name	Rakesh Roshan Lal Nagrath
birth date	September 06, 1949
birth place	Mumbai, Maharashtra
occupation	Actor, producer, director }}

Rakesh Roshan (Hindi: राकेश रोशन (born Rakesh Roshan Lal Nagrath on 6 September 1949 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) is a producer, director and former actor in Bollywood films who was born in a Hindu Kayastha family. Roshan is known for directing films with titles beginning with a "k".

A family business

Roshan's father was the Bollywood music director Roshan, and his younger brother, Rajesh Roshan, is also a music director. Rakesh is married to film actress Pinky, daughter of director J. Om Prakash. His son, Hrithik Roshan, is also an actor. Roshan also has a daughter, Sunaina.

Career

Roshan started his career as an actor making his debut in the 1970 film ''Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani''. He acted in over 60 films throughout the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s.

Roshan set up his own production company Filmkraft in 1980 and their first production was ''Aap Ke Deewane'' (1980). He made his directorial debut with ''Khudgarz'' (1987) and went onto direct several box office hits such as ''Kishen Kanhaiya'' (1990) and ''Karan Arjun'' (1995). During this time he only acted occasionally in films and focused mostly on directing films by the mid 1990s. He launched his son Hrithik's career as an actor with ''Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai'' (2000). This film, the highest grosser of 2000, entered the Limca Book of Records for the most number of awards won by a Bollywood film. He directed his son again in the 2003 science fiction film ''Koi... Mil Gaya,'' and its sequel, the science fiction superhero film ''Krrish'' (2006) both of which were also very successful at the box office. In 2008 he produced the film ''Krazzy 4''. In 2010 he released a Bollywood meets Hollywood crossover film titled ''Kites''. Another version of this film was released internationally, and known as ''Brett Ratner presents Kites: The Remix''. This version was shorter, and mainly toned down the amount musical numbers.

Honors

Rakesh Roshan was honoured on 3 December 2006 during the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Panaji for his contribution to mainstream cinema. On 11 December 2006 Rakesh Roshan was honoured during the Global Indian Film Awards (GIFA) for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema over the past 35 years.

Select filmography

As an actor

''Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani'' (1970) ... Suresh

''Seema'' (1971)

''Paraya Dhan'' (1971) .... Shankar

''Aankhon Aankhon Mein'' (1972) .... Rakesh Rai

''Zakhmee'' (1975) .... Amar

''Khel Khel Mein'' (1975) .... Vikram

''Aakraman'' (1975) ... Lieutanent Sunil Mehra

''Ginny Aur Johnny'' (1976) .... Johny

''Khatta Meetha'' (1978) .... Firoz Sethna

''Aahuti'' (1978) ... Bharat Prasad

''Jhoota Kahin Ka'' (1979) ... Vijay Rai / Vikram

''Aangan ki Kali'' (1979)

''Khandaan'' (1979) .... Rakesh Dinanath

''Khoobsurat'' (1980) .... Inder Gupta

''Pyaara Dushman'' (1980)

''Aap Ke Deewane'' (1980) .... Rahim

''Shriman Shrimati'' (1982) ... Rajesh

''Jeevan Dhaara'' (1982) ... Kanwal Singh

''Hamari Bahu Alka'' (1982) ... Pratab Chand

''Kaamchor'' (1982) ... Suraj

''Aakhir Kyon'' (1985)

''Mahaguru'' (1985)

''Naam1'' (1986)

anubhav 1986

''Bhagwan Dada'' (1986) .... Swaroop

''Khoon Bhari Maang'' (1988) .... Vikram Saxena

Bahurani (1989) .... Amit

''Akele Hum Akele Tum'' (1995) .... Paresh Kapoor

''Aurat Aurat Aurat'' (1996) .... Rakesh 'Guddu'

''Mother'' (1999) .... Amar Khanna

''Koi... Mil Gaya'' (2003) .... Sanjay Mehra

''Om Shanti Om'' (2007) .... Himself

''Kaavalan'' (2010) .... Dr. Kool

As a director

''Khudgarz'' (1987)

''Khoon Bhari Maang'' (1988)

''Kala Bazaar'' (1989)

''Kishen Kanhaiya'' (1990)

''Khel'' (1991)

''King Uncle'' (1993)

''Karan Arjun'' (1995)

''Koyla'' (1997)

''Karobaar'' (2000)

''Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai'' (2000)

''Koi Mil Gaya'' (2003)

''Krrish'' (2006)

As a producer

''Kaamchor'' (1982)

''Krazzy 4'' (2008)

''Kites'' (2010)

References

External links

Category:Indian actors Category:1949 births Category:Indian film directors Category:Hindi-language film directors Category:Filmfare Awards winners Category:Living people Category:Punjabi people

de:Rakesh Roshan fr:Rakesh Roshan it:Rakesh Roshan ml:രാകേഷ് റോഷൻ mr:राकेश रोशन pl:Rakesh Roshan

name	Kishore Kumar| image Gangulybros01.jpg
background	solo_singer
spouse	Rama Devi, Madhubala, Yogeeta Bali, Leena Chandawarkar
birth name	Abhas Kumar Ganguly
born	August 04, 1929Khandwa, Central Provinces and Berar
died	October 13, 1987Mumbai, Maharashtra
genre	Playback, Rabindra Sangeet, rock and roll
occupation	Singer, actor, director, musician, producer
years active	1946–1987 }}

Kishore Kumar (, , ; born Abhas Kumar Ganguly 4 August 1929 – 13 October 1987) was an Indian film playback singer and an actor who also worked as lyricist, composer, producer, director, screenwriter and scriptwriter. Kishore Kumar sang in many Indian languages including Bengali, Hindi, Marathi, Assamese, Gujarati, Kannada, Bhojpuri, Malayalam and Oriya. He was the winner of 8 Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer and holds the record for most number of Filmfare Awards won for that category.

Early life

Kishore Kumar was born into the Bengali Brahmin Ganguly family in Khandwa, Central Provinces and Berar (now in Madhya Pradesh) as Abhas Kumar Ganguly. His father Kunjalal Ganguly (Gangopadhya) was a lawyer. His mother Gouri Devi came from a wealthy Bengali family. Kishore was the youngest of four siblings, the other three being Ashok Kumar (the eldest), Sati Devi, and Anoop Kumar.

