Kamini Kaushal

Kamini Kaushal (born 1927) is an Indian film actress. Her original name was Uma. Her father was a Botanist and Professor at Lahore University . She did her college at Kinnaird College in Lahore, British India. Her sister died leaving behind very young children and Uma married ( or was made to marry) her sister’s husband. Her husband, Mr. Sood was an officer in the Bombay port trust.



Uma came from a well-to-do background, she was an honours graduate in literature, which was very rare in the world of films in those days. There is also a mention of her having been a stage actress in Delhi. She worked as a radio artist before she was discovered by Chetan Anand as the lead for his film Neecha Nagar. This movie was shot before her marriage and released in 1946.

After Neecha Nagar and marriage, Kamini Kaushal worked with all the top leading men of her time such as Ashok Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar.

In 1965 she moved to playing character roles with a film called Shaheed starring Manoj Kumar (not to be confused with the 1948 film Shaheed in which she was the lead with Dilip Kumar). As a character artist she was a fixture in 7 Manoj Kumar films right up to Dus Numbari in 1976. She has had a long stint in films with releases right up to 2003. She made the transition to character roles very easily and has excelled in them ever since.

Dilip Kumar in his biography has admitted his attraction to her. He said that she was his first love. There were rumors of an affair between the two. But there is no source giving her side of the story or of her acknowledgement of the same.

She also stepped into writing children’s stories. Her stories used to be published in the children's magazine Paraag and she dabbled in television doing serials like Chand Sitare on Doordarshan. At present she works in the highly popular serial Shanno Ki Shaadi on STAR Plus. She plays the role of Bebe, the grandmother of Shanno, the main protagonist played by Divya Dutta.

Biography Mumtaz - The Big Chase

Mumtaz was born on July 31, 1947 in Bombay, India. She is a renouned veteran bollywood actress. Mumtaz originally of Iranian origin was born to Abdul Saleem Askari and Sardar Shadi Habib Agha. She entered Bollywood at the tender age of twelve.

She started as an extra in films in the early 1960's. She accepted small roles in big films like Mujhe Jeene Do and big roles in small budgeted stunt films like Boxer, Samson, Tarzan, and King Kong. In the 1960s, she starred in as many as 16 action films with freestyle wrestler Dara Singh and was tagged and streotyped as a stunt film heroine.

She first gained attention in a supporting role as a vamp in the A grade color hit film Mere Sanam (1965). Finally, she gained major attention when she played one of Dilip Kumar's leading ladies in Ram Aur Shyam (1967). The film became one of the top hits of the year, and
she received her first Filmfare nomination as Best Supporting Actress. Suddenly, Mumtaz was flooded with offers, but still not for major leading lady roles. She supported Sharmila Tagore in several films in the late 1960s, such as for Saawan Ki Ghata, Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi, and Mere Humdum Mere Dost. She had a memorable song and dance number ("Aaj kal tere

mere") with her then-boyfriend Shammi Kapoor in the hit
film Brahmachari (1968).

It took Raj Khosla's blockbuster Do Raaste (1969) starring the phenomenon Rajesh Khanna to finally make Mumtaz a full-fledged star. Earlier, Shashi Kapoor had refused to work with her because she was a "stunt film heroine" in Saccha Jootha, now wanted her to be his heroine in Chor Machaye Shor.

Mumtaz had no problems acting sexy and due to her great looks, easily had several more hit films. She acted in over a hundred films in a career that spanned just 12 years. She won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for one of her favorite films Khilona in 1970. Mumtaz starred in
many movies with Feroz Khan and her other popular pairing have been with Jeetendra and Rajesh Khanna. She has also acted with Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar and other top heroes of her era. She was proud of her work in her other favorite films Tere Mere Sapne for director Vijay
Anand, as well as Roop Tera Mastana, Aap Ki Kasam, and Aaina.

She quit acting after her appearance in Aaina (1977) for marriage to a millionaire and only returned for one final film appearance 12 years later in the 1989 film Aandhiyan, which flopped and she turned down other film offers. In 1996, she received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.

In June 2008, she was honored for her "Achievement in Indian Cinema" by the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) in Bangkok.


Mumtaz married millionaire Mayur Madhvani on May 29, 1974. They have two daughters Natasha and Tanya. Natasha, the elder daughter, married actor Fardeen Khan, son of Feroz Khan, in a lavish ceremony, in December 2005. Mumtaz had acknowledged that she has successfully battled cancer and that she and her husband have overcome personal problems in their marriage.

Leela Chitnis-Biography

Leela Chitnis was born in Dharwar, Karnataka, India. Leela was one of the first educated film actresses in the bollywood industry. Leela's father was part of a Marathi theatre company called Natyamanwantar.




