Shruti Hassan

Shruti Haasan (born 28 January 1986) (Tamil:ஷ்ருதி ஹாசன்) is an Indian singer turned actress. Her parents are the noted actors, Kamal Haasan and Sarika.

Career

Early career

Shruti Rajalakshmi Haasan was born to actors Kamal Haasan and Sarika on 28 January 1986 in Chennai, India. She also has a younger sister named Akshara, who represents India nationally for Ballroom Latin dancing. Haasan studied at Abacus in Chennai, until 10th grade, when she moved to Mumbai to study psychology at St Andrew’s College.

However, Haasan shifted her focus to cinema and music, and eventually travelled to the USA to continue to learn music at the Musicians Institute in California, before returning to Chennai.

Singing

Shruti Haasan sang her first song aged just six in her father’s Thevar Magan in the composition of Ilaiyaraaja. Later while pursuing her studies in school, Haasan made her singing debut in the Hindi language film, Chachi 420, singing a duet performing for the voice of a child, with her father Kamal Haasan, who also directed the film. Shruti Haasan’s second song came in Hey Ram, where she sang the bilingual versions of the title theme, Rama Rama with her father, in Hindi and in Tamil. The album from Ilayaraaja, which was critically praised, won Haasan accolades for her efforts with reviewers, Screen India praising that she “has the makings of a good singer, and with some training she should go great guns”.

Shruti Haasan had the opportunity to sing with veteran singer K J Yesudas for the movie ‘En Mana Vaanil’ under Ilaiyaraaja’s music. The song was ‘Roattorap paattuch chaththam’. The movie was released in 2002. She has sung in a Tamil film, for Gautham Menon’s Vaaranam Aayiram under the composition of Harris Jayaraj. As of November 2008, Haasan is also midway through her untitled debut album, which she has composed, written and sung, and is set for release in mid-2009. A further song was recorded under her voice for her Hindi film, Luck.

Acting

After pursuing a career in singing, Shruti Haasan branched out a career into modelling. She started by starring appearing in the Frappe! magazine version of September 2007, since then she has gone on to appear in Verve.

In 2000, Haasan made her cinematic debut in the Tamil and Hindi bilingual film, Hey Ram, directed by her father. She made a cameo appearance as the daughter of Vallabhai Patel in the biopic of Mahatma Gandhi.

After rejecting prominent film offers, most notably the lead role in Venkat Prabhu’s Saroja, reports suggested in late 2007 that Haasan was set to make her full debut as a heroine in 2008 with a movie opposite Madhavan directed by Nishikanth Kamath. Despite Madhavan admitting that the news “was premature”, she signed up to the film, which was titled, Endrendrum Punnagai, only to be stalled prior to production. Eventually Haasan signed up to Soham Shah’s Luck opposite Imran Khan, a Bollywood film. However, despite the film gathering much publicity prior to release, it became a critical and commercial flop.

Music composing

After much speculation, Shruti Haasan is the music composer of the Tamil film Unnaipol Oruvan which released in 2009, with lead role played by her father Kamal Haasan who is also co-producer of the movie under Rajkamal International. The bilingual, is a remake of the successful Hindi film, A Wednesday!, but the soundtracks of both the projects are entirely separate. Apart from this, Shruthi Hassan is also the vocalist of an alternative rock band The Extramentals.

Discography

Albums

Songs

Filmography

jaya Prada

Jaya Prada (Telugu: జయప్రద) (born 3 April 1962) is an Indian film actress and politician.

Early life

Jaya Prada was born as Lalita Rani in a middle-class home in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India. Her father Krishna was a Telugu film financier. Her mother Neelavani enrolled her in dance and music classes at an early age.

Career

When she was fourteen years old, she performed a dance at her school’s annual function. A film director was in the audience, and he offered her a three-minute dance number in the Telugu film Bhoomikosam. She was hesitant, but her family encouraged her to accept it. She was paid only 10 rupees for her work in the film, but she also received much greater opportunities, as the rushes of those three minutes of film was shown to the major figures of the Telugu film industry, and the floodgates opened. Major filmmakers offered her starring roles in quality films, and she accepted them. She became a major star in 1976 with a trio of hits: K. Balachander’s Anthuleni Katha showcased her dramatic skills; K. Viswanath’s Siri Siri Muvva showed her playing a mute with excellent dancing skills; and her title role as Sita in the big-budget mythological film Seetha Kalyanam confirmed her versatility. In 1977, she starred in Adavi Ramudu, which broke box office records and which permanently cemented her star status. The song “Aaresukoboyi Paresukunnanu” picturized on her and co-star N.T. Rama Rao became a mass hit. She branched out to star in Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada films, and had hit films in all of them.

Bollywood career

K. Viswanath remade Siri Siri Muvva (1976) into the Hindi film Sargam and introduced Jayapradha to Bollywood in 1979. The film became a huge hit and she became an overnight star there as well. She earned her first Filmfare nomination as Best Actress but couldn’t capitalize on her success since she couldn’t speak Hindi. It took three more years before director K. Vishwanath relaunched her again in Hindi films, with the hit film Kaamchor(1982) where she spoke Hindi fluently for the first time. She was now able to consistently work in Hindi films and earn two more Filmfare nominations as Best Actress for playing Amitabh Bachchan’s endearing girlfriend in Prakash Mehra’s Sharaabi (1984) and for her challenging double role in K. Vishwanath’s Sanjog (1985 film).

