoholic and for a time drank heavily. During this mid-career period Raakhee
excelled in dramatic roles and was compared to the 'queen of tragedy' Meena Kumari. Ironically
both of her ex-husband's reportedly had affairs with Meena Kumari. This comparison rankled
Raakhee to no end and must have caused her great angst as Raakhee was a great dramatic actress in
her own right...

Her first two films after her return , Rajshri's Tapasya (1975) and Yash Chopra's Kabhie Kabhie
(1976) were both huge hits.

Tapasya gave Raakhee the tragedienne tag (she played self-sacrificing elder sister to a brood
of siblings) and invited comparisons to Meena Kumari. That is because Raakhee learnt to modulate
her voice into a husky, emotionally effective timbre. And Kabhie Kabhie, in which the Chopra
spared no effort to make her look stunning, started a long association with Amitabh Bachchan.

Raakhee next came up with a trio of hits with Bachchan in one year (1978) , Trishul, Kasme Vaade
and Muqaddar Ka Sikander. Despite the Bachchan aura, Raakhee was that rare actress who would
manage decent roles in his films, especially in the movies directed by Hrishikesh Mukherji (Jurmana
and Bemisaal).
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After playing Amitabh's sweetheart in eight films, Raakhee went ahead and defiantly played his mother
in Ramesh Sippy's Shakti (1982). Incidentally, their romantic film Bemisaal was released the same
year. For Raakhee, it was not commercial consideration, but character that was paramount.

In 1985, Raakhee gave a standout performance in Aparna Sen's Paroma as the middle-aged
housewife whose contact with a young male photographer makes her question her familiar but cloistered
world.

Subsequently, Raakhee became famous as the formidable doyenne of films like Dacait (1987), Ram
Lakhan (1989), Saugandh (1991), Anadi (1993) and Karan Arjun (1995), who could be relied on to give
barbed portraits of wronged and vengeful motherhood. Nineties' films like Khalnayak, Baazigar and
Border showcased her softer side, but she was still all-too-often misty-eyed.

The grand dame of Hindi films still holds the reins of her life determinedly in her own hands - consenting to
do the odd film when it is associated with an Amitabh Bachchan (Ek Rishta) or a Rituparno Ghosh
(Shubho Muharat), dabbling with her farm, doting on her daughter and living a single life in her
Mumbai bungalow, Muktangan.

Raakhee has won three Fimfare acting awards and unlike most all of the actress' who were beauty queens
of the 60s and 70s she continues to act in films to this day. She is a true troubadour with over 30 years in
the film industry.. An actress of great demeanor she will definitely remain the favourite heroine of
yesteryears. And like her name, she shall still soar high in the sky....

she was really tragedy queen of 70s,in most of films she did with amitabh,i guess there was happy ending in only 2 movies..i mean where both are together...

She was a fine actress besides being very beautiful........Amitabh and she made a good screen pair..
I liked 'Jurmana', kabhie kabhie ,Kasme wade,Kaala Patthar and Trishul.......All these had happy endings...

happy diwali guys..

A VERY HAPPY DIWALI TO YOU Jassi....God bless you...


Jaya Bhaduri(Bachchan) - Born April 9,1948


Jaya Bhaduri, a short, dusky and bubbly actress with looks like the girl next door is
one of the greatest gifts to the film world by Satyajit Rai.

Of all the actress' of Bollywood's bouffant 70s era Jaya Bachchan (Bhaduri) would be the
one voted; "Most Likely to be the Girl you Take Home to Meet Mom and Dad". She has
that genuine and sincere quality that the parent's love to see.

There is a fortitude and level-headedness in her gaze and demeanor. She displays a
silent refined non-plussed intelligence. The plot my be throwing Jaya for a loop
through seemingly insurmountable odds but the quiet gaze of her often downcast
eyes presents us with a mind actively (internally) searching for solutions as opposed to
a spirit victimized and submissive. One could misinterpret her demeanor as submissive
and victimized but there is decorum in her manner that transcends such stereotypes
and elevates it to a silent dignity backed by integity of spirit.

One could also say she is the achetype of the Indian woman.....