Leela's early stage work included comedy Usna Navra (1934) and with her own film group Udyacha Sansar. Leela Chitnis got married and had four children but divorced her husband.

Leela started acting to support her four children. She started as an extra and went on to stunt films. She was publicized in the Times of India as the first graduate society-lady from Maharastra.

Leela Chitnis worked at Prabhat Pictures, Pune and Ranjit Movietone before going on to be the leading lady in Bombay Talkies which saw her overtake and outshine Devika Rani. Her association with Bombay Talkies shot her to stardom and she made a particularly good pair with Devika Rani's leading man Ashok Kumar.

For 22 years, Leela Chitnis played the mother of the later leading men including Dilip Kumar, often playing an ailing mother or a mother going through hardships and struggling to bring up her offspring.

Leela created the archetype of the Hindi Film mother, which was carried out by later actresses. She continued doing films and then migrated to the United States in the late 1980s to join her children. At the age of 93, the actress died in Danbury, Connecticut at a nursing home.

Leena Chandavarkar's biography

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Leena Chandavarkar was born in North Karnataka in the Karwar–Dharwar region. She is from the Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community. Leena studied at Bassel Mission Girl's high school, Dharwar for some years. She won a talent competition when she was 15 and after that she went to Mumbai to try her luck in acting.

In 1974, after several successful films like Humjoli, Manchali and a total of some 40 films, the actress married Siddharth Bandodkar, the son of Dayanand Bandodkar the first chief minister of Goa.

Unfortunately, Leena's husband died in an accident. Later Leena married the singer actor Kishore Kumar in 1980 until his death in October 1987. She has son with him Sumeet Kumar.

Leena also appeared as a guest judge for the first 2 episodes of "K for Kishore", a new reality TV singing show launched by Sony TV during December 2007.

Initially Leena Chandavarkar worked in advertisements but eventually ventured into films. The actress made her debut in Man Ka Meet. Between 1969-1979, Leena acted in many films. Leena gave one of her best acting performances in Mehboob Ki Mehndi with Rajesh Khanna in 1971.

Bairaag is another example where Leena acted against the great screen legend Dilip Kumar and a mighty star cast like Saira Bano,Prem Chopra and the lovely Helen.

Leena made her remarkable presence in the bollywood industry during her film career by giving outstanding performances.

Nutan's Biography

Nutan was born on June 4, 1936. She was an Indian Bollywood actress, who appeared in several successful movies of the 50s and 60s.

Nutan was recognised as an accomplished dramatic actress, and her performances often received praises and accolades. Nutan holds the record of winning 5 Filmfare awards for best actress, the highest number of awards won by an actress.

Nutan started her career as actress as a 14 year old in Hamari Beti (1950). This film was produced by her mother, Shobhana. In 1952 she was the winner of Miss India.

First big break of the actress was Seema, for which she won a Filmfare Award. She followed her success with a romantic comedy, Paying Guest, in which she co-starred with Dev Anand.

In 1959 Nutan starred in two hit films, Anari (with Raj Kapoor) and Bimal Roy's Sujata (with Sunil Dutt). In the 1960s and 1970s she had many more successful films including Chhalia (1960), Bandini (1963), Saraswatichandra (1968), Devi (1970) and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978).

In the 1980s she played elderly mother roles in blockbuster films such as Meri Jung (1985), Naam (1986) and Karma (1986). Karma was notable for being the first time she was paired with actor Dilip Kumar. For Mere Jung she won a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Her last film released while she was alive was Kanoon Apna Apna in 1989. She died in 1991 of cancer. Two of her films Naseebwala (1992) and Insaniyat (1994) were released after her death.

Nutan also received BFJA Best Actress Award: Bandini in 1963 and BFJA Best Actress Award: Milan in 1967.

Nutan's Biography

Cover of Chhalia

Nutan was born on June 4, 1936. She was an Indian Bollywood actress, who appeared in several successful movies of the 50s and 60s.

Nutan was recognised as an accomplished dramatic actress, and her performances often received praises and accolades. Nutan holds the record of winning 5 Filmfare awards for best actress, the highest number of awards won by an actress.

Nutan started her career as actress as a 14 year old in Hamari Beti (1950). This film was produced by her mother, Shobhana. In 1952 she was the winner of Miss India.

First big break of the actress was Seema, for which she won a Filmfare Award. She followed her success with a romantic comedy, Paying Guest, in which she co-starred with Dev Anand.