Along with her Bollywood film career, she continued to star in acclaimed films in the South, such as K. Vishwanath’s Telugu hit film Sagara Sangamam (1983). She earned fans, not just with the masses, but also with the great Indian director Satyajit Ray, who has said she was one of the prettiest women in the world.. Although, she has acted in Bengali films, she has never worked for Ray. (She claimed that Ray had her in mind for a film, but his illness and subsequent death prevented their collaboration.)

Jaya made a successful team, not just with Amitabh Bachchan and Jeetendra, but also with her immediate screen rival Sridevi, with whom she has acted in about a dozen films. Their hit Telugu film Devata (film) (1982) where they played sisters who made big sacrifices for each other, was remade into the hit Hindi film Tohfaa(1984). These films endeared Jayapradha to the traditional conservative section of filmgoers. It was an image that would serve her well when she started a new career as a politician.

In 2002, she stepped into the Marathi film industry by being a guest in the movie Aadhaar. Thus far, she acted in seven languages and has completed 300 films during a 30-year film career. She started playing mature roles in 2004.

She also owns the Jaya Prada Theater in Chennai.

Personal life

In 1986, she married producer Srikanth Nahata, who was already married to Chandra and had 3 children. Needless to say, this marriage stirred a lot of controversy, especially since Nahata did not divorce his current wife and had children with his first wife after marrying Jayaprada. Jayaprada and Srikanth have no children together, but she expressed desire to have children. Both Jaya Prada and her husband’s first wife have cordially agreed to share a husband.

Political career

Jayaprada was initiated into the Telugu Desam Party by her former co-star N.T.Rama Rao in 1994. She later broke away from him and joined the Chandrababu Naidu faction of the party. She was nominated to the Rajya Sabha representing Andhra Pradesh in 1996.

Following differences with party Supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu, she left TDP to join Samajwadi Party and contested from Rampur parliamentary Constituency in UP during the last General election in 2004 and got elected. During her campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, she was issued a notice by the Election Commission for violating the code of conduct by distributing bindis to women in Rampur’s Swar locality. On 11 May 2009, Jaya Prada alleged that senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan was distributing nude pictures of her. She was re-elected with a margin of more than 30,000 votes.

Filmfare Awards & Nominations

• Lifetime Achievement Award (South) (2007)
• Best Actress – Sargam (1979)
• Best Actress – Sharaabi (1984)
• Best Actress – Sanjog (1985 film) (1985)

Other Awards

• Nandi Best Actress Award for Anthuleni Katha
• Kala Saraswati Award
• Kinnera Savitri Award
• Rajiv Gandhi Award
• Nargis Dutt Gold Medal
• Shakuntala Kala Rathnam Award
• Uttam Kumar Award
• Kalakar Award for Best Author (2005)
• ANR Achievement Award (2008)

Preeti Jhangiani

Preeti Jhangiani (born 18 August 1980 in Mangalore, Karnataka) is an Indian actress and model. She is fluent in Kannada, Sindhi, Hindi, English. She studied in Jai Hind College, Mumbai where her older sister Deepa studied as well. Her mother is the vice-principal of the junior college section of Jai Hind College.

Biography

Preeti Jhangiani first appeared in a Rajshri Productions’ Music Video Chhui Mui opposite Abbas, this made them as well as the koala bear symbol – famous. Thereafter she has appeared in Nirma Sandal soap ads.

Her first film was in Malayalam which was called Mazhavillu. She made her Bollywood debut in 2000 with Mohabbatein. The film was a hit and started her film career. Her next hit was the comedy Awara Paagal Deewana. She has also acted in Punjabi films such as Sajna ve Sajna. She married actor Parvin Dabas on 23 March 2008. She lives in Bandra, Mumbai.

Filmography

• Tejam (2010) (TELUGU)
• As the river flows (2010)
• Haseena: Smart, Sexy, Dangerous (2009) … Tina
• Visakha Express (2008) (TELUGU)
• Sajna Ve Sajna (2007) … (PUNJABI)
• Godfather: The Legend Continues (2007) (PAKISTAN – URDU)
• Victoria No. 203 (2007) … Devyani / Mona
• Yamadonga (2007) … Oorvasi (Celestial Beauty) Item Number (TELUGU)
• With Luv… Tumhaara (2006) … Anuradha
• Jaane Hoga Kya (2006) … Suchitra
• Chand Ke Paar Chalo (2006) … Nirmala / Garima
• Sauda – The Deal (2005) … Devika
• Ssukh (2005) … Sushila Chandraprakash Sharma
• Chehraa (2005) … Dr. Reena
• Chaahat – Ek Nasha (2005) … Rashmi Jaitly
• Apparao Driving School (2004) … Anjali (TELUGU)
• Aan: Men at Work (2004) … Janki
• Anandamanandamaye (2004) (TELUGU)
• Omkara (2004) (KANNADA)
• LOC Kargil (2003) … Balwan Singh’s girlfriend
• Baaz: A Bird in Danger (2003) … Preeti Rastogi
• Annarth (2002) … Preeti
• Waah! Tera Kya Kehna (2002) … Meena
• Awara Paagal Deewana (2002) … Preeti
• Na Tum Jaano Na Hum (2002) … Special Appearance
• Adhipati (2001) … (TELUGU)
• Narasimha Naidu (2001) ….(TELUGU)
• Mohabbatein (2000) … Kiran
• Thammudu (1999) … Janaki / Jaanu (TELUGU)
• Hello (1999) … Swetha (TAMIL)
• Mazhavillu (1999) … Veena (MALAYALAM)

Parveen Babi

Parveen Babi (Gujarati: પરવીન બાબી, Hindi: परवीन बाबी, Urdu: پروین بابی) (4 April 1949 – 20 January 2005) was an Indian actress, who is most remembered for her glamourous roles alongside top heroes of the 1970s and early 80s in blockbusters like Deewar, Namak Halaal, Amar Akbar Anthony and Shaan.