While Kishore was still a child, Ashok Kumar became a Bollywood actor. (Later, Anoop Kumar also ventured into cinema with the help of Ashok Kumar). Spending time with his brothers, Kishore also started to take a keen interest in movies and music. He became a fan of singer-actor Kundan Lal Saigal, whom he considered his guru, and tried to follow Saigal's singing style.

Career

After Ashok Kumar became a Bollywood star, the Ganguly family used to visit Bombay regularly. Abhas Kumar changed his name to Kishore Kumar and started his cinema career as a chorus singer at Bombay Talkies, where his brother worked. His first film as an actor was ''Shikari'' (1946), in which Ashok Kumar played the lead role. Music director Khemchand Prakash gave him a chance to sing the song ''Marne ki duayen kyon mangu'' for the film ''Ziddi'' (1948). After this, Kishore Kumar got many other assignments, but he was not very serious about a film career. In 1949, he decided to settle in Mumbai.

Kishore Kumar played hero in the Bombay Talkies film ''Andolan'' (1951), directed by Phani Majumdar. Although Kishore Kumar got some assignments as an actor with help of his brother, he was more interested in becoming a singer. He was not interested in acting, but his elder brother Ashok Kumar wanted him to be an actor like himself.

He starred in Bimal Roy's ''Naukri'' (1954) and Hrishikesh Mukherjee's directorial debut ''Musafir'' (1957). Salil Chowdhury, the music director for ''Naukri'' was initially dismissive of him as a singer, when he came to know that Kishore Kumar didn't have any formal training in music. However, after hearing his voice, he gave him the song ''Chhota sa ghar hoga'', which was supposed to be sung by Hemant Kumar.

Kishore Kumar starred in films ''New Delhi'''' (1957), ''Aasha'' (1957), ''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'' (1958), ''Half Ticket'' (1962), and ''Padosan'' (1968). ''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'', his home production, starred the three Ganguly brothers, and Madhubala. The film is about romance between a city girl (Madhubala) and a car mechanic (Kishore Kumar), with a subplot involving brothers.

Music director S. D. Burman is credited with spotting Kishore Kumar's talent as a singer, and advancing his singing career. During the making of ''Mashaal'' (1950), Burman visited Ashok Kumar's house, where he heard Kishore imitating K. L. Saigal. He complimented Kishore, but also told him that he should develop a style of his own, instead of copying Saigal. Kishore Kumar did not have a formal training in music. He kept Burman's advice in mind, and eventually developed his own style of singing, which featured the yodeling that he had heard on some records of Jimmie Rodgers bought by his brother Anoop Kumar.

S. D. Burman recorded with Kishore for Dev Anand's ''Munimji'' (1954), ''Taxi Driver'' (1954), ''House No. 44'' (1955), ''Funtoosh'' (1956), ''Nau Do Gyarah'' (1957), ''Paying Guest'' (1957), ''Guide'' (1965), ''Jewel Thief'' (1967), ''Prem Pujari'' (1970), and ''Tere Mere Sapne'' (1971). He also composed music for Kishore Kumar's home production ''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'' (1958). Some of their initial films included the songs ''Maana Janaab Ne Pukara Nahin'' from ''Paying Guest'', ''Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke'' from ''Nau Do Gyarah'' (1957), ''Ai Meri Topi Palat Ke Aa'' from ''Funtoosh'', and ''Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si'' and ''Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka'' from ''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'' (1958). Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar performed duets composed by S. D. Burman including ''Chhod Do Aanchal'' from ''Paying Guest'' (1957), ''Ankhon Mein Kya Ji'' from ''Nau Do Gyarah'' (1957), ''Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka'' and ''Paanch Rupaiya Baara Aana'' from ''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'' (1958), ''Chhedo Na Meri Zulfein'' from ''Ganga Ki Lahren'' (1964), and ''Arre Yaar Meri Tum Bhi Ho Gajab'' from ''[Teen Devian|Teen Deviyan]'' (1965).

C. Ramchandra was another music director who recognized Kishore Kumar's talent as a singer. and their collaborations include ''Eena Meena Deeka'' from ''Aasha'' (1957). Kishore Kumar's work includes, ''Nakhrewaali'' from ''New Delhi'' (1956) by Shankar Jaikishan, and ''C.A.T. Cat Maane Billi'' and ''Hum To Mohabbat Karega'' from ''Dilli Ka Thug'' (1958) by Ravi.

Kishore Kumar produced, directed, and acted in the film ''Jhumroo'' (1961). He wrote the lyrics for the title song, ''Main Hoon Jhumroo'', and composed music for all the songs in the film. Later, he produced and directed the film ''Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein'' (1964). He also wrote the script and composed music for the film. The film is based on the relationship between a father (Kishore Kumar), and his deaf and mute son (played by his real-life son, Amit Kumar). He made another two films called ''Door Ka Rahi'' (1971) and ''Door Waadiyon Mein Kahin'' (1980).

In the 1960s, as an actor, Kishore Kumar built up a notoriety for coming late for the shootings, or bunking them altogether. His films flopped frequently, and he also landed in income tax trouble. As a singer, his work in this period includes ''Zaroorat Hai Zaroorat Hai'' from ''Manmauji'' (1961), ''Gaata Rahe Mera Dil'' from ''Guide'' (1965), and ''Yeh Dil Na Hota Bechara'' from ''Jewel Thief'' (1967).

In the late 1960s, Rahul Dev Burman worked together on the soundtrack of the film ''Padosan'' (1968), in which Kishore Kumar sang the songs ''Mere Saamne Wali Khidki Mein'' and ''Kehna Hai''. ''Padosan'' was a comedy film starring Kishore Kumar as a dramatist-musician, Mehmood as a Carnatic music and dance teacher, and Sunil Dutt as a simpleton named Bhola. Kishore Kumar's character in the film was inspired by the personality of Kishore's own uncle, Dhananjay Bannerjee (a classical singer). The highlight of the film was a musical, comical duel between Kishore Kumar-Sunil Dutt and Mehmood, ''Ek Chatur Nar Karke Singaar''.

1970's and 1980's

In 1969, Shakti Samanta produced and directed the film ''Aradhana'', for which the music was composed by S. D. Burman. S. D. Burman fell ill after recording some duet songs with Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar. Afterwards, his son and assistant Rahul Dev Burman took over the recording. R. D. Burman got Kishore Kumar to solo sing the songs ''Mere Sapno Ki Rani'' and ''Roop Tera Mastana''. Kishore Kumar won his first Filmfare award for the song "Roop Tera Mastana".

