Mala Sinha

November 11, 1936 Nepal

Mala Sinha (born 11 November 1936 in Nepal) is a Nepali Indian actress who has worked in Hindi, Bengali and Nepali films. Recognised for her talent and beauty, she went on to become a popular leading actress in Hindi films from the early 1950s until the late 1970s. Sinha has starred in over a hundred film productions: popular ones include Pyaasa (1957), Dhool Ka Phool (1959), Anpadh, Dil Tera Deewana ( both 1962), Gumrah (1963), Hariyali Aur Rasta', Himalaya Ki God Mein, Jahaanara, Aasra(1965) and Aankhen (1968).

Early life

Sinha was born to Albert Sinha, in an Indian-Nepali family in Nepal. They named her Alda. Her friends at school used to tease her by calling her Dalda (a brand of vegetable oil), so she changed her name to Mala. In her childhood she learnt dancing and singing. Although she was an approved singer of All India Radio, she has never done playback singing in films. But as a singer she has done stage shows in many languages from 1947 to 1975.

Career

Sinha started her career as child artist in Bengali films Jai Vaishno Devi followed by Shri Krishan Leela, Jog Biyog and Dhooli. Noted Bengali 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 for a Bengali film. There she met Geeta Bali, a noted Bollywood actress, who was charmed by her and introduced her to film director Kidar Sharma. It was Sharma who cast her as a heroine in his Rangeen Ratein. Her first Hindi film was Badshah opposite Pradeep Kumar, then came Ekadashi, a mythological film. Both failed, but her lead role in Kishore Sahu's Hamlet, paired opposite Pradeep Kumar, fetched her rave reviews in spite of it failing at the box office. Films like Lai Batti (actor Balraj Sahni’s only directorial venture), Nausherwan-E-Adil where she starred as the fair maiden Marcia in Sohrab Modi’s romance about forbidden love and Phir Subah Hogi, which was director Ramesh Saigal’s adaptation of Dosteovsky’s Crime and Punishment established Mala Sinha's reputation as a versatile actress who took the maximum career risks by accepting unconventional roles.

Mala was a singer of some repute and used to sing for All India Radio; she was not allowed to sing playback (even for herself) in the movies with the lone exception being 1972's Lalkar. In the 1950s, she had string of hits opposite Pradeep Kumar like Fashion (1957), Detective (1958), Duniya Na Mane (1959) though their first two ventures had failed. The films she did with Pradeep Kumar were men-oriented. In 1957, noted Bollywood actor and film director Guru Dutt (the husband of Geeta Dutt) cast Mala in his film Pyaasa (1957) in a role originally intended for Madhubala. Mala gave a memorable performance as the relatively unsympathetic part of an ambitious woman who chooses to marry a rich man (played by actor Rehman) and have a loveless marriage rather than a poor, unsuccessful poet and her impoverished lover (played by Guru Dutt) whom she ditches. Pyaasa remains to this day a classic in the history of Indian cinema and a turning point for Sinha.

After Pyaasa her major success were Phir Subah Hogi(1958) and Yash Chopra's directorail debut Dhool Ka Phool (1959) that elevated her into a major dramatic star. There was no looking back for Sinha then as she was part of many successful movies from 1958 to the early '60s like Parvarish (1958), Ujala, Main Nashe Main Hoon, Duniya Na Mane, Love Marriage (1959), Bewaqoof (1960), Maya (1961), Hariyali Aur Rasta and Dil Tera Deewana (1962), Anpadh, Bombay Ka Chor (1962). Critics believe her career best performance was in Bahurani (1963), Gumrah, Gehra Daag, Apne Huye Paraye and Jahan Ara. Apart from pairing with Pradeep Kumar, her pairing opposite Raaj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Biswajit and Manoj Kumar in woman-oriented films were appreciated by audiences, with her films opposite Biswajit being the most popular. With Raaj Kumar, she gave box office hits like Phool Bane Angaare, Maryada and Karmayogi and opposite Manoj Kumar, gave commercial successes like Hariyali Aur Rasta, Apne Huye Paraye and Himalaya Ki God Mein. The hits with Rajendra Kumar were Devar Bhabhi, Dhool Ka Phool, Patang, Geet and Lalkar.

With Biswajit her popular movies include Aasra, Night in London, Do Kaliyaan, Tamanna, Nai Roshni and critically acclaimed films Pyar Ka Sapna, Paisa Ya Pyaar, Jaal and Phir Kab Milogi (1974 film). She did 10 films with Biswajit. In 2007, they won the Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award, calling them on stage together giving due respect to their popularity as a pair who have tasted box office success.

The most remarkable feature of career of Mala Sinha was that most of her 1960s and 1970s hits were fueled by her own star power as much as the heroes and most of the times her role was more powerful than the hero. Though she was pitted opposite her seniors like Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Kishore Kumar, Pradeep Kumar and when she acted opposite the emerging stars from late 1950s like Shammi Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar and Raaj Kumar, she made sure her role was as good as theirs. The characters she played stood out and gave her recognition for her performances. Sinha did not mind working with newcomers as long as her role was worth it. She worked with many newcomers of her era including Manoj Kumar, Dharmendra, Rajesh Khanna, Sunil Dutt, Sanjay Khan, Jeetendra and Amitabh Bachchan. In most of her films from the 1960s, she got the first billing in the credits, even before the heroes, with exceptions being those with Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Pradeep Kumar and Kishore Kumar.

