Mala Sinha (Nepali: माला सिन्हा) (born 11 November 1936) is an Indian actress of Nepalese ethnicity. She became one of the most popular female stars in Bollywood films from the fifties to the early seventies, starring in numerous blockbusters and hits like Pyaasa (1957), Dhool Ka Phool (1959), Anpadh (1962), Himalaya Ki God Mein (1965), Aankhen (1968) and Maryada (1971).
Early life
Sinha was born to Albert Sinha, in a Nepalese Christian family. They named her Alda. Her friends at school used to tease her calling Dalda (a branded vegetable oil of India), so she changed her name to Mala.
Career
Sinha started her film career as child artist in Bengali Films Jai Vaishno Devi followed by Shri Krishan Leela, Jog Biyog & Dhooli. Noted Bengali film 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 to shoot 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 film Rangeen Ratein. However, her first Hindi film was Badshah opposite Pradeep Kumar, than came Ekadashia mythological film both films failed, but her lead role in Kishore Sahu's Hamlet fetched her rave reviews in spite of the film failing at the boxoffice.
Mala was also a singer of some repute and used to sing for All India Radio, albeit she was never allowed to sing playback (even for herself) in the movies. In 1957, noted Bollywood actor and film director Guru Dutt (the husband of Geeta Dutt) cast Mala in his film Pyaasa in a role originally intended for Madhubala. Mala gave a memorable performance as the woman who chooses to marry a rich man (played by character artiste Rehman) rather than a poor unsuccessful poet (played by Guru Dutt himself). The film remains to this day a classic in the history of Indian cinema and a turning point for Sinha.
After Pyaasa her major success was Yash Chopra's directorail debut Dhool Ka Phool(1959) that elevated her into a major dramatic star,[4] there was no looking back for Sinha than as she gave hits after hits in movies like 'Parvarish', 'Phir Subah Hogi', 'Main Nahse Main Hoon', 'Love Marriage', 'Bahurani', 'Anpadh', 'Aasra', 'Dil Tera Deewana', Gumrah (many critics believe her career best performance), 'Aankhen', 'Hariyali Aur Rasta', 'Himalaya Ki God Mein' and many more. What was most remarkable about Mala Sinha was that most of her 1960s hits were fuelled by her own star power as much as the heroes'. She did not mind working with newcomers as long as her role was worth. When she acted opposite big stars, she made sure her role was as good as theirs. She worked with many newcomers of her era including Dharmendra, Sunil Dutt, Sanjay Khan and Amitabh Bachchan. In most of her films she got the first billing in the credits, even before the heroes.
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 C. P. 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 she living in Bombay with their daughter Pratibha. Mala continued acting in films 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 Kishor Kumar. Her last Bengali film was Kabita(1977) which featured Ranjit Mullick and Kamal Hassan. She is noted for her strong women oriented yet glamorous roles fuelled by her equal star power on par with the heroes giving blockbusters and hits like Dhool Ka Phool, Anpadh, Phir Subah Hogi, Hariyali Aur Rasta, Dil Tera Deewana, Bahurani, Aasra, Do Kaliyan, Gumrah, Aankhen, Himalaya Ki God Mein, Maryada amongst others.
Of her rich and varied repertoire of films, she mentions she is rather partial to Jahan Ara(1964), a historical that Meena Kumari passed on to her as she says,"Meenaji turned down the role saying that she would not look the part whereas I would. Given my ignorance of Urdu, I was rather skeptical but Meenaji was convinced that I could do justice to the role. Playing Mumtaz Mahal's eldest daughter entailed grueling 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".
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 currently lives in Bombay with her now-retired husband and daughter Pratibha Sinha, a Bollywood actress
Awards and nominations
* Won, BFJA Award for Best Actress(1965) - Jahan Ara
* Won, BFJA Award for Best Actress(1966) - Himalaya Ki God Mein
* Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award (2007)
Sinha received several Filmfare nominations for Best Actress for her women oriented roles in Dhool Ka Phool (1959), Bahu Rani (1963), Jahan Ara (1964), Himalaya Ki God Mein (1965). While she was not nominated for her other acclaimed roles like Hariyali Aur Raasta (1962), Anpadh (1962), Gumrah (1963), and Aankhen (1967) amongst others. She also won accolades for her role as greyhaired wife of Sanjeev Kapoor in Zindagi (1976). In spite of getting much critical acclaim and mass recognition for her work, Sinha has never won a Filmfare for any of her roles. She was honoured with the Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
She was also felicitated by Government of Sikkim and Government of Nepal in 2004 and 2005 respectively.