In 1970s & 1980s Kishore Kumar sang for Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Dev Anand, Shashi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Deol, Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff.

S. D. Burman and Kishore Kumar continued to work together, including ''Phoolon Ke Rang Se'' and ''Shokhiyon Mein Ghola Jaaye'' from ''Prem Pujari'' (1969), ''Aaj Madhosh Hua Jaaye Re'', ''Khilte Hain Gul Yahan'' and ''O Meri Sharmilee'' from ''Sharmilee'' (1971), ''Meet na mila'' from ''Abhimaan'' (1973), ''Pyaar Ke Is Khel Mein'' from ''Jugnu''. In 1975, S. D. Burman composed his last song for Kishore Kumar. S. D. Burman went into a coma for the second time, soon after Kishore recorded the song ''Badi Sooni Sooni Hai Zindagi'' for the film ''Mili''.

R. D. Burman frequently used Kishore Kumar as the male singer, and recorded several songs with him in the 1970s. Some Kishore Kumar-R. D. Burman songs include ''O Maajhi Re'' from ''Khushboo'', ''Yeh Shaam Mastaani'' and ''Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai'' from ''Kati Patang'' (1971), ''Kuchh To Log Kahenge'' from ''Amar Prem'' (1972), "Raat Kali Ek Khwab Mein Aayi" from ''Buddha Mil Gaya ''(1971), ''Musafir Hoon Yaaron'' from ''Parichay'' (1972), ''Diye Jalte Hain'' from ''Namak Haraam'' (1973), ''Meri Bheegi Bheegi Si'' from ''Anamika'' (1973), ''Zindagi Ke Safar Mein'' from ''Aap Ki Kasam'' (1974), ''Agar Tum Na Hote'', ''Humein Tum Se Pyaar Kitna'' from ''Kudrat'', "Mere Naina Saawan Bhadon" from ''Mehbooba'', and ''Chingari Koi Bhadke'' (''Amar Prem''), ''Jab Bhi Koi Kangana'' from ''Shaukeen'' (1986). R. D. Burman also recorded several duets pairing Kishore Kumar with Asha Bhosle and with Lata Mangeshkar. Some of these duets include ''Panna Ki Tamanna'' from ''Heera Panna'' (1973), ''Neend Chura Ke Raaton Mein'' from the film ''Shareef Budmaash'', ''Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai'' from Sanjay Dutt's debut film ''Rocky'' (1981), ''Sagar Kinare'' from ''Sagar'' in [1985], ''Aap Ki Aankhon Mein Kuchh'' from ''Ghar'', ''Jaane Ja Dhoondta'' and ''Nahi Nahi'' from ''Jawani Diwani'', "Kharoshoo" from ''Harjai'' (1982).

Apart from the Burmans, Kishore Kumar worked with other music directors as well. The composer duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal (L-P) also composed many songs sung by Kishore Kumar. Some of their songs include ''Mere Mehboob Qayamat Hogi'' from ''Mr. X In Bombay'', ''Mere Naseeb Mein Aye Dost'' from ''Do Raaste'', ''Yeh Jeevan Hai'' from ''Piya Ka Ghar'', ''Mere Dil Mein Aaj Kya Hai'' from ''Daag: A Poem of Love'', ''Nahi Mai Nahi Dekh Sakta'' from ''Majboor'', ''Mere diwanepan ki bhi'' from ''Mehboob Ki Mehndi'', ''Naach Meri Bulbul'' from ''Roti'', ''Chal Chal Mere Haathi'' from ''Haathi Mere Saathi'', ''Gaadi Bula Rahi Hai'' from ''Dost'', ''Ruk Jaana Nahi'' from ''Imtihaan'', ''Ek Ritu Aaye'' from ''Gautam Govinda'', ''My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves'' from ''Amar Akbar Anthony'' ''Bahut Khoobsurat Jawan Ek Ladki'' from ''Dostana'' and ''Om Shanti Om'' as well as ''Paisa Yeh Paisa'' from ''Karz''. Laxmikant-Pyarelal also composed several Kishore-Lata duets, including ''Achchha To Hum Chalte Hain'' from ''Aan Milo Sajna'', ''Gore Rang Pe Na Itna'' from ''Roti'', ''Main Solah Baras Ki'' from ''Karz'', and ''Din Mahine Saal'' from ''Avtaar'', ''Tu Kitne Baras Ki'' from ''Karz''. L-P also got Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi to sing duets for the films ''Dostana'', ''Ram Balram'' and ''Deedaar-E-Yaar''. L-P composed a duet with Kishore Kumar and Alisha Chinoy, ''I love you (Kaate Nahin Katate Yeh Din Yeh Raat)'' from ''Mr. India'' in (1987). Salil Chowdhury recorded songs like ''Koi Hota Jisko Apna'' from ''Mere Apne'' and ''Gujar Gaye Din Din'' from ''Annadata''. Ravindra Jain recorded ''Ghungroo Ki Tarah'', and the duet ''Tota Maina Ki Kahani'' from ''Fakira''. Khaiyyaam recorded beautiful duets with Lata Mangeshkar such as ''Hazar Rahein'' from ''Thodisi Bewafai'', ''Aankhon Mein Humne Aapke Sapne Sajaye Hain'', ''Chandani Raat Mein Ek Bar''. Hridaynath Mangeshkar recorded ''Zindagi Aa Raha Hoon Main'' from ''Mashaal''. Kalyanji-Anandji recorded several songs with Kishore Kumar including ''Zindagi Ka Safar'' and ''Jeevan Se Bhari Teri Aankhein'', from ''Safar'', ''Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas'' from ''Black Mail'', ''Apne Jeevan Ki Uljhan'' from ''Uljhan'', ''Mera Jeevan Kora Kagaz'' from ''Kora Kagaz'', ''O Saathi Re'' from ''Muqaddar Ka Sikandar'', ''Khaike Paan Banaraswala'' from ''Don'', ''Neele Neele Ambar Par'' from ''Kalakar'' and ''Pal Bhar Ke Liye'' from ''Johny Mera Naam''.

