Nanda- The Journey of Baby Nanda to the Leading Actress

 

Nanda(8 January 1939 – 25 March 2014) started her career in films as a child artist. It was her father who took her in his film Mandir (1948). While making the film her father expired, the film was completed by Dinakar Patil. After her father's untimely death, she decided to do films besides attending the school. First, she did Jaggu (1952) as a child artist in which Shyama was playing the heroine. In 1954 she did Jagadguru Shankaracharya. In the same year, she did Angaray directed by K.B. Lal that starred Nargis and Nasir Khan 

V Shantaram was her uncle, who gave her break as a leading actress in the 1956 film 'Toofan Aur Diya'. She played the role of sister in this film. After that, she was offered roles of sister or side roles in many films. Kala Bazar was one such film in which she played the role of a sister of the hero Dev Anand.

Bhabhi(1957) was a significant film for her, she was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress for this film. In this film also she played the role of a sister. Again in 1958, she played the sister of the hero Raj Kumar in Dulhan. She once again plays sister in 1959 film 'Chhoti Behan', recall the immortal 'Rakhi' song "Bhaiya Mere Rakhi Ke Bandhan Ko Nibhana".

In 'Dhool Ka Phool'(1959), she was the second lead actress to Mala Sinha, she didn't play the sister here but was not the leading actress. She won the Best Supporting Actress award for the 1960 film 'Aanchal'. In 1961 she was taken as one of the leading actresses for Dev Anand in Hum Dono, the success of this film made her a leading actress. She became the heroine of Shashi Kapoor in 'Char Diwari', Raj Kapoor in 'Aashiq'(1962), Sunil Dutt in 'Nartaki' and 'Aaj Aur Kal'.

Her most remarkable year was 1965 when 6 of her films as leading actress released. Teen Deviyan.Gumnam and Jab Jab Phool Khile were memorable.

In 'Jab Jab Phool Khile', Nanda played her career's first westernized role and paired up with Shashi Kapoor with whom she went on to do eight films. She worked with Rajesh Khanna in 'The Train' when he was just starting out as an actor. She also worked with him in 'Ittefaq' and 'Joru Ka Gulam'.
Manoj Kumar took her in Shor released in 1972. She made a brief return to acting in 1982 as a character actress where she played the onscreen mother of Padmini Kolhapure in 'Ahista Ahista', 'Mazdoor' R K Films Prem Rog 

'Mazdoor' (1983) was her last film, she played the wife of Dilip Kumar in this film. She died in Mumbai on 25 March 2014 at her Versova residence, aged 75, following a heart attack.

Song of Toofan aur Diya 1956

Song of Chhoti Bahen 1959

Song of Usne Kaha Tha 1960

Song of Hum Dono 1961

Song of  Aaj Aur Kal 1964

Song of  Jab Jab Phool Khile 1965

Song of Teen Deviyan 1965

Song of Gumnaam 1965

Song of The Train 1970

Song of Shor 1972

Laxmi Chhaya- Maar Diya Jaye Ke Chhod Diya Jaye

 

Most of us remember Laxmi Chhaya with this iconic song from the 1971 film 'Mera Gaon Mera Desh'but she first came into limelight with a dance number from 1965 film 'Gumnam' with a guest appearance as the masked dancer in the song Jaan Pehechan Ho. Her dance performance was appreciated and  gained a cult following internationally, receiving attention in both India and America, and has been deemed her signature performance.

Laxmi Chhaya (7 January 1948 – 9 May 2004)  began acting with an uncredited appearance as one of the schoolgirls in Talaq (1958), for a few years she appeared in many Bollywood as a guest appearance, a few of these were Raat Aur Din.(1967), Baharon Ke Sapne,(1967) ,Upkar(1967) and Ram Aur Shyam,  Naughty Boy(1962) as Bela, was her first role that wasn't a guest role.

