Mala Sinha is a former Indian actress who has worked in Hindi, Bengali and Nepali films. Initially starting her career with regional cinema, she went on to become an actress in Hindi Cinema in the late 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s. In a career spanning four decades, Mala Sinha rose to prominence with films like Guru Dutt's Pyaasa (1957) and Yash Chopra's Dhool Ka Phool (1959). Later, she starred in over hundred film productions including Phir Subah Hogi (1958), Hariyali Aur Rasta, Anpadh (both 1962), Dil Tera Deewana (1962), Gumrah, Bahurani (both 1963), Jahan Ara (1964), Himalay Ki God Mein (1965), Ankhen, Do Kaliyan (both 1968), Maryada (1971) .[1] She was known as the "daring diva" and "torch bearer of women's cinema" for essaying strong female centric and unconventional roles in a range of movies considered ahead of her times.[2][3] Having received multiple awards and nominations, she was given the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
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Mala Sinha was constantly paired in roles opposite Uttam Kumar, Kishore Kumar, Dev Anand, Dharmendra, Raaj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Biswajeet, Manoj Kumar, Rajesh Khanna. She was the highest-paid actress from 1958 to 1965 with Vyjayanthimala, second with Vyjayanthimala from 1966 to 1967, then shared the second spot with Sharmila Tagore from 1968 to 1971, and third position with Sadhana and Nanda in 1972–73.[4]
Filmography
editHindi films
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Zid | Daadimaa | |
| 1992 | Radha Ka Sangam | Thakurain | |
| Khel | Sulakshana | ||
| 1987 | Dil Tujhko Diya | Savitri | |
| 1985 | Babu | Pinky's Mother | |
| 1984 | Aasmaan | Kumar's Mother | |
| 1982 | Nek Parveen | ||
| 1981 | Ye Rishta Na Tootay | Madhu | |
| Harjaee | Sharda | ||
| Naseeb | Cameo | ||
| 1980 | Be-Reham | Maya/Devki Bai | |
| Dhan Daulat | Vasudha | ||
| 1978 | Karmayogi | Durga | |
| Sone Ka Dil Lohe Ke Haath | Maa | ||
| 1977 | Prayashchit | ||
| 1976 | Do Ladkiyan | ||
| Zindagi | Sarojini | ||
| Mazdoor Zindabaad | Seeta Singh | ||
| 1975 | Sunehra Sansar | Laxmi | |
| 1974 | Archana | Archana | |
| Kora Badan | Guest Appearance | ||
| 36 Ghante | Deepa Roy | ||
| Phir Kab Milogi | Sapna/Paro | ||
| 1973 | Rickshawala | ||
| Kahani Hum Sab Ki | Sandhya | ||
| 1972 | Rivaaj | Laxmi | |
| Lalkar | Usha Chaudhary | ||
| 1971 | Sanjog | Asha | |
| Maryada | Laxmi/Lalita | ||
| Chaahat | Geeta | ||
| 1970 | Holi Ayee Re | Suhagi/Hemlata | |
| Kangan | Shanta | ||
| Geet | Kamla | ||
| 1969 | Do Bhai | Sandhya | |
| Paisa Ya Pyar | Shanti | ||
| Pyar Ka Sapna | Sudha/Sushma | ||
| Tamanna | |||
| 1968 | Mere Huzoor | Sultanat | |
| Humsaya | Sin Tan | ||
| Do Kaliyan | Kiran | ||
| Ankhen | Meenakshi Mehta | ||
| 1967 | Nai Roshni | Rekha | |
| Night in London | Renu Sinha/ Princess Vijay Nagar | ||
| Jaal | Sheela | ||
| Jab Yaad Kisi Ki Aati Hai | Roopa | ||
| 1966 | Aasra | Shobha | |
| Dillagi | Seema | ||
| Mere Lal | |||
| Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi | Amita Sinha | ||
| 1965 | Himalay Ki God Mein | Phoolwa | Nominated: Filmfare Best Actress Award |
| Neela Aakash | Neela | ||
| Bahu Beti | Shanta | ||