Other composers including Rajesh Roshan, Sapan Chakravarty, Jaidev, Chitragupta (composer), Usha Khanna, Sohnik Omi, Prem Dhawan, Vanraj Bhatia and Bappi Lahiri also worked with Kishore Kumar. Rajesh Roshan's film ''Julie'' featured songs sung by Kishore Kumar, ''Bhool Gaya Saab Kuchh'' (duet with Lata Mangeshkar) and ''Dil Kya Kare Jab Kisise''. Their other songs include ''Chhookar mere man ko'' from ''Yaarana'', ''Tune Abhi Dekha Nahin'' from ''Do Aur Do Paanch'' and ''Kahan Tak Ye Man Ko Andhere Chhalenge'' from ''Baaton Baaton Mein''. Bappi Lahiri also recorded many songs with Kishore Kumar, including ''Pag Ghunghroo Bandh'' from ''Namak Halal'' (1982), ''Manzilen Apni Jagah Hai'' from ''Sharaabi'' (1984) and ''Chalte Chalte Mere Ye Geet'' from ''Chalte Chalte'' (1976), ''Saason Se Nahi Kadmose Nahi'' from ''Mohabbat'' in (1987) and duets with (Lata Mangeshkar)) like ''Taa thaiya'' from ''Himmatwala'' in (1984), ''Albela Mausam'' from ''Tohfa'' in (1985) and another duet ''Pyar Ka Tohfa'' from the same film.

During the Indian Emergency (1975–1977), Sanjay Gandhi asked Kishore Kumar to sing for an Indian National Congress rally in Mumbai, but Kishore Kumar refused. As a result, the government put an unofficial ban on playing Kishore Kumar songs on the All India Radio or television.

Later years

Kishore Kumar produced and directed some movies in the late 1970s and early 1980s, such as ''Badhti Ka Naam Daadhi'' (1978), ''Zindagi'' (1981) and ''Door Wadiyon Mein Kahin'' (1980). His last appearance as an actor was in ''Door Wadiyon Mein Kahin''.

With patronage from R. D. Burman and Rajesh Roshan, Kishore Kumar's son Amit Kumar also became a Bollywood singer in the 1980s. Kishore Kumar also continued singing for several actors. He also did some stage shows, apparently to earn money to pay his income tax arrears.

Kishore Kumar stopped singing for Amitabh Bachchan in the mid-1980s, after Bachchan did not do a guest appearance in a film produced by him but called a truce with him by singing for him in ''Toofan''. He also temporarily stopped singing for Mithun Chakraborty, after Yogeeta Bali divorced him and married Chakraborty. However, later Kumar sang for him in many films like ''Disco Dancer'', ''Muddat'', and ''Pyar Ka Mandir''.

In the mid-1980s, Kishore Kumar sang for Anil Kapoor in Kapoor's debut film as a leading man, ''Woh Saat Din'' and also recorded ''Mr. India''. He sang a duet with Alka Yagnik, ''Tumse Badhkar Duniya Mein Na Dekha'' for ''Kaamchor'' in (1986). He also recorded some songs for the film ''Saagar'' with R. D. Burman. By this time, he had decided to retire and was planning to go back to his birthplace, Khandwa.

On 13 October 1987, he died of a heart attack in Mumbai at 4:45 pm. His body was taken to Khandwa for cremation. He had recorded his last song a day before he died. The song was ''Guru Guru'', a duet with Asha Bhosle, for the film ''Waqt Ki Aawaz'' (1988) composed by Bappi Lahiri for Mithun Chakraborty and Sridevi.

Kishore Kumar's song ''Pal Bhar Ke Liye'' from the film ''Johny Mera Naam'' (1970) was used in an episode of ''The Simpsons'' titled "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bangalore". His songs have also been featured in several films, including ''Such a Long Journey'' (1998) and ''Side Streets'' (1998). Sony TV organised the television singing contest ''K for Kishore'' to search for a singer like Kishore Kumar.

Personal life

Kishore Kumar married four times. His first wife was Ruma Guha Thakurta aka Ruma Ghosh. Their marriage lasted from 1950 to 1958.

Kishore's second wife was actress Madhubala, who had worked with him on many films including his home production ''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'' (1958). When Kishore Kumar proposed to her, Madhubala was sick and was planning to go to London for treatment. At this time, she didn't know that she had a ventricular septal defect, and her father wanted her to wait and consult the London doctors first. Nevertheless, Madhubala married Kishore in 1960. Madhubala was a Muslim, and the two had a civil marriage. Kishore converted to Islam and took the name Karim Abdul. The doctors in London told Madhubala that she would not live for long. The marriage lasted for nine years, and ended with Madhubala's death on 23 February 1969.

Kishore Kumar's third marriage was to Yogeeta Bali, and lasted from 1976 to 4 August 1978. Kishore was married to Leena Chandavarkar from 1980 until his death. Kishore Kumar sired two sons, Amit Kumar (playback singer) with Ruma, and Sumit Kumar with Leena Chandavarkar.

Kumar is said to have been paranoid about not being paid. During recordings, he would sing only after his secretary confirmed that the producer had made the payment. Once, when he discovered that his dues hadn't been fully paid, he landed up for shooting with make-up on only one side of his face. When the director questioned him, he replied "Aadha paisa to aadha make-up." (Half make-up for half payment). On the sets of ''Bhai Bhai'', Kishore Kumar refused to act because the director M V Raman owed him five thousand rupees. Ashok Kumar persuaded him to do the scene. But, when the shooting started, he walked across the floor and, each time he walked a few places, he said, ''Paanch Hazzar Rupaiya'' (five thousand rupees) and did a somersault. After he reached the end of the floor, he went out of the studio, jumped into his car, and ordered his driver Abdul to drive away. On another occasion, when producer R. C. Talwar did not pay his dues in spite of repeated reminders, Kishore turned up at Talwar's residence one morning and started shouting "''Hey Talwar, de de mere aath hazaar''" ("Hey Talwar, give me my eight thousand"). He did this every morning until Talwar paid him.

The film ''Anand'' (1971) was originally supposed to star Kishore Kumar and Mehmood Ali in the lead. Hrishikesh Mukherjee, the director of the film, was asked to meet Kishore Kumar to discuss the project. However, when he went to Kishore Kumar's house, he was driven away by the gatekeeper due to a misunderstanding. Kishore Kumar (himself a Bengali) hadn't been paid for a stage show organized by another Bengali man, and had instructed his gatekeeper to drive away this "Bengali", if he ever visited the house. When Hrishikesh Mukherjee (also a Bengali) went to Kishore Kumar's house, the gatekeeper drove him away, mistaking him for the "Bengali" that Kishore Kumar had asked him to drive away. Consequently, Mehmood had to leave the film as well, and new actors (Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan) were signed up for the film.