Personal life and education

Babi was born in Junagadh in a muslim family. She did her early schooling in Aurangabad and later attended St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad. Her father Vali Mohammed Babi, was an administrator with the Nawab of Junagadh. Babi was born fourteen years after the marriage of her parents and was the only child. She lost her parents at a very young age.

Parveen did not marry but shared intimate relationships with married men: director Mahesh Bhatt, actors Kabir Bedi, and Danny Denzongpa. Parveen was also rumoured to have a relationship with her co-star Amitabh Bachchan. Mahesh Bhatt later wrote and directed Arth (1982), a semi-autobiographical film about his extramarital relationship with Babi, and wrote and produced Woh Lamhe (2006) based on actual facts about his relationship with her .

Career

Parveen was considered to be one of the most successful Bollywood actresses in the 1970s and was known for her portrayal of iconoclastic women who did not care about the conventional norms of society. She made her film debut with film, Charitira, in 1973 while still in college .

She was the first Indian actress to have been featured on TIME magazine’s cover, in March 1977. In her most successful films, she was paired opposite Amitabh Bachchan, who was one of the biggest stars of the decade, in cinematic blockbusters like Deewaar (1975) Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Shaan (1980), Kaalia (1981), and Khud-daar (1982).

She was often compared with her contemporary Zeenat Aman due to their common image of being sex-symbols. In fact, she acted alongside Zeenat in Mahaan (1983) and Ashanti (1982) (inspired by the American television show Charlie’s Angels, with the third role played by Shabana Azmi). [1] In films like Deewar (1975), Shaan (1980) and Namak Halaal (1982) her screen presence may have been minimal (the films largely working around the hero) but Babi brought a certain attractive aloofness to the roles and songs she appeared in. In Manoj Kumar’s big hit Kranti (1981), she stole scenes with her supporting role from Hema Malini, the heroine of the film. Babi also acted in offbeat films like Vinod Pandey’s Yeh Nazdeekiyan (1982).

Her success did not run into the mid-eighties as she had left the film industry to move to New York in 1983. Many of her completed films released in the following years right uptill her last film Aakarshan releasing in 1988.

Later life

After rumours about Babi suffering from schizophrenia began making rounds, she sought mental solace through alternative contemporary spirituality. She followed “Osho” for a few years and later became involved with the teachings of U.G.Krishnamurti in New York. She returned to Mumbai in 1992 where she was unrecognizable as her former self after having put on a considerable amount of weight. She accused many foreign dignitaries including Bill Clinton and her former co-star, Amitabh Bachchan, of conspiring to kill her but her petition in court was dismissed for lack of evidence. In 2002, she again hit the headlines when she filed an affidavit in the special court hearing the 1993 serial bomb blasts case, claiming that she had gathered clinching evidence against actor Sanjay Dutt showing his involvement in the case, but she did not turn up in court after being summoned saying that she was afraid of being killed.

It is speculated that Parveen Babi suffered from schizophrenia and had become a recluse due to her paranoia. Some claimed it was the release of Mahesh Bhatt’s Arth (a semi-autobiographical look at his extramarital relationship with Parveen) and her disturbed state of mind that prompted her to abandon everything. She led the life of an absolute recluse because she was afraid people were trying to kill her. She was also afraid of doorbells and phone calls. It is also said that whenever a journalist or a friend visited her over meals, she would ask them to eat the food of her plate first, so as to convince herself that her food was not poisoned by anyone. It is also probable that she was not schizophrenic but had a Delusional Disorder DSM-IV TR and withdrew from society. It is probable that her mental disorder could be Substance-Induced Psychosis, as she allegedly took LSD and other hallucinogens with her lovers Mahesh Bhatt – in addition to drinking heavily and also consuming marijuana. The move to New York was in order to obtain confidential psychiatric treatment, or perhaps partially motivated by the initial psychotic break – as she did not trust psychiatrists in India to keep her information confidential.

In April, 1984 a disturbed and distraught Parveen Babi landed in the New York International Airport. She was asked to show her identification papers by the Airport authorities. Something in her snapped. She is said to have acted difficult and was handcuffed. When she put up a frantic struggle, she was also ankle-cuffed and carried by four policemen to a public hospital. An Indian doctor recognized Parveen and came to her aid. When U.G.Krishnamurti landed in New York, he found Parveen in a general ward with thirty other mentally disturbed patients.

However, she managed to maintain her posh penthouse apartment in Mumbai and live affluently from sound financial investments. She was diabetic for most of her life – possibly due to the side-effects of powerful anti-psychotic medications.