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Jaya was born in a Bengali Kulin Brahmin family to Indira and Taroon Kumar Bhaduri,
writer, journalist and stage artist....She started her career with a small role in
Satyajit Ray's Bengali film,Mahanagar at the age of 15. After doing a couple of
more films and a stint at the Film and Television Institute of India at Pune, where she first
met Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya landed in Mumbai with a role in Hrishikesh
Mukherjees film Guddi in 1971.she became a success after Guddi in
which she played a schoolgirl obsessed with film star Dharmendra after which
she moved to Mumbai and starred in many Hindi hit films...
Though without a background in Bollywood, she carved a niche for herself within no time.
Little did she know that this debut shall herald an era of stardom for her and catapult her
to the virtual status of being the First Lady of Bollywood.. Uphaar, that shortly
followed Guddi was also an amazing success at the box-office. Her unpretentious
demeanor, immense talent, endearing attitude and ability to enliven the characters
she played brought her in the forefront of the film world.

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She starred in many Hindi hit films, such as Jawani Diwani, Koshish, Anamika and
Bawarchi.She could illuminate otherwise dull films of Anil Dhawan like Anndata
and Piya ka Ghar,Initially
she co-starred with Amitabh bachchan in movies like Zanjeer, Ek Nazar, Bansi-Birju
Zanjeer and Abhiman not only proved a boon for Amitabh’s professional life but for
his personal life as well.

On June 3, 1973 Jaya and Amitabh tied the nuptial knot. After getting married,
Amitabh achieved great heights in his career. There was no looking back for him either.
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She bagged her first Best Actress award for her outstanding performance in Kora Kagaz,
1974, in which she portrayed a woman caught in the tussle between her parents
and husband. She was also blessed with a daughter, named Shweta in the same
year. Abhishek, the second star kid was born on Feb 5, 1976.
This versatile actress played different roles in Jawani Deewani, Uphaar, Naya Din Nayi
Raat followed by Koshish. Koshish was a unique experiment in the
history of Bollywood. Both the leading characters performed the characters of a deaf
and dumb couple superbly, exhibiting immense talent through their expressions and
emotions. She earned great fame by acting in movies like Naya Din Nayi raat,
Anamika and Naukar with Sanjeev Kumar as a co-star. She stood tall against him in
Naya Din Nayi Raat,
The movie Naukar, 1980, proved to be another turning point in her career when
she bagged the best actress award.

Jaya also played small but significant character roles in few films like Chupke-Chupke
and Sholay before saying goodbye to Bollywood, as she decided to focus on her family
life. Thereafter, Yash Chopra convinced her for a short comeback in Silsila, with Amitabh,
Rekha and Sanjeev Kumar as her co-stars. The storyline of this movie was close to Jaya
and Amitabh’s real life story.

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Prominent films..

Guddi
Upahaar
Zanjeer
Doosri sita
Jawani diwani
Shor
Parichay
Koshish
kora kagaz
Ek nazar
Abhiman
Mili
Chupke chupke
Bawarchi
Naukar
Anamika
Sholay
Silsila
Fiza
Kabhi khushi kabhi gham


She has lived her entire married life in the public eye, yet she has always kept her
distance from the media (especially when it comes to her personal life). Her marriage
has seen ups and downs especially after the much-publicized affair of her husband with
film actress Rekha..
In 1998, she came back as an actress in Govind Nihalani’s Hazar Chuarasi Ki
Ma playing roles of her age. Fans were also elated by her performance as a mother
of Hrithik and Karishma in Fiza. She has also been appreciated for her role as Nandini
in Karan Johar’s Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gam. Besides character roles, Jaya also
joined her husband’s entertainment company Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited,
ABCL, and produced a serial, Dekh Bhai Dekh and a movie Tere Mere
Sapne..

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Awards and recognition

Filmfare Awards

Winner

* 1974 - Filmfare Best Actress Award, Abhimaan

* 1975 - Filmfare Best Actress Award, Kora Kagaz

* 1980 - Filmfare Best Actress Award, Naukar

* 2001 - Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award, Fiza

* 2002 - Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

* 2004 - Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award, Kal Ho Na Ho

* 2007 - Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award

IIFA Awards

Winner
* 2001 - IIFA Best Supporting Actress Award, Fiza

* 2002 - IIFA Best Supporting Actress Award, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

* 2004 - IIFA Best Supporting Actress Award, Kal Ho Na Ho

Her son Abhishek Bachchan recently got married to Indian actress Aishwarya Rai
on April 20, 2007. Jaya has two grandchildren from her daughter Shweta; Navya
Naveli and Agastya Nanda.Her son-in law is Nikhil Nanda, Grandson of Raj
Kapoor

Live, energetic and versatile Jaya is not a mere name on the vast tinsel horizon but is
a living legend.

i liked her as an actress in her old films,but i was not impressed with her acting in k3g,kal ho na ho etc..

