'Leela Chitnis'

Chitnis' early stage work included comedy Usna Navra (1934) and with her own film group Udyacha Sansar. She started acting to support her four children. She started as an extra and went on to stunt films.

Ms. Chitnis began her acting career onstage at a time women seldom worked as actors. Her son Manavedra Chitnis said that women who did act were regarded as prostitutes, and so Ms. Chitnis was shunned by Brahmans, the priestly caste of which she was a member. (from ​http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/17/movies/leela-chitnis-93-an-actress-in-scores-of-bombay-movies.html

She was publicized in the Times of India as the first graduate society-lady from Maharashtra. By then she had already made her first major mark as an actress on the silver screen. Chitnis worked at Prabhat Pictures, Pune and Ranjit Movietone before going on to be the leading lady in Bombay Talkies which saw her overtake and outshine Devika Rani. Her association with Bombay Talkies shot her to stardom and she made a particularly good partner with Devika Rani's leading man Ashok Kumar. Ashok Kumar was so impressed by her acting abilities that he admitted to having learnt how to speak with his eyes from her. By the mid 1940s her career went downhill as the new leading ladies came in. For 22 years, Chitnis played the mother of the later leading men including Dilip Kumar, often playing an ailing mother or a mother going through hardships and struggling to bring up her offspring. In fact she created the archetype of the Hindi Film mother, which was continued by later actresses. She continued doing films and then emigrated to the United States in the late 1980s to join her children. In 1941, she was the first Indian actress to endorse Lux (soap). She died in Danbury, Connecticut at a nursing home, at age 93. Filmography:

FILMOGRAPHY (* also d): 1935: Dhuwandhaar; Shri Satyanarayan; 1936: Berozgar; Chhaya; 1937: Insaaf; Gentleman Daku; Wahan; 1938: Chhote Sarkar; Jailor; Ustad; Vijay Danka; 1939: Chhotisi Duniya; Sant Tulsidas; Kangan; 1940: Azad; Bandhan; Ardhangi/Ghar? Ki Rani; 1941: Jhoola; Kanchan; 1942: Kisise Na Kehna; 1943: Rekha; 1944: Kiran; Char Aankhen; Manorama; 1945: Ghazal; 1946: Bhakta Prahlad; Devkanya; Shatranj; 1947: Andhon Ki Duniya; Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani; 1948: Lakhpati; Shaheed; 1949: Namuna; Aakhri Paigham; 1950: Saudamini; Jara Japoon; 1951: Awara; Saiyan; 1952: Maa; Ek Hota Raja; Sangdil; 1953: Rami Dhoban; Hari Darshan; Naya Ghar; 1954: Baadbaan; 1955: Aaj Ki Baat*; 1956: Basant Bahar; Awaaz; 1957: Naya Daur; 1958: Phir Subah Hogi; Post Box 999; Sadhana; 1959: Barkha; Dhool Ka Phool; Kal Hamara Hai; Main Nashe Mein Hoon; Ujala; 1960: Apna Haath Jagannath; Ghunghat; Hum Hindustani; Kohinoor; Bewaqoof; Maa Baap; Parakh; Kala Bazaar; Umaji Naik; Sakhya Savara Mala; 1961: Aas Ka Panchhi; Batwara; Kaanch Ki Gudiya; Char Diwari; Ganga Jumna; Hum Dono; Ramleela; Adhi Kalas Mag Paya; 1962: Aashiq; Prem Andhala Asta; Asli Naqli; Dr Vidya; Manmauji; Naag Devata; 1963: Dil Hi To Hai; Pahu Re Kiti Vaat!; 1964: Dosti; Aap Ki Parchhaiyan; Pooja Ke Phool; Shehnai; Suhagan; Zindagi; 1965: Johar Mehmood In Goa; Mohabbat Isko Kehte Hain; Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal; Waqt; Guide; Faraar; 1966: Dulhan Ek Raat Ki; Phool Aur Patthar; 1967: Gunahon Ka Devta; Aurat; Manjhli Didi; 1969: Inteqam; Prince; Badi Didi; The Killers; Ram Bhakta Hanuman; 1970: Man Ki Aankhen; Jeevan Mrityu; Bhai Bhai; 1977: Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein; 1978: Satyam Shivam Sundaram; 1979: Janata Havaldar; Aangan Ki Kali; Bin Maa Ke Bachche; 1980: Takkar; 1985: Dil Tujhko Diya.

Actor