Mala Sinha

Biography

Early life Sinha was born to Albert Sinha, in a Nepalese Christian family. They named her Alda. Her friends at school used to tease her calling Dalda (a branded vegetable oil of India), so she changed her name to Mala.[2] [edit]Career Sinha started her film career as child artist in Bengali Films Jai Vaishno Devi followed by Shri Krishan Leela, Jog Biyog & Dhooli. Noted Bengali film director Ardhendu Bose saw her acting in a school play and took permission from her father to cast her as a heroine in his film Roshanara (1952), her cinematic debut. After acting in a couple of films in Calcutta, Mala had to go to Bombay to shoot for a Bengali film. There she met Geeta Dutt, a noted Bollywood playback singer, who was charmed by her and introduced her to film director Kidar Sharma. It was Sharma who cast her as a heroine in his film Rangeen Ratein. However, her first Hindi film was Badshah opposite Pradeep Kumar, than came Ekadashia mythological film both films failed, but her lead role in Kishore Sahu's Hamlet fetched her rave reviews in spite of the film failing at the boxoffice.[3] Mala was also a singer of some repute and used to sing for All India Radio, albeit she was never allowed to sing playback (even for herself) in the movies. In 1957, noted Bollywood actor and film director Guru Dutt (the husband of Geeta Dutt) cast Mala in his film Pyaasa in a role originally intended for Madhubala. Mala gave a memorable performance as the woman who chooses to marry a rich man (played by character artiste Rehman) rather than a poor unsuccessful poet (played by Guru Dutt himself). The film remains to this day a classic in the history of Indian cinema and a turning point for Sinha. After Pyaasa her major success was Yash Chopra's directorail debut Dhool Ka Phool(1959) that elevated her into a major dramatic star,[4] there was no looking back for Sinha than as she gave hits after hits in movies like 'Parvarish', 'Phir Subah Hogi', 'Main Nahse Main Hoon', 'Love Marriage', 'Bahurani', 'Anpadh', 'Aasra', 'Dil Tera Deewana', Gumrah (many critics believe her career best performance), 'Aankhen', 'Hariyali Aur Rasta', 'Himalaya Ki God Mein' and many more. What was most remarkable about Mala Sinha was that most of her 1960s hits were fuelled by her own star power as much as the heroes'. She did not mind working with newcomers as long as her role was worth. When she acted opposite big stars, she made sure her role was as good as theirs. She worked with many newcomers of her era including Dharmendra, Sunil Dutt, Sanjay Khan and Amitabh Bachchan. In most of her films she got the first billing in the credits, even before the heroes. In 1966, Sinha went to Nepal to act in a Nepali film called "Maitighar" when the Nepali film industry was still in its infancy. Her hero in the film was an estate owner called C. P. Lohani.[5] Soon after, Mala Sinha married C. P. Lohani with the blessings of her parents. From the beginning theirs was a long-distance marriage with Lohani based in Kathmandu to look after his business and she living in Bombay with their daughter Pratibha. Mala continued acting in films after her marriage.[1] She has been a heroine in Nepali and Bengali films. In Bengali films she has acted with Uttam Kumar as well as Kishor Kumar. Her last Bengali film was Kabita(1977) which featured Ranjit Mullick and Kamal Hassan. She is noted for her strong women oriented yet glamorous roles fuelled by her equal star power on par with the heroes giving blockbusters and hits like Dhool Ka Phool, Anpadh, Phir Subah Hogi, Hariyali Aur Rasta, Dil Tera Deewana, Bahurani, Aasra, Do Kaliyan, Gumrah, Aankhen, Himalaya Ki God Mein, Maryada amongst others.[6] Of her rich and varied repertoire of films, she mentions she is rather partial to Jahan Ara(1964), a historical that Meena Kumari passed on to her as she says,"Meenaji turned down the role saying that she would not look the part whereas I would. Given my ignorance of Urdu, I was rather skeptical but Meenaji was convinced that I could do justice to the role. Playing Mumtaz Mahal's eldest daughter entailed grueling Urdu classes and learning royal tehzeeb. It was hot on the grand sets erected at Ranjit Studio and the film had Madan Mohan's haunting music. It was a film replete with lyrical moments".[1] As she grew older she gracefully moved on to doing character roles that befitted her age. She was last seen in Zid(1994).