True.....she has lost her Spontainity and grown very stiff in her manner over the years...


Sayeeda Khan

Not much is known about this actress....
Quite a few very popular and melodious songs were picturised on her..

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Some of her films..

Kanyadaan
Vaasna
Ek Saal Pehle
Char Dervesh
Hum Matwale Naujawan
Kanch Ki Gudiya
Wanted
Honeymoon
Main Shadi karne chala
Modern Girl


Some popular songs picturised on her....

Yeh mausam rangeen samaa
Mere khwaabon main khayalon mein chupe
Jabse hum tum baharon mein
Saath ho tum aur raat jawan
Beethe nahin raat sanam
Duniya na dekhe zamaane na jaane
Pyar ke daaman mein lipteh

agree

well even i dont know anything abt this actress

Certainly Jassi.
"Nagin" was one the best roles of Reena Roy. I think this movie was singularly responsible for accelerating her career since she was seen opposite so many male stars and even the female ones such as Rekha, Mumtaz all of whom seem subservient to her in this one single film. However, the episode of Mumtaz and Firoz Khan was intelligently humourous one, what with all 'Shairs and Shayris.'

Nasir.

i liked the scene when reena slapped mumtaz...

Jassi...

Babita - April 20, 1948

Babita was a popular actress of Bollywood entertainers in the late 60s and 70s. Her older cousin
was the beautiful Sadhana. For a period Babita vied for the top spot on the beauty charts
of Hindi cinema. Her career matched her with all the top stars of the day.

Babita Shivdasani was born in a prominent Sindhi family based in Bombay. Encouraged by the success
of her cousin, Sadhana Shivdasani, in Hindi movies, Babita too decided to enter the film industry as a
leading actress ..Shivdasani organized a screen test for her with veteran producer G.P. Sippy. Heliked
her screen test and gave her the opportunity to star in his film Raaz......Her first release was
with another débutante, Rajesh Khanna, in the musical thriller "Raaz" (1967).
Thereafter there was no looking back for this beautiful actress....

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In her short career she appeared in 19 films including: Dus Lakh (1966), Raaz (1966), Farz (1967),
Aulad (1968), Haseena Maan Jayegi (1969), Kab Kyon Aur Kahan (1970) and many more. She
starred with her future husband Randhir Kapoor in the hit film Kal Aaj Aur Kal....
The film that made her was Farz. Babita's piano-key-white teeth, pale pink lipstick and sprinkled-with-stardust belly button made her the favourite of the front benchers.
Babita was the fashion inspiration for hordes of college girls. Her tight churidar kurtas, hoop earrings
and go-go glasses were much imitated. Her histrionic talents, if any, stayed masked behind the pink
patina.

Babita was offered the author-backed role of a widow (eventually played by Hema Malini) in
Ramesh Sippy's Andaaz, but her father thought it was contrary to her glamour girl image
and prevailed upon Babita to turn it down...

She worked in at least one film with all the top stars of the day, including Rajendra Kumar in
Anjaana, Manoj Kumar in Pehchaan and Dharmendra in Kab, Kyon Aur Kahan.

She has acted with Shashi kapoor,Shammi kapoor,Biswajeet,Jeetendra,Sanjay khan...

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A diligent and dedicated actress, Babita was an equally devoted girlfriend. An enamoured Dabboo
(Randhir Kapoor), who had a school boy crush on her, would invariably wait for her to return
from the studios. While he lolled in his favourite armchair, she would sneak into her bathroom and
peel off her makeup because Dabboo disapproved of it. By a quirk of fate, Randhir went on to sign
Babita for his home production and directorial debut, Kal Aaj Aur Kal.

Randhir and Babita vowed to be together vide Jab tum hoge saat saal ke aur main
hoongi pachpan ki. But after a few years of domestic bliss and two daughters, Karisma and Kareena,
the couple separated. After the birth of their daughters, their relationship was under strain and
finally after a few years they separated. Babita walked out taking her two daughters with her. She
would eventually break the tradition for which she was forced to leave the industry. Her two
daughters went on to become huge stars of their generation.On hindsight, one is not surprised that
the initiative to separate was taken by Babita....