In spite of his "no money, no work" principle, sometimes Kishore Kumar recorded for free even when the producers were willing to pay. Such films include those produced by Rajesh Khanna and Danny Denzongpa. On one occasion, Kishore Kumar helped actor-turned-producer Bipin Gupta, by giving him Rs. 20,000 for the film ''Dal Mein Kala'' (1964). When actor Arun Kumar Mukherjee died, Kishore Kumar regularly sent money to his family in Bhagalpur. Mukherjee was one of the first persons to appreciate Kishore's singing talent.

Many journalists and writers have written about Kishore Kumar's seemingly eccentric behavior. Kishore Kumar had put a "''Beware of Kishore''" sign at the door of his Warden Road flat, where he stayed for some time while his bungalow was being done up. Once, producer-director H. S. Rawail, who owed him some money, visited his flat to pay the dues. Kishore Kumar took the money, and when Rawail offered to shake hands with him, he reportedly put Rawail's hand in his mouth, bit it, and asked "Didn’t you see the sign?". Rawail laughed off the incident and left quickly. Kishore Kumar was a loner, and in an interview with Pritish Nandy (1985), he said that he had no friends – he preferred talking to his trees instead. Once, when a reporter made a comment about how lonely he must be, Kishore Kumar took her to his garden. He then named some of the trees in his garden, and introduced them to the reporter as his closest friends.

According to another reported incident, once Kishore Kumar was to record a song for producer-director G. P. Sippy. As Sippy approached his bungalow, he saw Kishore going out in his car. Sippy pleaded him to stop his car, but Kishore only increased the speed of his car. Sippy chased him to Madh Island, where Kishore Kumar finally stopped his car near the ruined Madh Fort. When Sippy questioned his strange behavior, Kishore Kumar refused to recognize or talk to him and threatened to call police. Sippy had to return. Next morning, Kishore Kumar reported for the recording. An angry Sippy questioned him about his behavior on the previous day. However, Kishore Kumar insisted that Sippy must have seen a dream, and claimed that he was in Khandwa on the previous day.

Once, a producer went to court to get a decree that Kishore Kumar must follow the director's orders. As a consequence, Kishore Kumar obeyed the director to the letter. He refused to alight from his car until the director ordered him to do so. Once, after a car scene in Mumbai, he drove on till Khandala because the director forgot to say "Cut". In the 1960s, a financier named Kalidas Batvabbal, patently disgusted with Kishore Kumar's alleged lack of cooperation during the shooting of ''Half Ticket'', gave him away to the income tax authorities. Kishore had to face a raid at his house. Later, Kishore invited Batvabbal home, tricked him by asking him to enter a cupboard for a "chat" and locked him inside. He unlocked Batvabbal after two hours and told him "Don’t ever come to my house again."

Awards

; Filmfare Awards

Winner:

! Year	! Song	! Film	! Music director	! Lyricist
1969	''Roop tera mastaana''		Sachin Dev Burman	Anand Bakshi
1975	''Dil aisa kisi ne Mera''	''Amanush''	Shyamal Mitra	Indeevar
1978	''Khaike Pan Banaras Wala''		Kalyanji-Anandji	Anjaan
1980	''Hazaar raahen mudke dekheen''	''Thodisi Bewafaii''	Khayyam	Gulzar
1982	''Pag ghungroo baandh ke meera nachi''	''Namak Halaal''	Bappi Lahiri	Anjaan
1983	''Hamen aur jeene ki''	''Agar Tum Na Hote''	Rahul Dev Burman	Gulshan Bawra
1984	''Manzilen apni jagah''	''Sharaabi''	Bappi Lahiri	Anjaan
1985	''Saagar Kinaare''	''Saagar''	Rahul Dev Burman	Javed Akhtar

Nominated:

! Year	! Song	! Film	! Music Director	! Lyricist
1971	''Zindagi Ek Safar''		Shankar-Jaikishan	Hasrat Jaipuri
1971	''Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai''	Kati Patang	Rahul Dev Burman	Anand Bakshi
1972	''Chingari Koi Bhadke''	Amar Prem	Rahul Dev Burman	Anand Bakshi
1973	''Mere Dil Mein Aaj''	''Daag: A Poem of Love''	Laxmikant-Pyarelal	Sahir Ludhianvi
1974	''Gaadi Bula Rahi Hai''	''Dost''	Laxmikant-Pyarelal	Anand Bakshi
1974	''Mera Jeevan Kora Kagaz''	''Kora Kagaz''	Kalyanji Anandji	M.G.Hashmat
1975	''Main Pyaasa Tum''	''Faraar''	Kalyanji Anandji	Rajendra Krishan
1975	''O Manjhi Re''		Rahul Dev Burman
1977	''Aap Ke Anurodh''	''Anurodh''	Laxmikant-Pyarelal	Anand Bakshi
1978	''O Saathi Re''	Muqaddar Ka Sikander	Kalyanji-Anandji	Anjaan
1978	''Hum Bewafa Harghiz''		Rahul Dev Burman	Anand Bakshi
1979	''Ek Rasta Hai Zindagi''	''Kaala Patthar''	Rajesh Roshan	Sahir Ludhianvi
1980	''Om Shanthi Om''		Laxmikant-Pyarelal	Anand Bakshi
1981	''Hameh Tumse Pyar''	''Kudrat''	Rahul Dev Burman	Majrooh Sultanpuri
1981	''Chhookar Mere Mann Ko''		Rajesh Roshan	Anjaan
1983	''Shayad Meri Shaadi''	''Souten''	Usha Khanna	Sawan Kumar
1984	''De De Pyar De''	Sharaabi	Bappi Lahiri	Anjaan
1984	''Inteha Ho Gayi''	Sharaabi	Bappi Lahiri	Anjaan
1984	''Log Kehete Hai Main''	Sharaabi	Bappi Lahiri	Anjaan

; Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards

Winner: 1971 - Best Male Playback Singer for ''Aradhana'' 1972 - Best Male Playback Singer for ''Andaz'' 1973 - Best Male Playback Singer for ''Hare Rama Hare Krishna'' 1975 - Best Male Playback Singer for ''Kora Kagaz''

