Early life
Sinha was born to Albert Sinha, in a Indian 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 Dutt, a noted Bollywood playback singer, 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 inspite 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 there was no looking back for Sinha as she gave hits after hits in movies like 'Parvarish', 'Phir Subah Hogi', 'Main Nahse Main Hoon', 'Love Marriage', 'Dhool Ka Phool', 'Bahurani', 'Anpadh', 'Aasra', 'Dil Tera Deewana', 'Gumrah', '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 heros'.[1]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 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 [2]. 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. Her last Bengali film was Kabita(1977) which featured Ranjit Mullick and Kamal Hassan. She is noted for her strong women oriented yet glamourous roles fuelled by her equal star power on par with the heroes giving blockbusters like Dhool Ka Phool ,Anpadh ,Phir Subah Hogi ,Hariyali Aur Rasta ,Dil Tera Deewana ,Bahurani ,Aasra ,Do Kaliyan ,Gumrah ,Aankhen ,Himalaya Ki God Mein amongst others.
Pesonal life
Sinha currently lived in Bombay with her now-retired husband and daughter Pratibha Sinha a Bollywood actress.
Award nominations
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 her other acclaimed roles include 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 2006.
Filmography
Hindi films
- Zid(1994)JAI MEHTA
- Dil Hai Betaab(1992)AJAY DEVGAN
- Radha Ka Sangam(1992)GOVINDA
- Khel(1992)ANIL KAPOOR
- Dil Tujhko Diya(1987)KUMAR GAURAV
- Baboo(1985)NAVIN NISCHAL
- Yeh Rishta Na Toote(1985)RAJENDRA KUMAR
- Aasman(1984)RAJEEV KAPOOR
- Beraham(1982)SANJEEV KUMAR
- Harjai(1981)SHAMMI KAPOOR
- Dhan Daulat(1980)RAJENDRA KUMAR
- Sone Ka Dil Lohe Ke Haath(1978)RAJENDRA KUMAR
- Karamyogi(1977)RAJ KUMAR
- Prayeschit(1977)AJAY SAHNI
- Do Ladkiyan(1977)SANJEEV KUMAR
- Zindagi(1976)SANJEEV KUMAR
- Mazdoor Zindabad(1976)RAJENDRA KUMAR
- Naseeb(1976)GUEST APPEARANCE
- Sunehra Sansar(1975)RAJENDRA KUMAR
- Archana(1974)SANJEEV KUMAR
- Kora Badan(1974)GUEST
- 36 Ghantey(1974)RAJ KUMAR
- Nek Parveen(1974)RAKESH PANDAY
- Rickshawala(1973)SUJIT KUMAR
- Kahani Hum Sab Ki(1973)VINOD MEHRA
- Phir Kab Milogi(1973)BISHWAJEET
- Rivaaj(1972)SANJEEV KUMAR
- Lalkaar(1972)RAJENDRA KUMAR
- Maryada(1971)RAJ KUMAR/RAJESH KHANNA
- Sanjog(1971)AMITABH BACHCHAN
- Chahat(1971)BISHWAJEET
- Holi Aayee Re(1970)PRAKASH THAPA
- Kangan(1970)SANJEEV KUMAR
- Geet(1970)RAJENDRA KUMAR
- Do Bhai(1970)JEETENDRA
- Paisa Ya Pyar(1970)BISHWAJEET
- Jaldeep(1970)CHILDREN FILM SOCIETY
- Mere Huzoor(1969)RAJ KUMAR/JEETENDRA
- Humsaya(1968)JOY MUKHERJEE
- Do Kaliyan(1968)BISHWAJEET
- Pyar Ka Sapna(1968)BISHWAJEET
- Aankhen(1968)DHARMENDRA
- Dillagi(1967)SANJAY KHAN
- Nai Roshni(1967)BISHWAJEET
- Night In London(1967)BISHWAJEET
- Jaal(1967)BISHWAJEET
- Aasra(1966)BISHWAJEET
- Tamanna(1966)BISHWAJEET
- Apne Huye Paraye(1966)MANOJ KUMAR
- Mere Lal(1966)DEV KUMAR
- Baharein 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
- Jahanara(1964)BHARAT BHUSHAN.................Nominated(Filmfare Best Actress Award)
- Suhagan(1964)GURU DUTT
- Phool Bane Angarey(1963)RAJ KUMAR
- Pooja Ke Phool(1963)DHARMENDRA
- Gumraah(1963)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)KISHOR 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/SHASHI KAPOOR
- Patang(1960)RAJENDRA KUMAR
- Main Nashe Mein Hoon(1960)RAJ KAPOOR
- Bewaqoof(1960)KISHOR KUMAR
- Mitti Mein Sona(1960)PRADEEP KUMAR
- 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(1958)KISHOR KUMAR
- Chandan(1958)KISHOR KUMAR
- Detective(1958)PRADEEP KUMAR
- Nausherwan-E-Adil(1957)RAJ KUMAR
- Ek Goan Ki Kahani(1957)ABHIBHATTACHARYA/TALAT MEHMOOD
- Apradhi Kaun(1957)ABHIBHATTACHARYA
- Lal Batti(1957)BALRAJ SAHNI
- Fashion(1957)PRADEEP KUMAR
- Pyaasa(1957)GURU DUTT/REHMAN
- Dhool Ka Phool(1957)ASHOK KUMAR/RAJENDRA KUMAR....Nominated(Filmfare Best Actress Award)
- Rangin Raaten(1956)SHAMMI KAPOOR
- Ek Shola(1956)PRADEEP KUMAR
- Paisa Hi Paisa(1956)JUL BELANI
- Naya Zamana(1955)PRADEEP KUMAR
- Ratna Manjari(1955)MAHIPAL
- Ekadashi(1955)TRILOK KAPOOR
- Riyasat(1955)
- Badshah(1954)PRADEEP KUMAR
- Hamlet(1954)PRADEEP KUMAR
- Jog Biyog(1953)
- Jhanshi Ki Rani(1952)SOHRAB MODI
- Complete Filmography (102 movies)
Bengali Films
- Roshanara
- Shohorer Itikotha ( with Uttam Kumar )
- Saathihaara ( with Uttam Kumar )
- Abhaya O Srikanta
- Lookochoori (with Kishore Kumar)
- Kabita
- Bondhu
- Prithibi Amare Chaay
Nepali Film
- Maitighar
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