Death

She was found dead in her Mumbai apartment on 22 January 2005 after her residential society secretary alerted the police that she had not collected milk and newspapers from her doorstep for two days . The Police suspected that she might have died three days back, though the cause of her death was not immediately known. She was found to have gangrene of the foot as a complication of her diabetic condition. The police ruled out any foul play. Later it was said that the cause of death appeared to be complications from diabetes.

After her death, her body was taken to a Hospital, where it lay unclaimed till evening. Soon after, filmmakers Mahesh Bhatt and Ashok Pandit offered to perform the last rites if there was no claimant. Her burial was conducted according to Islamic rites and Babi was buried next to her mother at Santa Cruz, in Mumbai on 23 January 2005. Unfortunately, she died alone, forgotten by those who worked with her in her heyday. She was a star who had the whole industry go gaga over her when she was alive, but she died a sad and isolated death… unloved, unappreciated and forgotten.

Filmography

• Charitra (1973)
• Charitraheen (1974)
• Dhuen Ki Lakeer (1974)
• 36 Ghante (1974)
• Trimurti (1974 Film) (1974)
• Majboor (1974)
• Kala Sona (1975)
• Deewaar (1975)
• Bullet (Film) (1976)
• Bhanwar (1976)
• Rangeela Ratan (1976)
• Mazdoor Zindabad (1977)
• Maama Bhanja (1977)
• Amar Akbar Anthony (1977)
• Mastaan Dada (1978)
• Chandi Sona (1977)
• Darinda (1977) (1977)
• Chalta Purza (1977)
• Chor Sipahee (1977)
• Aahuti (1978 film) (1978)
• Pati Patni Aur Woh (1978)
• Kaala Patthar (1979)
• Suhaag (1979 film) (1979)
• Shaan (1980)
• Ek Gunaah Aur Sahi (1980)
• Do Aur Do Paanch (1980)
• The Burning Train (1979)
• Ashanti (1981)
• Meri Aawaaz Suno (1981)
• Ameer Aadmi Ghreeb Aadmi (1981)
• Kaalia (1981)
• Raksha (1981)
• Kranti (1981)
• Gunahgaar (1980)
• Mangal Pandey (1982)
• Desh Premee (1982)
• Dil Aakhir Dil Hai (1982)
• Bad Aur Badnaam (1982)
• Taaqat (1982)
• Yeh Nazdeekiyan (1982)
• Namak Halaal (1982)
• Khud-daar (1982)
• Jaani Dost (1983)
• Razia Sultan (1983)
• Chor Police (1983)
• Kanoon Meri Muthi Mein (1983)
• Mahaan (1983)
• Rang Birangi (1983)
• Arpan (1983)
• Sitamgar (1985)
• Telephone (1985)
• Bond 303 (1986)
• Avinaash (1987)
• Aakarshan (1988)

Zeenat Aman

Zeenat Aman (Hindi: ज़ीनत अमन, Urdu: زینت امان) (born 19 November 1951) is an Indian actress who has appeared in Bollywood films, notably in the 1970s and 1980s. She was the second runner up in the Miss India Contest and went on to win the Miss Asia Pacific in 1970. Upon making her debut in Bollywood, Aman was credited with bringing the Western heroine look to Hindi cinema.

Early life

Zeenat Aman was born in India,mumbai,contrary to the belief that she was born in Germany, to a Muslim father, Amanullah Khan and a Hindu mother, Scinda. Her father , was one of the writers for the blockbuster movies of Mughal-e-Azam and Pakeezah.Zeenat went to a boarding school in Panchgani, St josephs convent, which was run by nuns.Her father died when Zeenat was just 13. Her mother married a German, Mr.Heinz (was constantly referred to as Mrs.Heinz in all subsequent articles film magazines would carry on Zeenat). Zeenat’s mother obtained German citizenship, and took her to Germany – where Zeenat was very unhappy, returning to India as soon as she turned 18.

Aman graduated from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai and went to University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California for further studies for one year, on student aid. Upon returning to India, she first took a job as a journalist for Femina and then later on moved on to modeling. One of the first few brands that she modeled for was Taj Mahal Tea and Television X Debut in 1966 exclusively. She was the second runner up in the Miss India Contest and went on to win the Miss Asia Pacific in 1970.

Film career

Aman’s sultry persona was a contrast to many of the more conservative stars of the era. At a time when heroines were obedient wives and lovers on screen, Aman was drawn to more unconventional roles – she was cast as the opportunist who deserts her jobless lover for a millionaire (Roti Kapda Aur Makaan), the ambitious girl who considers aborting her baby to pursue a career (Ajnabee), the happy hooker (Manoranjan), the disenchanted hippie (Hare Rama Hare Krishna), the girl who falls in love with her mother’s one-time lover (Prem Shastra), and a woman married to a caustic cripple but involved in an extramarital relationship (Dhund). She managed to balance these roles with acting in more conventional films such as Chori Mera Kaam, Chhaila Babu, Dostana and Lawaaris, which is considered by many to be a landmark in Indian Cinema.

The beginning

After having studied in Los Angeles, winning the Miss Asia Pageant and a successful modeling career, Aman’s film career began with a small role in O. P. Ralhan’s Hulchul in 1971. A second role in Hungama (1971), starring singer Kishore Kumar, was also not successful.

Dev Anand offered Zaheeda (his second heroine in Prem Pujari) the role of sister in Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1972). Not realizing the importance of this secondary role, Zaheeda wanted the lead female part (eventually played by Mumtaz), and she opted out. Aman was chosen as a last-minute replacement.

In Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Aman, aided by R. D. Burman’s song “Dum Maro Dum” (Take Another Toke), won over the heart’s of audience as Janice. She earned a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award and BFJA Award for Best Actress. Throughout the 1970s, the Dev-Zeenat pairing was seen in half a dozen films: Heera Panna (1973), Ishq Ishq Ishq (1974), Prem Shastra (1974), Warrant (1975), Darling Darling (1977) and Kalabaaz (1977). Of these, Warrant, was the biggest box-office success.

Her hip looks in “Yaadon Ki Baaraat’ (1973) as the girl carrying a guitar, singing ‘churaliya hai tumne jo dil ko’ (in Asha Bhonsle’s voice) has won her more popularity and the hearts of millions of fans.

She appeared on every Hindi film magazine’s cover during 1970s. In December 1974, Cine Blitz magazine was launched with Zeenat Aman on its cover, a testimony to her popularity at the time. However, she went on as the favourite cover girl of the popular magazine ‘Stardust’.

The late 1970s

Zeenat Aman, in her later career, found success with other banners such as B. R. Chopra, Nasir Hussain, Shakti Samanta, Manoj Kumar and Manmohan Desai.

In 1978, she starred in Raj Kapoor’s massively publicised Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978), however, the film was heavely criticized. The subject ironically dealt with the notion of the soul being more attractive than the body, but Kapoor chose to showcase Aman’s sex-appeal. The actress was highly criticized for her exposure but somehow, later on the film had a great deal to do with Zeenat’s fame and the movie itself was distinguished as a work of art. She also earned a Filmfare nomination as Best Actress for this film.

Zeenat Aman’s entry into Hollywood also backfired when Krishna Shah’s Shalimar (1978), co-starring Dharmendra and international names like Rex Harrison and Sylvia Miles, proved to be a failure in the USA and in India. Zeenat possessed a convent schoolgirl accent and a penchant for revealing dresses. She matched Sophia Loren & Gina Lollobrigida in the battle of oomph at Shalimar’s launch. 1978 could have been a disaster year for her, because of the diminishing box office returns of Satyam Shivam Sundaram and Shalimar, but it was Don that came to the rescue and set her career soaring again. Ironically, her reasons for accepting the role in Don were altruistic, and she didn’t even take any remuneration for it, because she wanted to help the producer, Nariman Irani, who died midway filming. Her role of a Westernized revenge-seeking action heroine contributed to the film’s huge success, and her fans reconnected with her again. Westernised heroines like Parveen Babi and Tina Munim now followed in her footsteps, by the late 1970s. Aman continued to act in hits like Dharam Veer, Chhaila Babu and The Great Gambler.

The 1980s

By the beginning of the 1980s multi-starrers films became a trend, and Zeenat Aman was increasingly asked to just provide sex appeal in hero-oriented, despite her success in so many films. In contrast to this trend was her performance as a rape victim seeking justice in B. R. Chopra’s Insaaf Ka Tarazu (1980) for which she received a Filmfare Best Actress nomination. This film was followed by success in the love triangle Qurbani, Ali Baba aur 40 Chor, Dostana (1980) and Lawaaris (1981).

The critics appreciated her performance in some movies with female-oriented themes like “Bandhan Kuchchey Dhaagon Ka”, “Yaadon Ki Kasam”, “Baat Ban Jaye” & “Namumkin”, but none of these films was a much of a success in the video boom era.

Her last role as the female lead was in the movie “Gawahi” a court room drama in 1989.

The 1990s & 2000s

Zeenat came back to the silver screen after a decade doing a cameo role in the film Bhopal Express, and she went on to do small roles in Boom (2003), Jaana… Let’s Fall in Love (2006), Chaurahen (2007), Ugly Aur Pagli (2008) & Geeta in Paradise (2009).
In 2004, she appeared as Mrs Robinson in the play The Graduate staged at St Andrew’s auditorium in Bombay.

She even had a TV show called “In Conversation with Zeenat” made by B4U TV, also made an appearance along with Hema Malini in the popular show Koffee with Karan hosted by Karan Johar.

Zeenat received a Lifetime Achievement Award during the Zee Cine Awards function in 2008, as a recognition of her talent & contribution to Hindi Cinema.

Personal life

Zeenat married Sanjay Khan (Abbas) during the making of the film Abdullah. Soon after the pack up of the movie, she was assaulted by Sanjay and his wife Zarine during a private party at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Colaba so badly that her eye was damaged – none of the guests intervened.

In 1985, she got married to Mazhar Khan and had two sons Azaan and Zahaan. Mazhar Khan died in September 1998 (renal failure).

Today, Aman lives with her two sons and makes many social appearances and film awards functions, she is rarely seen on screen. Zeenat is making a comeback with a substantial role in Dunno Y- Na jaane kyun..still under production and due to be released i 2010-2011

Controversies

Marriage and divorce with Sanjay Khan.

Her role in Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1977), where featured her kissing Shashi Kapoor, was considered quite forward at the time. Though she did receive a Filmfare award nomination for that role.

Zeenat Aman has campaigned for D. P. Yadav, a politician and local mafia don who is facing several criminal charges in the May 2007 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

Zeenat Aman is making a comeback with a substantial role in DunnoY-Na jaane kyun,and will be doing an encore of Churaliya hai tumne,and aap jaisa koi meri zindagi mai aaye.The film is currently under production and due to be released in 2010-2011.