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Prominent films......


# Dus Lakh
# Raaz (1967)
# Farz (1967)
# Kismat (1968)
# Haseena Maan Jayegi (1968) .
# Aulad (1968)
# Tumse Achcha Kaun Hai (1969)
# Ek Shriman Ek Shrimati (1969)
# Doli (1969)
# Anmol Moti (1969)
# Anjaana (1969)
# Kab Kyon Aur Kahan (1970)
# Pehchan (1970)
# Kal Aaj Aur Kal (1971)
# Bikhare Moti (1971)
# Banphool (1971)
# Jeet (1972)
# Ek Hasina Do Diwane
# Kab kyton aur Kahan

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Today, Babita lives with her two daughters. She has achieved for her daughters what she could not
realise for herself. While she was a star, nothing more, nothing less, her daughters have earned
the appellation of star-actresses..
In March 2005, she became a grandmother when eldest daughter, Karisma gave birth to a baby girl.
She now lives in Mumbai with her youngest daughter Karina...

u r doin profile according to date birth of actresses,it means hema is younger to jaya bacchan by few months...i was even surprised that waheeda is elder to nutan and vyajaynthimala

i think babita could have been an another hema malini,but she left films at her peak,she did very few films,but most of her films did well at box office..but i never noticed her acting talent..karishma and kareena are better actresses than her..even refusing andaz was a big mistake of babita,it could have give her one author backed role which could have made her more memorable..
if she would not have been a rk bahu or mother of karishma and kareena..
....i guess she would have been a forgotton face..(like leena charndrawaker)

Naturally the Ichchadhaari Nagin had to slap her and put her to sleep so as to take her form. Reena Roy gave a true "Naginic" performance there, unlike Vyjantimala of the Fifties Nagin.


Nasir.

Thats right jassi.....next will be Hema Malini...






I dont think she was really talented, just glamorous and lucky to have got the right kind of films....
i agree that had she not been associated with the kapoors she could easily have been forgotten like
scores of other actresses..

Reena roy was a good actress besides being attractive.....Nasir Vyjayantimala was not a
Nagin in Nagin ....a princess, rather from a tribal community...

Yes Reeth I've seen the old Nagin as a child and know that Vyajantimala was not an actual Nagin there. It's taken in a figurative sense because she is shown running to the source of "Been" of the snake charmer. What I meant to say was that Reena's role is the more powerful out of the two.
By the way, the old movie survived only owing to its haunting song and music and gave great competition to Dilip's "Azaad".

In my opinion, the "been" music there has not been surpassed so far though we had the "Nagin oriented" movies in modern times too. What say you?


Nasir.

to me old nagin was nonstop chitrahaar

I agree Nasir, the songs were/are fabulous...my own favourite being Jadugar saiyan, where Vyjayantimala
looks so pretty and innocent...




eleven songs or were there more?

i guess there were more than 11 songs..

Is that so? i am sure they are all melodious ...


HEMA MALINI - Born October 16, 1948


Hema Malini was and still remains one of the most popular and most loved female stars of Hindi
cinema. Her A-List status cemented by her box office hit after hit magic touch has seen Hema in
some of the most famous and enduring hits of Bollywood cinema...There was a fresh innocence about
Hema Malini.She was the second south Indian actress after Vyajanthimala to excel at
Bollywood. It is also a sheer coincidence that both of them are proficient in Bharatnatyam too.
Hema Malini possessed a style and grace in her dance that was transcendent. She is on screen
sheer magic and one of the few true Superstars of Bollywood.
But this south Indian actress is more than just a beautiful face - she's like an exquisite piece of
lace threaded with steel. Hema has insisted on living her life on her terms....

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Hema was born in the Tamil-speaking Chakravarthy household on October 16, 1948 in Ammankudi,
Tamil Nadu. Her Father's name is V.S.R. Chakravarthy and her mother, Jaya, was a
film producer. She was enrolled in the Chennai-based Andhra Mahila Sabha.

Ironically her career almost ended before it began...
After performing as a dancer in a 1961 Tamil movie, she was rejected by Tamil Director, Sridhar,
during 1964 when she first attempted to act, on the grounds that she had no star appeal. Sridhar
was proved wrong when Hema persisted, debuted opposite legendary showman, Raj Kapoor in
'Sapnon Ka Saudagar' just 4 years after her rejection.