Early life
Sinha was born to Albert Sinha, in a Nepalese Christian family. They named her Alda. Her friends at school used to tease her calling Dalda (a branded vegetable oil of India), so she changed her name to Mala.
Career
Sinha started her film career as child artist in Bengali Films Jai Vaishno Devi followed by Shri Krishan Leela, Jog Biyog & Dhooli. Noted Bengali film 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 to shoot 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 film Rangeen Ratein. However, her first Hindi film was Badshah opposite Pradeep Kumar, than came Ekadashia mythological film both films failed, but her lead role in Kishore Sahu's Hamlet fetched her rave reviews in spite of the film failing at the boxoffice.
Mala was also a singer of some repute and used to sing for All India Radio, albeit she was never allowed to sing playback (even for herself) in the movies. In 1957, noted Bollywood actor and film director Guru Dutt (the husband of Geeta Dutt) cast Mala in his film Pyaasa in a role originally intended for Madhubala. Mala gave a memorable performance as the woman who chooses to marry a rich man (played by character artiste Rehman) rather than a poor unsuccessful poet (played by Guru Dutt himself). The film remains to this day a classic in the history of Indian cinema and a turning point for Sinha.
After Pyaasa her major success was Yash Chopra's directorail debut Dhool Ka Phool(1959) that elevated her into a major dramatic star,[4] there was no looking back for Sinha than as she gave hits after hits in movies like 'Parvarish', 'Phir Subah Hogi', 'Main Nahse Main Hoon', 'Love Marriage', 'Bahurani', 'Anpadh', 'Aasra', 'Dil Tera Deewana', Gumrah (many critics believe her career best performance), 'Aankhen', 'Hariyali Aur Rasta', 'Himalaya Ki God Mein' and many more. What was most remarkable about Mala Sinha was that most of her 1960s hits were fuelled by her own star power as much as the heroes'. She did not mind working with newcomers as long as her role was worth. When she acted opposite big stars, she made sure her role was as good as theirs. She worked with many newcomers of her era including Dharmendra, Sunil Dutt, Sanjay Khan and Amitabh Bachchan. In most of her films she got the first billing in the credits, even before the heroes.
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 C. P. 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 she living in Bombay with their daughter Pratibha. Mala continued acting in films 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 Kishor Kumar. Her last Bengali film was Kabita(1977) which featured Ranjit Mullick and Kamal Hassan. She is noted for her strong women oriented yet glamorous roles fuelled by her equal star power on par with the heroes giving blockbusters and hits like Dhool Ka Phool, Anpadh, Phir Subah Hogi, Hariyali Aur Rasta, Dil Tera Deewana, Bahurani, Aasra, Do Kaliyan, Gumrah, Aankhen, Himalaya Ki God Mein, Maryada amongst others.
Of her rich and varied repertoire of films, she mentions she is rather partial to Jahan Ara(1964), a historical that Meena Kumari passed on to her as she says,"Meenaji turned down the role saying that she would not look the part whereas I would. Given my ignorance of Urdu, I was rather skeptical but Meenaji was convinced that I could do justice to the role. Playing Mumtaz Mahal's eldest daughter entailed grueling 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".
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 currently lives in Bombay with her now-retired husband and daughter Pratibha Sinha, a Bollywood actress
Awards and nominations
* Won, BFJA Award for Best Actress(1965) - Jahan Ara
* Won, BFJA Award for Best Actress(1966) - Himalaya Ki God Mein
* Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award (2007)
Sinha received several Filmfare nominations for Best Actress for her women oriented roles in Dhool Ka Phool (1959), Bahu Rani (1963), Jahan Ara (1964), Himalaya Ki God Mein (1965). While she was not nominated for her other acclaimed roles like Hariyali Aur Raasta (1962), Anpadh (1962), Gumrah (1963), and Aankhen (1967) amongst others. She also won accolades for her role as greyhaired wife of Sanjeev Kapoor in Zindagi (1976). In spite of getting much critical acclaim and mass recognition for her work, Sinha has never won a Filmfare for any of her roles. She was honoured with the Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
She was also felicitated by Government of Sikkim and Government of Nepal in 2004 and 2005 respectively.
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