Awards and recognitions

• 1972 – Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Hare Rama Hare Krishna
• 1972 – BFJA Awards, Best Actress for Hare Rama Hare Krishna
• 1978 – Filmfare Nomination as Best Actress for Satyam Shivam Sundaram
• 1980 – Filmfare Nomination as Best Actress for Insaaf Ka Tarazu
• 2003 – Bollywood Awards ‘Award for Lifetime Achievement’- Lifetime of Glamour.
• 2006 – “Outstanding Contribution to the Motion Picture Industry of India Awards” at the eighth annual Bollywood Movie Awards.
• 2008 – Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievement

Zarine Khan

Zarine Khan (born 25 May 1984 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) is an Indian actress and model who appears in Bollywood films. She started her acting career in 2010 with the film Veer, starring Salman Khan.

Early days

Khan was born to a Muslim Pathan family in Mumbai. When she was in college she weighed almost 100 kg (220 lb). Although she had never planned to be model, she began to focus on losing weight and getting into shape. She gave up sweets and started going to the gym, eventually losing a large amount of weight. Khan was forced to abandon her education while in college and begin working due to the financial troubles of her family. With no marketable skills to rely on, she tried her hand at modeling. Khan did quite a few small assignments that fetched her enough money to run the house.

Acting career

She received her entry into acting when she was visiting the set of Yuvraaj at Subhash Ghai’s film school Whistling Woods. Salman Khan noticed her and decided to cast her for his film Veer because “she looks the character – the sweet princess she is playing in Veer”. After a screen test, Khan was confirmed for the role of Princess Yashodhara. She gained eight kilograms in order to be more convincing as a 19th century princess.

Filmography

Zarina Wahab

Zarina Wahab (Urdu: زرینہ وہاب) (born 1959) is an Indian actress and former model, who was critically acclaimed for starring roles, such as in Chit Chor and Gopal Krishna in the 1970s.

Early life

Born in a Muslim family in Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. She is fluent in Telugu and Hindi. She was trained at FTII.

Career

Filmmaker Raj Kapoor was unimpressed with her look, when he met her at FTII. So Zarina worked on her appearance and attended film parties and events, and the industry people took notice and decided to cast her in films. She was usually cast as the middle-class, natural beauty. She had a major hit film in Basu Chatterjee’s Chit Chor (1976). She also starred in Gharonda (1977). She earned a Filmfare nomination as Best Actress for this role. She has acted in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam films, and has become fluent in Malayalam.

She made a comeback to Malayalam in the movie Calendar, which released in 2009. She is slated to appear in the 2010 release, My Name Is Khan as the mother of Rizwan Khan (Shah Rukh Khan).

She prefers Telugu films, and has encouraged her daughter Sana to start out acting in a South Indian film, the way she had in a Telugu film Gajula Kistayya (1975) with Krishna (actor). Her daughter Sana Pancholi has tried her hand at acting in 2006. Wahab currently plays older roles in television serials.

Personal life

Wahab met her husband actor Aditya Pancholi on Kalan Ka Tika. They married in 1986 and have a daughter, Sana and son Suraj. Her husband is almost 5-years younger than she, and their turbulent marriage has been in the gossip columns, regarding her husband’s temper and rumors of infidelity. Yet, their marriage persevered and they are still together.

Filmography

Television

Maayka (Zee Tv soap) as Mohini Malhotra (returns after a period of time who says she was rescued, the mother of Soni, Mahi, Raji and Prince. Zaara (TV series) -Pyaar Ki Saugat (Sahara One Soap) as Sana Khan Amir’s stepmother (he does not know)

Yogeeta Bali

Yogeeta Bali (Hindi: योगिता बाली, Urdu: یوگِتا بلِ) (born 13 August 1952) is a Hindi film actress. Bali was active in films in the late 1960s and through the 1970s.

Early life

Bali was born in Mumbai, India. She is the niece of Bollywood actress Geeta Bali, Shammi Kapoor’s first wife.

Career

Bali was around at the same time as a lot of huge stars so did not become a major star herself. Among her contemporaries were Reena Roy, Rakhee, Sharmila Tagore, Hema Malini, Rekha, Jaya Bachchan, and Zeenat Aman. She became singer/actor Kishore Kumar’s third wife. He directed her and acted with her in “Sabhash Daddy” (1979). Producer Shakti Samanta thought that Yogita fell in love with actor Mithun Chakraborty on the set of his film Khwab (1980).. She divorced Kishore Kumar to marry Mithun, thus also starting the singing career of Bappi Lahiri. As initially Kishore Kumar refused to sing for Mithun and hence Bappi Lahiri the music director of many of Mithun’s early films sang for Mithun himself. One of her most enjoyable films was ‘Biwi-O-Biwi’ in which she starred opposite Sanjeev Kumar. She worked as a computer engineer before becoming an actress. She went to the University of Calcutta, and graduated with a B.S. and went on to receive her M.Sc. She did several movies with Uttam Kumar in the late 1970s, and some say that she fell in love with Kumar, like Suchitra Sen and other women who acted in movies with Uttum Kumar, before meeting Mithun Chakraborty.