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 Chidambar Prasad Lohani. 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 Sinha living in Bombay with their daughter Pratibha. She continued acting after her marriage.

She has been a heroine in Nepali and Bengali films. In Bengali films she has acted with Uttam Kumar as well as Kishore Kumar. Her last Bengali film as a main female lead was Kabita (1977) which featured Ranjit Mullick and Kamal Hassan; it was a super-hit at the box office. She is noted for her strong women-oriented, glamorous roles fuelled by her equal star power on par with the heroes in films like Dhool Ka Phool, Suhag Sindoor,Anpadh, Phir Subah Hogi, Hariyali Aur Rasta, Bahurani, Aasra, Do Kaliyaan, Gumrah, Aankhen, Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi, Himalaya Ki God Mein, Do Kaliyaan, Holi Aayi Re, Nai Roshni, Mere Huzoor, Kangan, Archana, Maryada amongst others.

Of her rich and varied repertoire, she mentions she is rather partial to Jahan Ara (1964), a historical movie that Meena Kumari passed on to her:
"Meenaji turned down the role saying that she would not look the part whereas I would. Given my ignorance of Urdu, I was rather sceptical but Meenaji was convinced that I could do justice to the role. Playing Mumtaz Mahal's eldest daughter entailed gruelling 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."
From 1974, she cut down on her assignments as the lead actresses. She accepted strong character roles in films like 36 Ghante (1974), Zindagi (1976), Karmayogi (1978), Be-Reham (1980), Harjaee (1981), Yeh Rishta Na Tootay, Babu (film) and Khel, which were popular.

In the early '90s Madhuri Dixit was promoted as new Mala Sinha in magazines. But, after 1994, she completely withdrew from industry and has given very few public appearances. In Dhool Ka Phool and B.R. Chopra's Gumrah, she played the first unwed mother and adulterous wife respectively in Hindi cinema. As she grew older, she gracefully moved on to doing character roles that befitted her age. She was last seen in Zid (1994). 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.

Personal life

Sinha married her co-star from Nepali films, Chidambar Prasad Lohani in 1968. The couple met when they worked together in the Nepali film Maiti Ghar (1966). Lohani had an estate agency business. After her marriage, she used to come and stay in Mumbai to shoot films while her husband stayed in Nepal running his business. She has one daughter from the marriage: Pratibha Sinha, who is a former Bollywood actress. From the late 1990s, the couple and their daughter have been residing in a bungalow in Bandra, Mumbai.

Awards

Mala Sinha in 2012 at the press conference of 'Dadsaheb Phalke Jayanti Awards'
BFJA Award for Best Actress (1965) — Jahan Ara
BFJA Award for Best Actress (1966) — Himalaya Ki God Mein
Sikkim Samman Award by Government of Sikkim (2004)
Felicitation by Government of Nepal (2005)
Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award (2007)
Kelvinator GR8! Women Awards: Lifetime Achievement Award (2013)
Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Awards: Phalke Icon Cine Artiste Award (2013)

Nominations

Filmfare Award for Best Actress — Dhool Ka Phool (1960)
Filmfare Award for Best Actress — Bahurani (1964)
Filmfare Award for Best Actress — Jahan Ara (1965)
Filmfare Award for Best Actress — Himalaya Ki God Mein (1966)

Filmography

Hindi films
Zid (1994) Jai Mehta
Radha Ka Sangam (1992) Govinda
Khel (1992) Anil Kapoor
Dil Tujhko Diya (1987) Kumar Gaurav
Babu (film) (1985) Navin Nishchol and Rajesh Khanna
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—Sarojini
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 and Rajesh Khanna
Sanjog (1971) Amitabh Bachchan
Chahat (1971) Jeetendra
Holi Ayee Re (1970) Prakash Thapa
Kangan (1970)Sanjeev Kumar
Geet (1970)Rajendra Kumar
Do Bhai (1970) Jeetendra
Paisa Ya Pyar (1970) Biswajeet
Mere Huzoor (1969) Rajkumar/Jeetendra
Humsaya (1968) Joy Mukherjee
Do Kaliyaan (1968) Biswajeet
Pyar Ka Sapna (1968) Biswajeet
Aankhen (1968) Dharmendra
Dillagi (1966) Sanjay Khan
Nai Roshni (1967) 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
Jahan Ara (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
Naya Zamana (1957) Pradeep Kumar
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
Jhanshi Ki Rani (1956) Sohrab Modi
Ratna Manjari (1955) Mahipal
Ekadashi (1955) Trilok Kapoor
Riyasat (1955) Mahipal
Badshah (1954) Pradeep Kumar
Hamlet (1954) Pradeep Kumar/Kishore Sahu
Suhagan (1952) Guru Dutt
zia ka Dil(1966) zia rahi,guru dutt, k.n.shahu

Bengali films
Kabita (1977)
Shohorer Itikotha (Uttam Kumar )
Saathihaara (Uttam Kumar)
Abhaya O Srikanta (1961)
Kelaghar (1959) (Uttam Kumar)
Lookochoori (1958)(Kishore Kumar)
Louha Kapat (1958)
Bondhu
Surer Parashay (1957)
Prithibi Amare Chaay (1957)
Putrabadhu (1956)
Dhuli (1954)
Chitrangadha (1954)
Jog Biyog (1953)
Roshanara (1952)

Nepali films
Maitighar (1966)