| 1964 | Main Suhagan Hoon | Shanti | |
| Jahan Ara | Jahan Ara | Nominated: Filmfare Best Actress Award | |
| Apne Huye Paraye | Rekha | ||
| Suhagan | Sharda Dubey | ||
| Pooja Ke Phool | Shanti Rai | ||
| 1963 | Phool Bane Angaare | Usha | |
| Gumrah | Meena | ||
| Bahurani | Padma | Nominated: Filmfare Best Actress Award | |
| Gehra Daag | Shobha | ||
| 1962 | Hariyali Aur Rasta | Shobhna/Kamla | |
| Anpadh | Lajwanti | ||
| Bombay Ka Chor | |||
| Ankh Micholi | Mala/ Nayantara | ||
| Gyara Hazar Ladkian | Asha | ||
| Dil Tera Deewana | Meena | ||
| 1961 | Suhag Sindoor | Ratna/ Chanda | |
| Maya | Shyama | ||
| Dharmputra | Husn Bano | ||
| 1960 | Patang | Shanti | |
| Bewaqoof | Mala | ||
| Mitti Mein Sona | |||
| 1959 | Dhool Ka Phool | Meena Khosla | Nominated: Filmfare Best Actress Award |
| Love Marriage | Geeta | ||
| Main Nashe Mein Hoon | Shanta | ||
| Duniya Na Mane | Geeta | ||
| Jaalsaz | |||
| Ujala | |||
| 1958 | Devar Bhabhi | ||
| Parvarish | Asha Singh | ||
| Phir Subah Hogi | Soni | ||
| Chandan | |||
| Detective | Mashin Loonpe | ||
| 1957 | Nausherwan-E-Adil | Marcia | |
| Ek Gaon Ki Kahani | Jaya | ||
| Apradhi Kaun? | Shobha | ||
| Laal Batti | |||
| Naya Zamana | |||
| Fashion | Shanta | ||
| Pyaasa | Meena | ||
| 1956 | Rangeen Raatein | Mala | |
| Ek Shola | Mala | ||
| Paisa Hi Paisa | Mala | ||
| Jaldeep | |||
| 1955 | Ekadashi | Maharani Sandyavalli | |
| Riyasat | Amber | ||
| 1954 | Badshah | Malti | |
| Hamlet | Ophelia |
Bengali films
editOut of 22 Bengali films acted by Mala Sinha, 7 films are paired opposite Mahanayak Uttam Kumar.
| Bengali Film's Name | Year | Lead Actor |
|---|---|---|
| Kulangaar | 2000 | Prosenjit Chatterjee |
| Kabita | 1977 | Ranjit Mallick |
| Dampati | 1976 | Ranjit Mallick |
| Abhaya O Srikanta | 1965 | Basanta Chowdhury |
| Saathihaara | 1961 | Uttam Kumar |
| Rai Bahadur | 1961 | Pradeep Kumar |
| Shohorer Itikotha | 1960 | Uttam Kumar |
| Khelaghar | 1959 | Uttam Kumar |
| Chhabi | 1959 | Ashish Kumar |
| Lukochuri | 1958 | Kishore Kumar |
| Louha Kapat | 1958 | Nirmal Kumar |
| Bondhu | 1958 | Uttam Kumar |
| Surer Parashey | 1957 | Uttam Kumar |
| Prithibi Amare Chaay | 1957 | Uttam Kumar |
| Putrabadhu | 1956 | Uttam Kumar |
| Dhuli | 1954 | Prasanta Kumar |
| Chitrangadha | 1954 | Utpal Dutt |
| Bhakta Bilwamangal | 1954 | Robin Majumdar |
| Jog Biyog | 1953 | Anil Chatterjee |
| Roshanara | 1952 | Asit Baran |
| Krishno Leela | 1947 | Child Artist |
| Jai Boishnob Debi | 1946 | Child Artist |
Nepali film
edit- Maitighar (1966) as Maya
References
edit- ^ "Trip down the memory lane with Mala Sinha". Screen. Bollywood Hungama. 13 March 2001. Archived from the original on 31 October 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
- ^ "Bollywood celebs: Then and now". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 25 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ "Guru Dutt's 'Pyaasa' completes 58 years: Mala Sinha's character in this classic was ahead of her time". 19 February 2016. Archived from the original on 23 July 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
- ^ "Star of the week - MALA SINHA | Bollywood Buzz - MAG THE WEEKLY". Archived from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.