Thereafter there has no been looking back for this attractive Libran, who went to star in close to 140
movies Sapnon ka Saudagar (1968) posters splashed her picture with the catch phrase - 'Dreamgirl.
' The film flopped but Hema survived. With Johnny Mera Naam (1970), Hema became a top s
tar and with Seeta aur Geeta (1972) she was the top female star in Bollywood. A string of
successful films particularly opposite Dharmendra (Raja Jani (1972), Jugnu (1973),
Sholay (1975)) followed as Hema's stock only went higher and higher.
Though Critics have dismissed her as a one-note actress, to be fair to her she did occasionally show
that she could give a performance of some depth were she directed properly. As Raj Kumar's
scheming mistress in Lal Pathar (1971) she not only made the audience empathize with her
negative character but also stole a march over no less an actress than Rakhee! She dared to
play a young widow in Andaaz (1971), a role turned down by most actresses. She tried to
change her glamorous image by working with Gulzar and did some of her best and perhaps
most introspective work in his films - Khushboo (1975), Kinara (1977) and Meera (1979).

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She was able to check the down slope of the career graph of Rajesh Khanna with Prem Nagar (1974).
She has acted with almost all the Leading actors of her time be it Manoj Kumar,Rajendra
kumar,Jeetendra,Amitabh bachan,Parikshit sahni,Shammi kapoor,Shashi kapoor and of course
Dharmendra...


Some Prominent Films

Johnny Mera Naam
Andaaz
Lal Patthar
Seeta aur Geeta
Khushboo
Gora aur kaala
Tere mere sapne
Joshila
Sholay
Kinara
Meera
Kranti
Naseeb
Dharmatma
Satte pe satta
Trishul
Razia Sultan
Rihaee
Baghban

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The late seventies and early eighties was the golden era of her career when she held the number
one slot for a number of years. There was no other actress of Hema's stature in Bollywood, except
the inimitable Rekha. Due to her knowledge of classical dance Hema's song-dance sequences
were virtually cine goers delight. She also put her creative instincts to good use by producing films like
Swami (1977), Sharara (1984), Aawargi (1987).
Hema starred in Manoj Kumar's greatest production Kranti (1980). Kamal Amrohi's
extravaganza Razia Sultana which bombed at the box office, but is considered to be a Classic..

At a time when she was riding a crest of popularity, famed actors like Jeetendra and Sanjeev
Kumar proposed her for marriage. But she had something else in mind. Hema Malini later broke
conventions by entering into matrimonial alliance with already married Dharmendra. So strong was
her morally upright image that she was able to go through the marriage without being slandered by
press or public.The marriage not only prospered, but also made Dharmendra-Hema one of the
most sought after Bollywood couples ever...
Hema subsequently gave birth to Esha and then later to Ahana. Esha is an actress
in her own rights. The trio, well proficient in the arts of Bharatnatyam dance form, have performed
together at a number of dance events and concerts...

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By the early to mid 80s her reign was coming to an end. She concentrated on her dance performances
and turned to playing strong characters with feminist undertones on both film and TV in fact giving a
finely modulated performance in Rihaee (1988) as a woman who has an affair when her husband
is away and has another man's child.

Later she also a left a mark on the small screen by directing serials like Dil Aashna Hai (1991)
and Mohini (1994), Noopur (1990) and Women of India (1996). In a film based on Gandhiji's life
Hey Ram (2000), Hema Malini came alive on the bigger screen again. Her latest hit Baghban
(2003), opposite Amitabh Bachchan is almost reminiscent of her golden era of the seventies.
The stars came together after almost nineteen years. Her stirring performance and screen presence made
people nostalgic of the Dream Girl of the past.


Lately Hema is busy casting the careers of daughter Esha and Ahna. Besides, she also edits a Mumbai
based woman's magazine. Unlike, the case of hubby Dharmendra, Hema got the Filmfare
award rather early in 1972. In 1992, Hema Malini was awarded the Padma Bhushan by
the government of India for her contribution to the society. In August 2003, The President of India
nominated her to the Rajya Sabha.