See also

Kishore Kumar filmography

List of Indian playback singers

Hindi songs

References

Further reading

External links

Category:1929 births Category:1987 deaths Category:Bengali people Category:People from Khandwa Category:Indian male singers Category:Indian actors Category:Indian film actors Category:Indian film singers Category:Cardiovascular disease deaths in India Category:Indian comedians Category:Bollywood playback singers Category:Yodelers Category:Bengali musicians Category:Bengali actors Category:Assamese playback singers Category:Indian former Muslims Category:People from Mumbai Category:Hindi film actors Category:Hindi-language film directors Category:Indian film directors Category:Indian film producers

bn:কিশোর কুমার de:Kishore Kumar es:Kishore Kumar fr:Kishore Kumar hi:किशोर कुमार ml:കിഷോർ കുമാർ mr:किशोर कुमार ne:किशोर कुमार sd:ڪشور ڪمار Kishore Kumar sv:Kishore Kumar te:కిషోర్ కుమార్ ur:کشور کمار

name	Asha Bhosle
background	solo_singer
birth name	Asha Mangeshkar
born	September 08, 1933Sangli, Bombay Presidency, British India
genre	Pop, folk, Indian classical music
occupation	Singer, playback singer
years active	1943–present }}

Asha Bhosle () (born September 8, 1933) is an Indian singer. She is one of the best-known and highly regarded Hindi playback singers in India, although she has a much wider repertoire. Her career started in 1943 and has spanned over six decades. She has done playback singing for over 1000 Bollywood movies. She has recorded many private albums and has participated in numerous concerts in India and abroad. Bhosle is the sister of playback singer Lata Mangeshkar.

Renowned for her voice range and often credited for her versatility, Bhosle's work includes film music, pop, ghazals, bhajans, traditional Indian Classical music, folk songs, qawwalis, Rabindra Sangeets and Nazrul Geetis. She has sung Hindi, Assamese, Urdu, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Tamil, Kannada, English, Russian, Czech, Nepali, Malay, Sinhala and Malayalam.

In 2006, Asha Bhosle stated that she had sung over 12,000 songs, a figure repeated by several other sources. The World Records Academy, an international organization which certifies world records, recognized her as the "Most Recorded Artist" in the world, in September 2009. The Government of India honoured her with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008.

Biography

Asha Bhosle was born in the small hamlet of Goar in Sangli, Bombay Presidency (now in Maharashtra), into the musical family of Master Deenanath Mangeshkar, who belongs to Gomantak Maratha Samaj. Her father was a theater actor and classical singer. When she was nine years old, her father died. The family moved from Pune to Kolhapur and then to Mumbai. She and her elder sister Lata Mangeshkar began singing and acting in films to support their family. She sang her first film song ''Chala Chala Nav Bala'' for the Marathi movie ''Majha Bal'' (1943). The music for the film was composed by Datta Dawjekar. She made her Hindi film debut when she sang the song ''Saawan Aaya'' for Hansraj Behl's ''Chunariya'' (1948). Her first solo Hindi film song was for the movie ''Raat Ki Raani'' (1949).

At the age of 16, she eloped with 31-year-old Ganpatrao Bhosle, marrying him against her family's wishes. Ganpatrao was Lata's personal secretary. The marriage failed miserably. Her husband and in-laws mistreated her. After a few years of marriage, Asha was turned out (around 1960) by a suspicious Ganpatrao and she went to her maternal home with two children and pregnant with her third child. She continued to sing in films to earn money.

At that time, prominent playback singers like Geeta Dutt, Shamshad Begum and Lata Mangeshkar monopolized the singing for the female lead and the big films, whilst Asha used to get the assignments they refused: singing for the bad girls and vamps, or songs in the second-grade movies. In the 1950s, she sang more songs than most playback singers in Bollywood (not counting Lata). Most of these were in low budget B or C-grade films. Her earliest songs were composed by A R Qureshi, Sajjad Hussain and Ghulam Mohammed, most of which failed to do well. Singing in Dilip Kumar-starrer ''Sangdil'' (1952), composed by Sajjad Hussain, she got reasonable recognition. Consequently, film director Bimal Roy gave her a chance to sing in ''Parineeta'' (1953). Raj Kapoor signed her to sing ''Nanhe Munne Bachche'' with Mohammed Rafi in ''Boot Polish'' (1954), which gained popularity.

O. P. Nayyar gave Asha a break in C.I.D. (1956). She first achieved success in B. R. Chopra's ''Naya Daur'' (1957), composed by him. Her duets with Rafi like ''Maang ke saath tumhara'', ''Saathi haath badhana'' and ''Uden jab jab zulfein teri'', penned by Sahir Ludhianvi earned her recognition. It was the first time that she had got to sing all the songs for the lead actress. B R Chopra recognized her talent and got her to sing in many of his later films including ''Waqt'', ''Gumraah'', Humraaz, ''Aadmi Aur Insaan'' and ''Dhund''. Nayyar's collaboration with Bhosle also produced many hits. Gradually, she established herself and received patronage of composers such as Sachin Dev Burman and Ravi. Bhosle and Nayyar had a professional and personal parting of ways in the 1970s.

In 1966, Asha's performance in the duets from music director R D Burman's first successful movie, ''Teesri Manzil'' won popular acclaim. When Asha first listened to the tune of the song ''Aaja Aaja'', she had felt that she would not be able to sing the Western dance number. R D Burman offered to change the music. She was offended a bit and took it as a challenge to sing the song. After rehearsing for 10 days, when she finally sang the song, an impressed R D Burman handed her a 100-rupee note. ''Aaja Aaja'' and other songs of the film, ''O Haseena Zulfonwali'' and ''O Mere Sona Re'' (all three duets with Rafi, another popular Bollywood singer), became rage of the day. Shammi Kapoor, the actor of the movie, once said – "If I did not have Mohammad Rafi to sing for me, I would have got Asha Bhosle to do the job". Asha's collaboration with R D Burman resulted in numerous hits and a marriage. In 1960s and 1970s, she became the voice of Bollywood's dancer, Helen. It is said that Helen would attend her recording sessions so that she could understand the song better and plan dance steps accordingly. Some of the most popular Asha Bhosle-Helen numbers are ''Piya Tu Ab To Aaja'' (''Caravan''), ''O Haseena Zulfon Wali'' (''Teesri Manzil''), and ''Yeh Mera Dil'' (''Don'').

By the 1980s, Asha Bhosle had been stereotyped as a "cabaret singer" and a "pop crooner". In Rekha-starrer ''Umrao Jaan'', she proved her versatility by singing ghazals like ''Dil cheez kya hai'', ''In aankhon ki masti ke'', ''Ye kya jagah hai doston'' and ''Justju jiski thi''. The film's music director Khayyam, had lowered her pitch by half a note. Asha herself was surprised that she could sing so differently. The ghazals won her the first National Award of her career. A few years later, she won another National Award for the song ''Mera Kuchh Saamaan'' from ''Ijaazat'' (1987).