In 1968, she starred in Duniya as Laxmi, a role named after her. In 1969, Chhaya next starred as Rita in the film Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke (1969), where she starred in a supporting role once again with Asha Parekh. The movie was a commercial success. In the same year, she also starred in the film Pyar Ka Mausam (1969). In 1971, Chhaya starred as Munnibai, a young girl who works undercover for a dacoit, in Mera Gaon Mera Desh, her first role as Munnibai was a  part of the main cast.The film was a major and critical success at the time, and is considered to be one of Chhaya's best performances.Three songs were picturized on her, all of them were popular.

In 70s, she appeared in many films after the success of Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Raaste Kaa Patthar (1972), Do Chor (1972), Bindiya Aur Bandook (1973), Do Phool(1973) ,harafat Chod Di Maine (1976), and Haiwan(1977).are a few.

 After a series of commercially unsuccessful films, in 1987, she retired the film industry after a guest appearance in the film Parakh. In the years prior to her death, Chhaya went on to open her own dance school, where she taught dancing to indigent children.

After retiring from cinema, Chhaya taught dancing to indigent children. She died of cancer in Mumbai on May 9, 2004 at the age of 56.

Here are 10 memorable dances performed by Laxmi Chhaya in films.

Song of Gumnam 1965

Raat Aur Din (1967) 

Song of Upkar (1967)

Song of Baharon Ke Sapne (1967) Audio only

Song of Aaya Sawan Jhoom Ke (1969)

Song of Mera Gaon Mera Desh 1971

Song of Mera Gaon Mera Desh 1971

Song of Mera Gaon Mera Desh 1971

Song of Raaste Ka Patthar (1972)

Song of Sharafat Chhod Di Maine (1976)

SIMI GAREWAL- Way Ahead Of Her Time, Excelled in Supportive Roles

 

 Simi has always been ahead of her times. In an era where actresses even refused to kiss, Simi never hesitated from flaunting her svelte figure if the role demanded that. Recall her nude scene in the film Sidhartha which caused some controversy in India.  Her immaculate dressing sense was an inspiration for many

She was excellent in supportive roles, she was one of the heroines of Dev Anand in Teen Deviyan. She played the third angle in Raj Khosla's love story Do Badan (1966) She played a spoilt rich girl in Saathi(1968) who sets her eyes on Rajendra Kumar and marries him -- though he remains faithful to his first love Vyjayanthimala. She was awarded as Best Supportive Actress for both the films.

She was born (17th Oct 1947)in Muktsar, Punjab, India, in a Jat Sikh family. Her father, J. S. Garewal served in the Indian Army rising to the rank of Brigadier. After spending much of her childhood in England, Garewal returned to India while a teenager. Her felicity with the English language induced the makers of the English-language film Tarzan Goes to India to offer her a role. A gangly 15-year-old, Garewal made her debut alongside Feroz Khan in Raaz Ki Baat in 1962

During the 1960s and '70s, she was in several notable Indian films, working with leading directors such as Mehboob Khan's Son of India,  Satyajit Ray cast her in his Bengali film Aranyer Din Ratri (1969), Raj Kapoor in Mera Naam Joker (1970)., She was in a supportive role in Ramesh Sippy's Andaz (1971), In Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Namak Haram (1973), she was the rich but eternally sympathetic voice of sanity who tries to curb Amitabh Bachchan's anger. In Prakash Mehra's Haath Ki Safai (1974), she just threw her long hair around in the hit number, Waada Kar le Saajna.   

By the mid-1970s, Simi's career seemed to have run out of steam. Films like Chalte Chalte, which cast her as an older woman opposite newcomer Vishal Anand did not make waves despite the melodious music; while a blockbuster like Kabhi Kabhie had her in a peripheral role (as Neetu Singh's foster mother). Another notable role she played was as a vamp in Karz (1980). 

 In the early 1980s, her attention turned to writing and direction. She formed her own production company, Siga Arts International. She hosted, produced and directed a TV series for Doordarshan called It's a Woman's World (1983). She also made a documentary for Channel 4 in the UK called Living Legend Raj Kapoor (1984). This was followed by a three-part documentary on Rajiv Gandhi titled India's Rajiv.