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In the latest scramble of stars joining political parties, Hema too has joined BJP at the
behest of its President Venkiah Naidu. The veteran of over 100 films has campaigned hard for
her husband Dharmendra, who has made into the Lok Sabha from Bikaner constituency.
Only time can tell how far this famous pair of Veeru and Basanti with Hema sitting in the Upper House
and Dharamji seated in the Lower House, can re-enact Sholay in public life. Hema Malini has
lived life to its utmost with held high ..

She is amongst the few who have kept their word of not wearing any revealing outfits in public. Hema,
who continues to act in movies, with her latest being 'Baabul' in 2006...

she was really a dream girl..she was proposed by jeetendra n sanjeev,but she went for already married dharmendra...i read an interview of sulakshana pandit that sanjeev did not marrie her coz he could not forget his first love hema...
but dharmendra went on working with jeetendra and sanjeev kumar..he was not havin any prob with them..the way abhisheikh is havin with salmaan and vivek

thanx for the input jassi...

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Young Bachhan family...

they are just losing respect..they are havin prob with srk...with salmaan and aamir too..now even with akshay coz amitabh was planning to work in chandramukhi remake(bhool bhullaiya)..jaya and aish are havin prob with rani...i must say jaya does not seems to be like same old jaya..even in acting...whatever she did after her comeback,she was not upto the mark...i liked only in laaga chunri mein daag..in rest of her comeback films..she was loud or over the top or fake...

jassi most of the news we get is from the media, and believe me.... they are biased..Amitabh may not be a perfect being but he is basically a decent person, you can see that in the maneer in which he handles himself........and he might be having some minor problems, afterall he is human , again with the kind of hype that is being given to him by the same media when things are going right,one cant help wondering if they are being fair in their assesment either in praising him sky high or the other way round, when it suits them...
Jaya has given some really memorable films in the past and in the present scenario one cant expect her to get any great role...

i agree to an extent

Shabana Azmi - Born 18 September 1950


Shabana Azmi happens to be the most respected actress working in India today.....Shabana Azmi is
the resurgent face of feminism of modern India. It is a different matter that she is equally acclaimed
for her brilliance on the celluloid. Her social activism and the courage to call a spade a spade, has
made her a cut above the rest, of the usual lot of Bollywood stars. Shabana’s striking countenance
that fits into a vast spectrum of roles; coupled with her unmatched prowess, to emote and empathise
with versatile characters, has made her hold sway on a genre of cinema for three decades. She is
the pioneer of parallel movement in the Indian cinema and is the undisputed monarch of her territory.
It is highly unlikely that times shall find her an heir, to carry forward her prolific legacy......

Shabana Azmi was born to poet-activist, the legendary [b]Kaifi Azmi and Shaukat, an actress
on September 18, 1950. Apparently she has inherited a lot of talent and intellect from her parents.

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Her parents had an active social life, and their home was always throbbing with people and activities.
Early in childhood, the environment in her home inculcated into her a respect for family ties, social
and human values; and her parents always supported her to develop a passion for intellectual
stimulation and growth.

She completed a graduation degree in Psychology from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, followed by a course in Acting at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. She topped the list of successful candidates of 1972.

She made her debut in Shayam Benegal’s Ankur (1972). The film paid her rich dividends.
Ankur not only became a harbinger of the parallel cinema, but also fetched her the first National
Award. Later she went on to win another four – a feat unparalleled in the annals of film industry.
Eight years and fifteen films after her debut, she showcased her greatest award winning
performance in Mahesh Bhatt’s Arth (1982). Arth brought her yet another National Award and
her first Filmfare award. It also placed her firmly in the orbit of the galaxy of film stars. She played
a castaway wife, who had the mettle to take on the world. An equally brilliant performance by her
illustrious co-star, the late Smita Patil, goaded Shabana to churn out her best. The rest of the
three National Awards came from Khandar (1984), Paar (1985) and Godmother (1999).
In Doosri Dulhan (1982), she played a prostitute to the hilt - the typical pan chewing
and curse-spewing courtesan, who tries to seduce a millionaire out in search of a womb to father his
child.

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Shabana Azmi was one of the few actress who could alternate between 'Art Cinema' and Bollywood
masala. She could play a convincing bell-bottomed jeans wearing glam Bollywood heroine in one film
and then turn around in her next project with a searing portrayal of an oppressed village girl in rural
Rajasthan...