In 1995, the 62-year-old sung for actress Urmila Matondkar in the movie ''Rangeela''. The soundtrack featured songs like ''Tanha Tanha'' and ''Rangeela Re'' sung by her, and composed by music director A. R. Rahman, who went on to record many more songs with her.

In 2005, 72-year-old Asha's numbers for the Tamil film ''Chandramukhi'' and the pop song ''Lucky Lips'' for Salman Khan-starrer ''Lucky'' were chartbusters. Some of the other popular Tamil songs sung by her are ''Oh! Butterfly'', ''September Maadham'' and ''Vennila Vennila''.

In October 2004, ''The Very Best of Asha Bhosle, The Queen of Bollywood'', a compilation album of songs recorded by Bhosle for albums and Bollywood films that were released between 1966 & 2003, was released.

It has been 70 years since Asha Bhosle began singing for movies, but in 2011, she will finally star in her first film "Maaee." The movie will begin filming in April and is scheduled to premiere in June.

Partnership with music directors

;O.P. Nayyar

Music director O. P. Nayyar's association with Asha is part of Bollywood lore. He was the composer who first gave Asha her own identity. Many people have speculated about a romantic relationship between the two.

Nayyar first met Asha in 1952, at the music recording of ''Chham Chhama Chham''. He first called her for a film called ''Mangu'' (1954), and gave her a big break in ''CID'' (1956). However, it was the success of ''Naya Daur'' (1957), that made the duo very popular. After 1959, she was emotionally and professionally involved with Nayyar.

The team of O.P. Nayyar and Asha Bhosle is best remembered for their breezy and sometimes sirenish songs. Some good examples of their sensuous numbers are ''Aaiye meherbaan'' picturised on Madhubala (''Howrah Bridge'', 1958) and ''Yeh hai reshmi zulfon ka andhera'' picturised on Mumtaz (''Mere Sanam'', 1965). They also recorded songs for many hit movies like ''Tumsa Nahin Dekha'' (1957), ''Howrah Bridge'' (1958), ''Ek Musafir Ek Hasina'' (1962), ''Kashmir Ki Kali'' (1964), ''Aao huzur tumko'' (''Kismat'') and ''Jaaiye aap kahan'' (''Mere Sanam''). O.P. Nayyar used the Asha Bhosle-Mohammad Rafi duo for his most popular duets such as ''Ude jab jab zulfein teri'' (''Naya Daur''), ''Main pyaar ka rahi hoon'' (''Ek Musafir Ek Haseena''), ''Deewana Hua Baadal'' and ''Ishaaron hi isharon mein'' (''Kashmir Ki Kali'').

Asha recorded her last song for O.P. Nayyar in the movie ''Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye'' (1974). The solo number ''Chain se'' got many awards, but it was not included in the movie.

They split on August 5, 1972. It is not clear what made them part their ways. On being asked the reason for their parting, O P Nayyar once said, "I know astrology very well. I knew that one day I had to part with her. Something also happened, that upset me, so I left her." Nevertheless, he also said "...now that I am seventy-six, I can say that the most important person in my life was Asha Bhosle. She was the best person I ever met."

The parting of Asha Bhosle and O.P. Nayyar was bitter, and probably therefore she has hesitated to give Nayyar his due. While talking about O.P. Nayyar in an interview with The Times of India, she once remarked - "Whichever composer gave me work, it was because my voice was suited to his music at that point. No ''one'' musician did me any favor by asking me to sing for him." She gives the credit for her first big break to B. R. Chopra, the producer of ''Naya Daur''.

;Khayyam Another music director who recognized Asha's talent early was Khayyam. Their partnership dates back to his first movie ''Biwi'' (1948). Khayyam gave her some good assignments in the 1950s, including ''Dard'' and ''Phir Subah Hogi''. But the team is chiefly remembered for the songs of ''Umrao Jaan''.

;Ravi Music composer Ravi considered Asha one of his favorite singers. She sang for his first movie ''Vachan'' (1955). The melodious lullaby from the movie, ''Chandamama door ke'' became an overnight hit among young mothers in India. Ravi got her to sing bhajans for the movies ''Gharana'', ''Grihasti'', ''Kajal'' and ''Phool Aur Patthar'', at a time when most of the composers remembered her only when they needed to record B-grade songs picturized on the vamps or the side-heroines. Ravi and Asha recorded a variety of songs, including the popular funny duet with Kishore Kumar - ''C A T...Cat maane billi'' (''Dilli Ka Thug''). The bhajan ''Tora man darpan'' (''Kajal'') is considered one of Asha's best songs.

They also recorded songs for many popular movies like ''Waqt'', ''Chaudhvin Ka Chand'', ''Gumrah'', ''Bahu Beti'', ''China Town'', ''Aadmi Aur Insaan'', ''Dhund'' and ''Humraaz''. For ''Chaudhvin Ka Chand'', Ravi wanted Geeta Dutt (the wife of actor and producer Guru Dutt) to sing the songs. But when she backed out, Guru Dutt insisted that Asha sing the songs.

;Sachin Dev Burman One of Bollywood's most famous composers, Sachin Dev Burman and his favorite singer, Lata Mangeshkar, were not on good terms from 1957 to 1962. During this period, S D Burman used Asha as his lead female voice. She and Burman gave many hit songs in movies such as ''Kaala Pani'', ''Kaala Bazaar'', ''Insaan Jaag Utha'', ''Lajwanti'', ''Sujata'' and ''Teen Deviyaan'' (1965). They recorded many songs together after 1962 as well. Most famous of these songs were Asha's duets with Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar. The song ''Ab ke baras'' in Bimal Roy's Bandini (1963) consolidated her position as a lead singer. The seductive song ''Raat Akeli Hai'' from Jewel Thief (1967), picturised on Tanuja, became very popular.

;Rahul Dev Burman (Pancham) Asha first met Rahul Dev Burman (a.k.a. "Pancham") when she was the mother of two and he was in 10th grade having dropped out to pursue music. Their partnership was first noticed in ''Teesri Manzil'' (1966). She went on to record a variety of songs with him - cabarets, rock, disco, ghazals and Indian classical music.