Personal life

Yogeeta married singer-actor Kishore Kumar in 1976. But it was not a long lasting marriage life. After that Yogeeta married Mithun Chakraborty in 1982. They have four children (Mimoh, who is an actor in his own right, Rimoh, Namashi and Dishani).

Waheeda Rehman

Waheeda Rehman (Hindi: वहीदा रहमान), born on 14 May 1936 is a famous Indian film actress who appears in Bollywood movies.

Early life

One of the most prominent actresses of the golden era, Waheeda Rehman was born into a traditional Muslim family in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India.. Her father a District Magistrate.

So, why the widespread belief that she was born in Hyderabad? “It’s a long story,” she says, “When I was in Chennai, I did three to four Telugu movies. In the first one, Rojulu Maraayi , I did only a folk dance number. However, it went on to become a hit! I was in Hyderabad celebrating its success and Guru Dutt happened to be there. He was on a lookout for new faces and heard that I could speak in Urdu. It is because he spotted me in Hyderabad that people assume I was born there.”

Her dream was to become a doctor but due to circumstances and illness, she abandoned this goal. Instead she was trained in Bharatnatyam and prodded by her supportive parents, hit the silver screen with the Telugu film Jaisimha (1955), followed by Rojulu Maraayi (1955).

Career

Waheeda Rehman was discovered by Guru Dutt in a film and was brought to Bombay (now Mumbai) and cast as a vamp in his production C.I.D. (1956), directed by Raj Khosla. A few years after joining the Hindi film industry, she lost her mother. After the success of C.I.D., Guru Dutt gave her a leading role in Pyaasa (1957). It was at this point that she got involved in an unsuccessful love affair with Guru Dutt. Their next venture together, Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), depicted the story of a successful director’s decline after he falls for his leading lady. Guru Dutt’s existing marriage and her film successes with other directors caused them to drift apart personally and professionally, although they continued to work together into the 1960s Chaudhvin Ka Chand. She completed Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) under some strain. They broke away from each other after the film’s indifferent reception at the Berlin Film Festival in 1963. Soon afterwards, Guru Dutt died on 10 October 1964 in Mumbai reportedly from an overdose of sleeping pills and alcohol. Waheeda Rahman was cast as “Gulabi” in Satyajit Ray’s Bengali film Abhijan in 1962.

Later career

Her career continued throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. She won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her roles in Guide (1965), where she hit the peak of her career and Neel Kamal (1968), but despite excellent offbeat roles in subsequent films, including a National award winning performance in Reshma aur Shera (1971), some of the films failed at the box office. At around this time, Kamaljeet who starred opposite her in Shagun (1964)) proposed to her. She accepted and they were married on 27 April 1974. After her marriage, she shifted to a farmhouse in Bangalore. She bore two children named Sohail and Kashvi. After her appearance in Lamhe (1991) she retired from the film industry for 12 years. On 21 November 2000, her husband died following a prolonged illness. She moved back to her ocean view bungalow in Bandra, Bombay where she lives currently.

In recent years she made a comeback playing elderly mother and grandmother roles in Om Jai Jagadish (2002), Water (2005) and Rang De Basanti (2006) and Delhi 6 (2009) which were all critically acclaimed.

In October 2004, a Waheeda Rehman film retrospective was held at the Seattle Art Museum and the University of Washington where Waheeda participated in spirited panel and audience discussions on her most memorable films, Pyaasa, Teesri Kasam and Guide.

Awards

• National Film Award for Best Actress for Reshma Aur Shera in 1971.
• Filmfare Best Actress Award for Guide in 1965
• Filmfare Best Actress Award for Neel Kamal in 1968
• Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994
• NTR National Award for 2006.
• Padmashri in 1972.

Nominations

• Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actress–Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962)
• Filmfare Nomination as Best Actress–Ram Aur Shyam (1967)
• Filmfare Nomination as Best Actress–Khamoshi (1970)
• Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actress–Kabhi Kabhie (1976)
• Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actress–Namkeen (1982)
• Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actress–Lamhe (1991)

Selected filmography

• C.I.D. (1956)
• Pyaasa (1957) …. Gulabo
• 12 O’Clock (1958) …. Bani Chaudhary
• Solva Saal (1958)
• Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959) …. Shanti
• Kala Bazar (1960) …. Alka
• Ek Phool Char Kaante (1960) …. Sushma
• Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960) …. Jameela
• Roop ki Rani Choron ka Raja ( 1961).unknown
• Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) …. Jaba
• Bees Saal Baad (1962) …. Radha
• Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962) …. Neela/Meena
• Mujhe Jeene Do (1963)
• Kohra (1964) …. Rajashwari
• Guide (1965) …. Rosie Marco/Miss Nalini
• Teesri Kasam (1966) …. Hira Bai
• Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966) …. Roopa
• Patthar Ke Sanam (1967)
• Ram Aur Shyam (1967) …. Anjana
• Palki (1967) Mehroo
• Neel Kamal (1968) …. Rajkumari Neel Kamal/Sita
• Aadmi (1968)
• Khamoshi (1969) …. Nurse Radha
• Prem Pujari (1970) …. Suman Mehra
• Man Mandir (1971) …. Krishna and Radha
• Reshma Aur Shera (1971) …. Reshma
• Phagun (1973)
• Aadalat (1976)
• Kabhi Kabhie (1976) …. Anjali Malhotra
• Trishul (1978) …. Shanti
• Sawaal (1982) …. Anju D. Mehta
• Namak Halaal (1982) …. Savitridevi
• Himmatwala (1983) …. Savitri
• Mahaan (1983) …. Janki
• Coolie (1983) …. Salma
• Sunny (1984) ….. Sita devi
• Mashaal (1984) …. Sudha Kumar
• Chandni (1989) …. Mrs. Khanna
• Lamhe (1991) …. Dai Jaa
• Ulfat Ki Nayee Manzilen (1994)
• Om Jai Jagadish (2002) …. Saraswati Batra
• Water (2005) …. Bhagavati
• Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara (2005) …. Principal Khanna
• 15 Park Avenue (2005) …. Mrs. Mathur/Mrs. Gupta
• Rang De Basanti (2006) …. Ajay’s Mother
• Chukkallo Chandrudu (2006) …. Hero’s Grand-Mother
• Delhi 6 (Feb.20, 2009)…. Dadi