In the late 90s, she anchored a talk show in Television   Rendezvous with Simi Garewal which became very popular with the elite class.

Song of Teen Deviyan 1965

Song of Johar Mehmood in Goa 1966

Song of  Do Badan 1966

Song of  Saathi 1968

Song of Mera Naam Joker 1970

Song of Haath Ki Safai 1974

Song of Chalte Chalte 1976

Song of Karz 1980

Kumkum - Many Popular Songs were Picrurized on her

Kumkum was discovered by Guru Dutt. Guru Dutt was to picturise the song "Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar Laaga Teere Nazar" for his movie Aar Paar (1954). The famous song "Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan" from C.I.D was picturized on her. She showed her dancing talents in the film Kohinoor (1960) with Dilip Kumar. "Madhuban Mein Radhika Nache Re" and "Haye Jaadugar Qaatil, Haazir Hai Mera Dil", sung by Asha Bhosle (1956), sung by Geeta Dutt was picturized on her.
She was paired opposite Kishore Kumar in many films. The songs like "Khoobsurat Haseena" from Mr. X in Bombay, "Sultana Sultana" from Shreeman Funtoosh and "Machalti Hui" from Ganga Ki Lahren, which were picturized on the pair Kishore-Kumkum.
Kumkum(born on 22nd April 1934) born Zaibunnissa, is from Bihar. Her father was Nabab of Hussainabad and belonged to a highly reputed family. She paired with many film heroes of her era and was popular in roles alongside Kishore Kumar. She was the heroine of Dharmendra's debut film"Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere"  She was also paired alongside Shammi Kapoor in a side role in Mem Saheb (1956) and also in lead opposite Shammi Kapoor in Char Dil Char Raahein (1959).
 She has been a favorite choice for writer-director Ramanand Sagar. Ramanand Sagar decided to cast Kumkum as Dharmendra's sister in Ankhen, a super hit film of 1968. In 1970, for Geet, Kumkum was Ramanand Sagar's choice for a small role. But in Lalkar (1972), she was paired with Dharmendra, while Rajendra Kumar was paired with Mala Sinha. Kumkum was paired with Kiran Kumar in Jalte Badan (1973), produced, directed and written by Ramanand Sagar. She was paired opposite Vinod Khanna in Dhamkee in 1973 and the duet song "Chand Kya Hai Roop Ka Darpan" became hugely popular. She was paired opposite Pran in the comedy film Ek Kuwara Ek Kuwari, directed by Prakash Mehra, which was a blockbuster.
She acted in nearly 115 films in her career.Some of her best known for her roles in Mother India (1957), Naya Daur (1957), Ujala (1959), Kali Topi Lal Rumal (1959), Kohinoor (1960), Son Of India (1962), Ganga Ki Lahren (1964), Shreeman Funtoosh (1965), Ek Sapera Ek Lutera (1965), Raja Aur Runk (1968), Ankhen (1968), Geet (1970) and Lalkar (1972).
Kumkum also acted in Bhojpuri films. Her first film in Bhojpuri cinema was Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo (1963). She left films after her marriage and shifted to Saudi Arab.  

Song of Aar Paar (1954)

Song of Mirza Ghalib (1954)

Song of C I D (1956)

Song of Mem Sahib (1956)

Song of Mother India (1957)

Song of Char Dil Char Rahen (1959)

Song of Ujala (1959)

