Meena Kumari
Acting
Biography
Meena Kumari (born Mahjabeen Bano; August 1, 1933 – March 31, 1972) was an Indian actress, as well as an occasional poet, playback singer and model. She was described by critics as a historically incomparable actress of Hindi Cinema. Though best known for her sensitive portrayals of struggling women, earning her the title "The Tragedy Queen", she starred in over 90 films that varied in genres, from traditional melodramas, mythological adventures, comedies, historicals and Muslim socials. At the peak of her career, she was the highest-paid actress, and set fashion trends for women in the 1950s.
Born: August 1, 1933
Place of Birth: Solapur, Bombay Presidency, British India
Known For
Chandan Ka Palna
Ajit lives with his mother, and comes from a very wealthy family. He meets with beautiful Shobha and both fall in love with each other. Ajit's mom is delighted and agrees to meet with Harikishan Rai, Shobha's father, to finalize their marriage. The marriage takes place with great pomp and ceremony. A few years later, Ajit notices a change in Shobha's behavior. She changes her lifestyle, adopts a more liberal outlook, takes to drinking alcohol, and has an hair-cut. Ajit and his mom are perplexed and appalled at this change, and want to find out, but Shobha refuses to tell them anything. One day, Shobha and Ajit's mom have an argument, and Shobha angrily lifts up her hand to slap her, only to be stopped by Ajit, who asks Shobha to leave immediately. Shobha leaves and returns to her father's house, leaving Ajit and his mother behind wondering what had changed Shobha so much, and whether to get Ajit married a second time or not.
Pyaar Ka Saagar
Bishen raises his brother Kishen, who falls in love with Radham but loses vision after learning about her marriage. Bishen convinces Radha to undergo eye surgery.
Halaku
Halaku (Pran), the powerful emperor of Iran, rules the country wisely and with an iron hand. When he comes upon one of his subjects, Niloufer (Meena Kumari), he stakes his claim on her and wants her to be his wife, despite of his wife (Minoo Mumtaz), who opposes his marriage plans. Niloufer, who loves Pervez (Ajit), refuses to submit to Halaku, he turns his wrath on both Niloufer, Pervez, and his wife. Will Niloufer and Pervez survive the ruthless Halaku?
Two Acres of Land
An impoverished man and his young son travel to Calcutta and look for work, in order to make money that'll save their ancestral land from being seized by a corporation.
Baharon Ki Manzil
During a ceremony, Nanda gets amnesia after an explosion. She claims to be Radha. Dr. Rajesh treats her. They visit Bombay to uncover her past but are trailed by a goon. Rajesh investigates further to unravel the mystery.
Sahara
Sahara is a 1958 Indian Bollywood film directed by Lekhraj Bhakri. The film stars Meena Kumari in the lead role of Leela and relates her life story.
Mem Sahib
Meena, a wealthy, educated girl, has been promised in marriage to Sunder, a sheltered young man who has received an extremely traditional religious education. Displeased, Meena sets out to find a more suitable candidate, but is taken in by Manohar, a gold-digging conman. Finding Sunder to be clueless about the world, Manohar is soon manipulating him as well as Meena in his schemes to gain possession of Meena's fortune.
Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam
A debauchee Zamindar greatly neglects his wife. The decadence of the Bengali Zamindar milieu in the late 19th century, seen through the eyes of a young upward mobile rustic seeking fortune in Calcutta, fascinated by the lonely lady of the house.
Parineeta
In Calcutta at the turn of the century, two families (one wealthier than the other but both belonging to the same caste) live in adjoining properties. Their respective patriarchs fall out over the repayment of a loan and the intervention of a member of a lower caste in the families' financial arrangements. The rift causes much heartache to the younger members of the families, two of whom have secretly plighted their troth to each other.
Pakeezah
A beautiful courtesan is unable to break away from the cycle of prostitution until a forest ranger falls in love with her. Unfortunately, his wealthy parents oppose the union.
Filmography
as (archive)
as Ganga
as Nargis / Sahibjaan
as Malti
as Anandi Devi / Auaji (Aunt)
as Vidya
as Bhargavi
as Nanda / Radha
as Mehrunnisa / Noor Jehan
as Hema
as Shobha Rai
as Zeenat Jahan Begum
as Madhavi Amma
as Shanti Devi
as Heena Sharma
as Neelima
as Madhavi
as Purnima
as Rajni
as Benazir
as Naaz Ara Begum
as Chitralekha
as Gauri
as Neelu
as Sita
as Seema
as Aarti Gupta
as Chhoti Bahu
as Gayatri
as Radha / Rani
as Geeta
as Rajkumari Chandramukhi of Rajgarh
as Karuna
as Ratna
as Chavli
as Shabnam
as Chhaya
as Leela
as Hannah / Lydia
as Sharada Ram Sharan
as Niloufer Nadir
as Meena
as Shobha
as Usha Sen
as Bina
as Zarina
as Mala
as Lalita
as Thakurain
as Sheetal
as Gauri
as Princess Badar
as Soni
as Surekha
as Little Bina (as Baby Meena)