Vyajayantimala

Vyjayanthimala Bali (born on 13 August 1936, in present day Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India) is an Indian actress of the 1950s and ’60s, who won a large number of awards for her acting and classical dancing achievements. Following her cinema career, she entered Indian politics, and became a Member of Parliament.

Early life

Born in Madras in a Tamil Brahmin family; she did her schooling at Sacred Heart Church Park Convent, Chennai. She trained in Bharatnatyam, a South Indian genre of classical dancing.

Career

Early career

At the age of 5, Vyjayanthimala got the rare chance of performing a dance before the Pope. At age 15, she got a break in AVM Productions Tamil movie, Vazhkai, which was produced by M. V. Raman, a family friend. The movie was a success, and was remade in Hindi as Bahaar (1951). She acted in a few more Tamil movies before moving on to a highly successful career in Hindi movies. Her dance competition with Padmini in the Tamil film, Vanjikottai Vaaliban, received much acclaim.

Vyjayanthimala got her initial Hindi movie roles in Ladki and Nagin (1954). Hemant Kumar’s music and her dance accompanying the song, Man Dole, Mera tan dole, in Nagin made the movie an enormous success, and the movie’s success helped Vyjayanthimala break out of B grade movies. Bimal Roy cast her as Chandramukhi opposite Dilip Kumar in the critically acclaimed Devdas. She subsequently starred in four successful films opposite Dilip Kumar: Madhumati, Ganga Jamuna, Leader, and Naya Daur. The first two of those four roles earned her Filmfare Best Actress Awards. She also received a Filmfare nomination as Best Actress for portraying in Sadhna’ a tawaif (a courtesan) who eventually got rehabilitated in the society. She costarred with Raj Kapoor in Sangam which earned her the Filmfare Best Actress Award. (She denied rumors of an affair with Raj Kapoor during the production of Sangam, saying that it was a publicity stunt by Kapoor to boost his image.)

Vyjayanthimala starred in the 1966 historical epic, Amrapali, which was based on the life of the legendary Buddhist courtesan Amrapali. The movie was not a commercial success, and the commercial failure much disappointed her as she considered it the magnum opus of her career. Later, she said that she would like to see a remake of that movie, with Madhuri Dixit playing her role.

She costarred with Dev Anand in Jewel Thief, with Rajendra Kumar in Suraj, with Shammi Kapoor in Prince, and with Kishore Kumar in his inane yet zany comedies,including the blockbuster New Delhi. Vyjayanthimala’s Tamil movies included Vanjikottai Valiban, Irumbuthirai, Then Nilavu, Vaazhkai, Penn, Parthiban Kanavu (old), and Baghdad Thirudan.

Personal life

Vyjayanthimala married Dr. Chamanlal Bali. After marriage, she terminated her acting career and moved to Chennai. She has a son, Suchindra Bali, by Dr. Bali. After she moved to Chennai, she entered politics as a member of the Lok Sabha (lower house). Later, she was nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha (upper house). In 2007, she published her autobiography, titled Bonding, with Jyoti Sabarwal as co-writer.

Filmography

• Nagin (1954)
• Devdas (1955)
• New Delhi (1956)
• Aasha (1957)
• Naya Daur (1957)
• Madhumati (1958)
• Paigham (1959)
• Aas Ka Panchhi (1961)
• Ganga Jamuna (1961)
• Nazrana (1961)
• Leader (1964)
• Sangam (1964)
• Zindagi (1964)
• Amrapali (1966)
• Suraj (1966)
• Jewel Thief (1967)
• Sunghursh (1968)
• Duniya
• Prince (1969)
• Ganwaar (1970)

Awards

• 1956 – Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award, for a role in Devdas. Vyjayanthimala did not accept the award, her contention being that her role in that movie was that of the main actress rather than a supporting actress. (That was the first time a person had declined to receive a Filmfare Award.)

• 1958 – Filmfare Best Actress Award, for a role in Madhumati

• 1958 – Filmfare Nomination for Best Actress, for a role in Sadhna’

• 1961 – Filmfare Best Actress Award, for a role in Ganga Jamuna

• 1961 – BFJA Award for Best Actress for her role in Ganga Jamuna

• 1964 – Filmfare Best Actress Award, for a role in Sangam

• 1968 – Padma Shri Award

• 1982 – Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, 1982 for Bharatanatyam

• 1996 – Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award

• 2004 – “Legend of Indian Cinema” Award at Atlantic City (United States).

• 2005 – Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bollywood Movie Awards

See also

• List of Indian film actresses