Song of Kohinoor 1960

Song of Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere 1960

Song of  Son of India 1962

Song of  Ganga Ki Laharen 1964

Song of  Mr. X in Bombay 1964

Song of Shreeman Funtoosh  1965

Song of Ek Sapera Ek Lutera 1965

Song of Raja Aur Rank 1968

Nimmi - Acted with the Golden Trio of Bollywood

She made her debut in Raj Kapoor’s Barsaat and it was the legendary actor-director, who had given her the screen name of Nimmi. After the super success of Barsaat, she appeared in a string of hit movies in the 50s and early 60s. 
She acted with the top yesteryear stars such as Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, and Raj Kapoor. Some of her memorable movies included Sazaa(1951), Mehboob Khan’s Aan (1952), Daag (1952), Amar (1954), Uran Khatola (1955), Basant Bahar (1956) and Mere Mehboob (1963).
Her original name was Nawab Banoo, her mother was a courtesan, a singer and an actress, known as Wahidan. Her father, Abdul Hakim, worked as a military contractor in Meerut U.P.Nimmi was born on 18th Feb 1933 in Agra. Her mother died when she was only eleven years old. Nimmi was therefore sent to live in Abbottabad near Rawalpindi with her maternal grandmother. The partition of India happened in 1947, and Abbottabad fell in Pakistan. Nimmi's grandmother moved to Bombay.
The famous filmmaker Mehboob Khan who was known to her mother once invited the young Nimmi to watch the making of his current production Andaz at Central Studios where Raj Kapoor met her for the first time. Raj Kapoor was looking for the second lead actress for his film Barsaat opposite Premnath,he offered her that role. Nimmi accepted that role. She played the role of an innocent mountain shepherdess in love with a heartless city man. Barsaat, released in 1949, made movie history. It was a phenomenal critical and commercial success. Despite the presence of Nargis, Raj Kapoor, and Premnath, Nimmi had a very prominent and well-received role and was an instant hit with audiences.
In 1950, she appeared in 3 films but none of the films were successful, in 1951 her film Sazaa with Dev Anand and Deedar with Dilip Kumar released consolidated her position as the second lead role actress.
Besides Nargis with whom she co-starred in Barsaat and Deedar, Nimmi also appeared alongside many notable leading ladies including Madhubala (Amar), Suraiya (Shama), Geeta Bali (Usha Kiran), and Meena Kumari (Char Dil Char Rahen (1959). Nimmi was also a singer and sang her own songs in the film Bedardi (1951) in which she also acted. However, she never continued singing and recorded songs only for this film.
Mehboob Khan cast her opposite Dilip Kumar in Aan(1952). The film was made with an extremely large budget and was a great hit. It was one of the first Indian movies to have a worldwide release. The film had an extremely lavish London premiere which Nimmi attended. 
After the great box-office success of Aan, Mehboob Khan asked her to appear in his next film Amar (1954). Nimmi played a poor, milkmaid seduced by a lawyer (Dilip Kumar). The film also starred Madhubala as Kumar's wronged fiancée. The film was not a commercial success, Nimmi's intense performance and the film were applauded by critics.
 In Uran Khatola (1955), her last of five films with Dilip Kumar, she starred in one of the biggest box-office successes of her career. In 1956 too she had 2 hit films. Basant Bahar opposite Bharat Bhushan and Bhai Bhai opposite Ashok Kumar and Kishor Kumar. She received the critic's award for best actress for her role in Bhai Bhai
In the late 1950s, Nimmi worked with renowned directors Chetan Anand (Anjali ), K. A. Abbas (Char Dil Char Rahen) and Vijay Bhatt (Angulimala). Prepared to take risks, Nimmi took on controversial characterizations, such as the prostitute of Char Dil Char Raahen (1959). It was during this phase that Nimmi became very selective as she strove for better quality projects and roles. 
She married in 1960 and decided to quit films but at this time K Asif signed her in Love & God even before completing his magnum opus Mughal-e-Azam.The film was shelved altogether when the director K. Asif died.It was later released on 6 June 1986 by that time Nimmi was retired for over 2 decades.
Nimmi died on 25th March 2020 in Bombay  She was 87 years old and had been in and out of the hospital for quite some time. 

Song of Barsaat 1949

Song of Sazaa 1951

Song of Aan 1952

Song of Amar 1954

Song of Udan Khatola 1955

Song of Basant Bahar 1956

Song of  Bhai Bhai  1956