In 1959 Nutan starred in two hit films, Anari (with Raj Kapoor) and Bimal Roy's Sujata (with Sunil Dutt). In the 1960s and 1970s she had many more successful films including Chhalia (1960), Bandini (1963), Saraswatichandra (1968), Devi (1970) and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978).

In the 1980s she played elderly mother roles in blockbuster films such as Meri Jung (1985), Naam (1986) and Karma (1986). Karma was notable for being the first time she was paired with actor Dilip Kumar. For Mere Jung she won a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Her last film released while she was alive was Kanoon Apna Apna in 1989. She died in 1991 of cancer. Two of her films Naseebwala (1992) and Insaniyat (1994) were released after her death.

Nutan also received BFJA Best Actress Award: Bandini in 1963 and BFJA Best Actress Award: Milan in 1967.

Instinctual Beauty-Saira Banu

Saira Banu was born on August 23, 1944 in India to actress Naseem Banu of 30s-40s, and the granddaughter of a courtesan Chamiyan Bai, also known as Shamshad Begum. Saira had spent a significant part of her childhood in London, and went to finish school.

Saira Banu's niece Shaheen Banu was also an actress who was married to former actor Sumeet Saigal and since divorced and remarried to Atul Patel and IFA in London. Always a fashion plate, Saira was forever encased in the pearl strings, chokers, mink stoles and mathapatti saris designed by mother Naseem.

Saira Banu also known as Saira Bano made her acting debut opposite Shammi Kapoor in the 1961 hit film Junglee for which she earned her first Filmfare nomination as Best Actress. It also instantly made Saira a successful actress throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. After having a long time affair with Rajendra Kumar, she got married to Dilip Kumar in 1966.

She wore a swimsuit in April Fool, followed by a number of movies including Resham Ki Dori, Victoria no. 203, International Crook, Saazish, Pocketmaar, Purab Aur Pacchim. Saira's chemistry with Dharmendra was awesome in Saazish.

Victoria No. 203 was the best among the lot where Saira put on a lovely show with all time famous Ranjeet.

Saira's valiant attempts to establish a reputation as an actress after Gopi, Sagina and Bairaag and films like Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Chaitali met with limited success.

Saira Banu did earn 3 additional Filmfare nominations as Best Actress for Shagird (1967), Diwana (1968), and Sagina (1974). In 1976, Saira chose to end her film career. In 1984 Saira appeared in a cameo opposite her husband in the film Duniya and made her last film appearance in the 1988 film Faisla.

The Mystical-Mala Sinha

Mala Sinha was born on November 11, 1936. She is an Indian actress of Nepalese ethnicity. Mala became one of the most popular female stars in Bollywood films from the 50's to the early 70's starring in numerous blockbusters.

The Nepali Beauty lighted up Indian film screens with her sparkling presence. Born a Nepali Christian, Mala Sinha, began her film career with Bengali films like Roshanara. Soon, she shifted to Mumbai. Mala Sinha made a not a very enviable entry with Badshah in 1954. Then came Ekadashi, a mythological film. Followed by a lead in Kishore Sahu's 'Hamlet'. Mala soon rose from a promising newcomer to star with films with a biggie like Raj Kapoor: Parvarish (1958), Phir Subah Hogi (1958) and Main Nashe Mein Hoon (1959). In 1959, Mala had, Dev Anand's musical 'Love Marriage' and a role in B.R. Chopra's Dhool Ka Phool, where Sinha again had a dark-shaded role of a woman who abandons her illegitimate child.



What is remarkable about the actress is that she was as much responsible for her hits as much as the hero's'. Mala Sinha also did smaller films with lesser names or new actor stars like Dharmendra (ANPADH), Manoj Kumar (HARIYALI), Sanjay Khan (DILLAGI) and Amitabh Bachchan (SANJOG), besides doing 10 films with Biswajeet. In 1992 came Khel which was her last film in which this versatile actress acted in bollywood. Yet, she was not de-glamorised.


Award and Nominations
Mala Sinha received several Filmfare nominations for Best Actress for her women oriented roles in Dhool Ka Phool (1959), Bahu Rani (1963), Jahan Ara (1964), Himalaya Ki God Mein (1965). While she was not nominated for her other acclaimed roles like Hariyali Aur Raasta (1962), Anpadh (1962), Gumrah (1963), and Aankhen (1967) amongst others. Mala also won accolades for her role as greyhaired wife of Sanjeev Kapoor in Zindagi (1976). In spite of getting much critical acclaim and mass recognition for her work, she has never won a Filmfare for any of her roles. Mala Sinha was honoured with the Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.


Mala Sinha utilized her talent to the utmost. She is still remembered by many as an actress who was capable of doing anything.