[7] Though Mala evinced as much interest in her daughter Pratibha's career as her father did in her career, she was unable to achieve the same success for her daughter.[8] [edit]Personal life Sinha currently lives in Bombay with her now-retired husband and daughter Pratibha Sinha, a Bollywood actress [edit]Awards and nominations Won, BFJA Award for Best Actress(1965) - Jahan Ara Won, BFJA Award for Best Actress(1966) - Himalaya Ki God Mein[9] Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award (2007) 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. She 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, Sinha has never won a Filmfare for any of her roles. She was honoured with the Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.[10] She was also felicitated by Government of Sikkim and Government of Nepal in 2004 and 2005 respectively.[11] [edit]Filmography Hindi films Zid(1994) (Jai Mehta) Radha Ka Sangam(1992) (Govinda) Khel(1992) (Anil Kapoor) Dil Tujhko Diya(1987) (Kumar Gaurav) Baboo(1985) Navin Nishchal Yeh Rishta Na Toote(1985)Rajendra Kumar Aasman(1984) Rajeev Kapoor Beraham(1982) Sanjeev Kumar Harjai(1981) Shammi Kapoor Dhan Daulat(1980)Rajendra Kumar Karamyogi(1977)Raj Kumar Prayeschit(1977) Parikshit Sahni Do Ladkiyan(1977) Sanjeev Kumar Zindagi(1976) Sanjeev Kumar Mazdoor Zindabad(1976) Rajendra Kumar Naseeb(1976) (Guest Appearance) Sunehra Sansar(1975)Rajendra Kumar Archana(1974)Sanjeev Kumar Kora Badan(1974) (Guest Appearance) 36 Ghante(1974)Rajkumar Nek Parveen(1974)Rakesh Pandey Rickshawala(1973) Sujit Kumar Kahani Hum Sab Ki(1973) Vinod Mehra Phir Kab Milogi(1973) Biswajeet Rivaaj(1972) Sanjeev Kumar Lalkaar(1972) Rajendra Kumar Maryada(1971)Rajkumar / Rajesh Khanna Sanjog(1971) Amitabh Bachchan Chahat(1971) Biswajeet Holi Aayee Re(1970)Prakash Thapa Kangan(1970)Sanjeev Kumar Geet(1970)Rajendra Kumar Do Bhai(1970) Jeetendra Paisa Ya Pyar(1970) Biswajeet Jaldeep(1970) (Children Film Society) Mere Huzoor(1969) Rajkumar / Jeetendra Humsaya(1968)Joy Mukherjee Do Kaliyan(1968)Biswajeet Pyar Ka Sapna(1968)Biswajeet Aankhen(1968) Dharmendra Dillagi(1966)Sanjay Khan Nai Roshni(1967) with Biswajeet Night In London(1967)Biswajeet Jaal(1967) Biswajeet Aasra(1966)Biswajeet Tamanna(1966) Biswajeet Apne Huye Paraye(1966) Manoj Kumar Mere Lal(1966) Dev Kumar Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi(1966) Dharmendra Himalaya Ki God Mein(1965)Manoj Kumar........Nominated (Filmfare Best Actress Award) Jab Yaad Kisiki Aati Hai(1965)Dharmendra Neela Akaash(1965)Dharmendra Bahu Beti(1965)Joy Mukherjee Main Suhagan Hoon(1965)Ajit Khan Jahanara(1964) Bharat Bhushan..........Nominated (Filmfare Best Actress Award) Suhagan(1964)Guru Dutt Phool Bane Angarey(1963) Rajkumar Pooja Ke Phool(1963) Dharmendra Gumraah(1963) with Sunil Dutt Bahu Rani (1963) Guru Dutt...........Nominated (Filmfare Best Actress Award) Gehra Daag (1963) Rajendra Kumar Hariyali Aur Rasta (1962) Manoj Kumar Anpadh(1962) Dharmendra Bombay Ka Chor (1962) Kishore Kumar Aankh Micholi (1962) Shekhar Gyarah Hazaar Ladkiyan (1962) Bharat Bhushan Dil Tera Diwana (1962) Shammi Kapoor Suhag Sindoor (1961) Manoj Kumar Maya (1961) Dev Anand Dharamputra (1961) Rehman Patang (1960) Rajendra Kumar Main Nashe Mein Hoon (1960) Raj Kapoor Bewaqoof (1960) Kishore Kumar Mitti Mein Sona (1960) Pradeep Kumar Dhool Ka Phool (1959) Ashok Kumar / Rajendra Kumar.......Nominated (Filmfare Best Actress Award) Love Marriage (1959) Dev Anand Duniya Na Mane (1959) Pradeep Kumar Ujala (1959) Shammi Kapoor Devar Bhabhi(1958)Rajendra Kumar Parvarish(1958)Raj Kapoor Phir Subah Hogi(1958)Raj Kapoor Jaalsaz(1959)Kishore Kumar Chandan(1958)Kishore Kumar Detective(1958) Pradeep Kumar Nausherwan-E-Adil(1957) Rajkumar Ek Goan Ki Kahani(1957)Abhi Bhattacharya / Talat Mehmood Apradhi Kaun(1957)Abhi Bhattacharya Lal Batti(1957)Balraj Sahni Fashion(1957)Pradeep Kumar Pyaasa(1957)Guru Dutt / Rehman Rangin Raaten(1956) Shammi Kapoor Ek Shola(1956)Pradeep Kumar Paisa Hi Paisa(1956)Kishore Kumar Naya Zamana(1955) Pradeep Kumar Ratna Manjari(1955)Mahipal Ekadashi(1955)Trilok Kapoor Riyasat(1955) Mahipal Badshah(1954)PRADEEP KUMAR Hamlet(1954)PRADEEP KUMAR SUHAGAN(1952)GURU DUTT Jhanshi Ki Rani(1952)SOHRAB Modi BENGALI FILMS Shohorer Itikotha ( with Uttam Kumar ) Saathihaara ( with Uttam Kumar ) Abhaya O Srikanta(1961) KELAGHAR(1959)UTTAM KUMAR Lookochoori (1958)(with Kishore Kumar) LOUHA KAPAT(1958) Kabita Bondhu SURER PARASHEY(1957) PRITHIBI AMARE CHAAY(1957) PUTRABADHU(1956) DHULI(1954) CHITRANGADHA(1954) JOG BIYOG(1953) ROSHANARA(1952) Nepali Film Maitighar