Shabana’s acting has been characterized by a life like real depiction of the roles played by her.
In Mandi she acted as a madam of a whorehouse, and to act this role she put on weight and
even chewed betel. Real life like portrayals continued in almost all of her movies with a variety of
roles, including a tragic role of a woman named Jamini resigned to her destiny in Khandhar,
and a typical urban Indian wife, homemaker and mother in Masoom.

She also did many roles in experimental and parallel Indian cinema. Deepa Mehta’s 1996 film
Fire depicts her as a lonely woman, Radha, in love with her sister-in-law. Radha being the
name of a goddess and the subtle reference to lesbianism drew severe protests from many social
groups of India, and also threats of ban by Indian authorities. Her role as Radha brought her
international recognition with the Silver Hugo Award for Best Actress at the 32nd
Chicago Film Festival and Jury Award for Best Actress at Outfest, Los Angeles

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Some noted films...

Ankur
Nishant
Junoon
Paar
Sparsh
Shatranj ke khilari
Arth
Mandi
Masoom
City of Joy
Amar Akbar anthony
Shaque
Apne paraye
Khandar
Bhavana
Swami
Mrityudand
15 Park Avenue


She has acted in more than one hundred Hindi films, both in the mainstream as well as in parallel
cinema. Several of her films have received attention in the international arena, including at the
Norwegian Film Institute, the Smithsonian Institution and the American Film Institute. A number
of her films have won international acclaim including John Schlesinger’s Madame Sousatzka, Nicholas
Klotz’s Bengali Night, Roland Joffe’s City of Joy, Channel 4’s Immaculate Conception, Blake Edward’s
the Son of Pink Panther and Ismail Merchant’s In Custody.

Shabana Azmi has been a committed social activist, active in fighting AIDS and injustice in real life.
Shabana Azmi has voiced her opinion on a variety of issues. Initially, her activism drew skepticism
and was dubbed by some as a publicity gimmick. However, she proved her critics wrong and used
her celebrity status to emerge as a high-profile social activist....

She was honoured by Infosys Technologies Limited at Bangalore office as Chief Guest in 2006 for
the ceremony of "Excellence Award Distribution"

In the initial stage of her career, she was linked to noted film director Shekhar Kapur....Shabana is
married to an equally famous poet-lyricist and screenwriter husband Javed Akhtar. The
Government of India honoured Shabana, a veteran of over hundred films with Padam Shri
award in 1998. She was nominated to the Rajya Sabha, as a Member of Parliament by the President
of India, an honour bestowed upon people who have attained excellence in their respective fields. She
also has the distinction of holding the coveted post of United Nations Ambassador of Goodwill on
Population and Development.

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment




National Awards

Azmi has received the coveted National Film Award for Best Actress, five times:

* 1975 - National Film Award for Best Actress, Ankur
* 1983 - National Film Award for Best Actress, Arth
* 1984 - National Film Award for Best Actress, Khandhar
* 1985 - National Film Award for Best Actress, Paar
* 1999 - National Film Award for Best Actress, Godmother

[edit] Filmfare Awards

She has also won four Filmfare Awards:

* 1977 - Filmfare Best Actress Award, Swami
* 1982 - Filmfare Best Actress Award, Arth
* 1984 - Filmfare Best Actress Award, Bhavna
* 2005 - Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award[/b]

Shabana Azmi continues to be a force in Indian film. She is also very active in social causes and is a leading advocate of AIDS awareness in India....She has never lagged behind in any endeavour to normalise matters, whenever communal amity and peace is held to ransom by anti-social elements. Shabana Azmi is always at the forefront in fight for a just cause....

coming to hema,she was offered satyam shivam sundram,but she refused it coz of exposing scenes..but i really wonder than why she did baghawat..in the song when dharmendra is teasing her and she is bathing..i guess it was revealing white dress..or may be i will have to watch it again..as i dont think hema could have done something like this..

i heard she even refused mera naam joker(padmini's role),which was also offered to mumtaz..

Thank you jassi......btw what do you think of Shabana Azmi? dont you like her? any comments about her?

she is a grt actress..as i already mentioned earlier i like almost every actress..i guess she was having some probblem with smita patil..may be coz shyam banegal started signing smita in some of his projects..and shabana was only actress of art cinema and later smita was also part of similer films..
i read somewhere that once during a photo shoot both were sayin somethin like usko bolo idhar aane ko,main idhar nahi aaongi,deepti naval was also in that picture..i find it funny...

anyways have u done leena chandrawaker or not