Indian movie stars born in 1916
Here are 7 famous actresses from India were born in 1916:
M. S. Subbulakshmi
M. S. Subbulakshmi (September 16, 1916 Madurai-December 11, 2004 Chennai) a.k.a. M.S. Subbulakshmi, Subbulakshmi, M.S., MS Subbulakshmi, Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi, Kunjamma, The Nightingale of India, M.S. or Subbulakshmi was an Indian singer and actor. She had two children, Radha Viswanathan and Vijaya Rajendran.
Subbulakshmi trained in Carnatic music from a young age and made her public debut at the age of 13. She went on to become one of the most celebrated Carnatic vocalists in India, known for her renditions of classical compositions and devotional songs. She also acted in a few Tamil films, including Meera and Sakuntalai.
Subbulakshmi's career spanned several decades, and she was the first Indian musician to perform at the United Nations General Assembly in 1966. She was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 1998, and was also the first musician to receive the Ramon Magsaysay award for public service in 1974.
Aside from her musical career, Subbulakshmi was also known for her philanthropic work, including her efforts to promote education and the arts in India. Her legacy continues to inspire musicians and fans of Indian classical music around the world.
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Shobhna Samarth
Shobhna Samarth (November 17, 1916 Mumbai-February 9, 2000 Pune) also known as Shobhana Samarth, Shobhana, Shobana, Smt. Shobhana Samarth or Saroj Shilotri was an Indian actor and film director. She had three children, Tanuja, Nutan and Chatura Samarth.
Shobhna Samarth began her acting career in the year 1935 with the Hindi film Nigahein. Over the next few decades, she went on to act in several successful Hindi and Marathi films, including the film Kunku (1937) which is considered a classic in Marathi cinema. In addition to acting, Shobhna Samarth also tried her hand at film direction and produced and directed several films such as Chhabili (1960) and Aarti (1962) which starred her daughter Nutan. She was also actively involved in social work, especially towards the education of women.
Shobhna Samarth's daughters, Nutan and Tanuja, went on to become successful actors in the Hindi film industry. Her grandson, Mohnish Bahl, and granddaughter, Kajol, also followed in her footsteps and pursued careers in acting. Shobhna Samarth was known for her dedication to her work and her commitment towards her family. She passed away in 2000 at the age of 83.
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Kanan Devi
Kanan Devi (April 22, 1916 Howrah-July 17, 1992 Kolkata) also known as কানন দেবী, Methra, Kanan Bhattacharya, Kananbala, Kanan Bala, Kanan Dassi or Bengal was an Indian singer, actor and film producer. Her child is called Siddharta Bhattacharya.
Kanan Devi was a pioneer in the Indian film industry, especially in the Bengali film industry. She made her debut in films at the age of 10 in the film Joydev (1926) and went on to act in over 100 films in her career spanning four decades. She was known for her melodious voice and her ability to convey a range of emotions through her singing.
Apart from acting and singing, Kanan Devi also produced several films under her production company, Kanan Films. She was one of the first female producers in Indian cinema and produced films like Mukti (1937), Street Singer (1938), and Jiban Maran (1959), among others.
Kanan Devi received many accolades for her contribution to Indian cinema. In 1974, she was awarded the Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian awards in India, for her contribution to the arts. She passed away in Kolkata in 1992 at the age of 76, leaving behind a rich legacy in the world of Indian cinema.
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Lalita Pawar
Lalita Pawar (April 18, 1916 Nashik-February 24, 1998 Aundh) a.k.a. Ambika Laxman Sagun, Ambu, Lalita Powar, Lalitha Pawar, Amba Laxman Rao Shagun or Amba Laxman Rao Sagun was an Indian actor and character actor.
She began her acting career at the age of 12 and over the span of 70 years appeared in over 700 films. Lalita Pawar was known for her versatility and ability to play a wide range of characters, from a ruthless villain to a caring grandmother. She won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for her performance in the film Anari (1959) and was also awarded the prestigious Padma Shri in 1961 for her contribution to Indian cinema. Lalita Pawar was regarded as a pioneer of Indian cinema and played a crucial role in shaping the film industry. Despite suffering an injury during the filming of a scene in the film Junglee (1961), which resulted in the loss of her right eye, she continued to work in the industry until her death in 1998 at the age of 81.
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Meenakshi Shirodkar
Meenakshi Shirodkar (October 11, 1916-June 4, 1997 Mumbai) a.k.a. Minaxi, Meenaxi, Meenakshi or Ratan Pednekar was an Indian actor.
She was born in Goa and started her acting career in the Marathi film industry. She then went on to act in several Hindi films, including "Albela," "Parineeta" and "Chandni Bar." She was known for her versatility as an actor and was appreciated for her performances in both comic and serious roles. Shirodkar was also a trained classical singer and lent her voice to a number of songs in her films. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1962 for her contribution to the Indian film industry. Despite retiring from acting in the 1970s, she continued to be remembered fondly by audiences and peers alike for her charming screen presence and memorable performances.
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Esther Victoria Abraham
Esther Victoria Abraham (December 30, 1916 Kolkata-August 6, 2006 Mumbai) also known as Esther Victoria Abraham, Premila, Pramila or Pramila (Esther Victoria Abraham) was an Indian actor. She had two children, Naqi Jahan and Haidar Ali.
Born in Kolkata, Esther Victoria Abraham first began her career as an actor in the mid-1930s. She made her debut in the film industry with the film "Dharmatma" in 1935, directed by V. Shantaram. She gained a lot of popularity for her roles in films like "Kangan" (1939), "Basant" (1942) and "Chal Chal Re Naujawan" (1944).
Pramila's acting career spanned over several decades and she acted in over 80 films in Hindi and Bengali. She was known for her versatility and had acted in a variety of genres, including social dramas, mythological films, comedies and historical films.
Apart from her acting career, Pramila was also a beauty queen and was crowned as the first Miss India in 1947. She was also a member of the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and had worked with several noted personalities in the theatre industry.
Pramila passed away in Mumbai in 2006 at the age of 89, leaving behind a legacy as one of the pioneering actors in Indian cinema.
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Naseem Banu
Naseem Banu (July 4, 1916 Delhi-June 18, 2002 Mumbai) also known as Madam Naseem Banu, Nasim Banu, Smt. Naseem Banu, Naseem or Pari Chehra Naseem was an Indian actor. She had two children, Saira Banu and Sultan Ahmed.
Naseem Banu was born as the daughter of singer and stage artiste Jaddanbai and Mohammad Sardar Khan in Delhi. She started her career in the Indian film industry with the film Khoon-e-Nahak (1935). She worked in over 40 films in a career spanning over two decades. Some of her most notable films include Jwar Bhata (1944), Rattan (1944), Mughal-e-Azam (1960) and Pakeezah (1972).
Apart from being an actor, Naseem Banu was also a trained classical musician and performed at various concerts. She was known for her distinct voice and her ability to sing in various languages. She was also an accomplished dancer and often performed on stage.
Naseem Banu was married to film actor and director Ehsan Khan. Her daughter Saira Banu followed in her footsteps and became a successful actor in the Indian film industry. Her son Sultan Ahmed was a film producer and director.
Naseem Banu passed away in Mumbai at the age of 85. She is remembered as one of the iconic actors of the Indian film industry, who contributed immensely to the golden era of Indian cinema.
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