In the 1970s, Asha and Pancham's youthful Western songs took Bollywood music by storm - the raunchy cabaret ''Piya tu ab to aaja'' (''Caravan'', picturized on Helen), the rebellious ''Dum Maro Dum'' ('' Hare Rama Hare Krishna'', 1971), the sexy ''Duniya mein'' (''Apna Desh'', 1972) and the romantic ''Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne'' (''Yaadon Ki Baaraat'', 1973). Pancham also recorded many hit duets with Asha and Kishore Kumar such as ''Jaane jaan'' (''Jawani Diwani'') and ''Bhali bhali si ek soorat'' (''Buddha Mil Gaya'').

In 1980s, Pancham and Asha recorded subtle numbers for films like ''Ijaazat'' (1987)- ''Mera kuch saaman'', ''Khaali haath shaam aayi hai'' and ''Katra Katra''. They also recorded the popular duet ''O Maria'' (''Saagar'').

Asha used to call R D Burman "Bubs". She married him in 1980. Their partnership lasted until his death.

R D Burman made her sing some of the most legendary songs in Bengali language as well, namely ''Mohuyae Jomechhe Aaj mou go'',''Chokhe Chokhe kotha bolo'' ''Chokhhe naame brishti''(Bengali version of ''Jaane Kya Baat hai''), ''Baanshi sune ki ghore thaka jaye'',''Sondhya Belae tumi aami'' and ''Aaj Gungun gun gunje amar'' (Bengali version of ''Pyaar Deewana hota hai'').

;Ilaiyaraaja Prolific south Indian film composer Ilaiyaraaja began employing Asha's vocals in the early 1980s, their earliest collaboration being for the film ''Moondram Pirai'' (1982) (remade in Hindi as ''Sadma'' in 1983). Their association continued, mostly through the latter half of the 1980s and early 1990s. Another notable song from this period is ''Shenbagamae'' (''Enga Ooru Paattukkaaran'', 1987, Tamil). In 2000, Asha sung the theme song for Kamal Haasan's political film ''Hey Ram''. The song, ''Nee Partha Parvai'' (''Janmon Ki Jwala'' in Hindi) (or Aparna's Theme), was a duet with singer Hariharan.

;A. R. Rahman A. R. Rahman is credited with Asha's 'comeback' with ''Rangeela'' (1994). Songs like ''Tanha Tanha'' and ''Rangeela Re'' were chartbusters. She and Rahman went on to record more hits like ''Mujhe Rang De'' (''Thakshak''), ''Radha Kaise Na Jale'' (''Lagaan'', duet with Udit Narayan), ''Kahin Aag Lage'' (''Taal''), ''O Bhanware'' (''Daud'', duet with K. J. Yesudas), ''Venilla Venilla'' (''Iruvar'',1999) and ''Dhuan Dhuan'' (''Meenaxi'',2004).

;Jaidev When S D Burman's assistant Jaidev started giving music independently, he got Asha to sing some of his songs as well. They worked in ''Hum Dono'' (1961), ''Mujhe Jeene Do'' (1963), ''Do Boond Pani'' (1971) and other movies. In 1971, the pair released an LP of eight non-film devotional songs and ghazals called ''An Unforgettable Treat''. Asha considered Jaidev a close friend who stood by her when she was struggling personally and professionally. Upon his death in 1987, she released a compilation album of lesser-known songs he had composed for her, called ''Suranjali''.

;Shankar-Jaikishan Shankar-Jaikishan worked relatively little with Asha. However, the trio produced quite a few hits including the seductive ''Parde mein rehne do'' (''Shikar'', 1968). Asha got her second Filmfare Award for the song. She also sang ''Zindagi ek safar hai suhaana'' (''Andaz'') for Shankar-Jaikishan, in which she tried to yodel like Kishore Kumar, whose version of the song is more better known. When Raj Kapoor was not on speaking terms with Lata Mangeshkar, Asha got to sing the songs of Mera Naam Joker (1970), composed by Shankar-Jaikishan.

;Anu Malik Composer Anu Malik and Asha have recorded many hit songs together, including songs for his first movie ''Sohni Mahiwal'' (1984). Their most popular songs include ''Filhaal'' (''Filhaal'') and ''Kitabein bahut si'' (''Baazigar'') among others. The four lines sung by Asha in Malik's ''Jab dil mile'' (''Yaadein'') stood out among voices of Sukhwinder Singh, Udit Narayan and Sunidhi Chauhan. Asha had also sung for Anu's father Sardar Malik in the 1950s and 1960s, most notably in ''Saranga'' (1960).

;Other Composers Madan Mohan recorded a number of songs with Asha, including the popular folk number ''Jhumka Gira Re'' from ''Mera Saaya'' (1966). In ''Chhoti Si Baat'' (1975), Asha sang the ''Jaaneman Jaaneman'' number with K. J. Yesudas for Salil Chowdhury. Salil's 1956 movie ''Jagte Raho'' also had a number recorded by Asha, ''Thandi Thandi Saawan ki Phuhaar''. Another Asha patron is the young composer Sandeep Chowta, who got her to sing ''Kambakht Ishq'', a duet with Sonu Nigam for the movie ''Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya''(2001). The song gained major popularity among the Indian youth.

Asha has worked with Lata-patrons like Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Naushad, Ravindra Jain, N Dutta and Hemant Kumar. When Naushad was asked to sum up the essential difference between Lata and Asha, he said that Asha "lacks certain something which Lata, and Lata alone has". Later he accepted in an interview, "May be I said it because I then had a closed ear on Asha". Naushad, later in his life, also admitted that he has been unfair to Asha. Asha has also worked with other noted Bollywood composers like Jatin-Lalit, Bappi Lahiri, Kalyanji-Anandji, Usha Khanna, Chitragupt, and Roshan.

Non-Bollywood music

Private albums

In a rare feat, noted lyricist Gulzar, music director R.D. Burman and Asha Bhosle, came together in 1987, to create a double album, titled, ''Dil Padosi Hai'', which was released on September 8, 1987. In 1995, Asha underwent the ''gatha bandan'' (thread-tying) ceremony with Hindustani classical music maestro Ali Akbar Khan to learn a classical repertoire held within the Maihar ''gharana'' (stylistic school of Indian classical music), as handed down to Khan by his father Allauddin Khan (the guru of Ravi Shankar). Later, Asha and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan recorded eleven fixed compositions (or ''bandish''es) in California for ''Legacy'', a private album that earned them a Grammy Award nomination.

In 1990s, Asha experimented with remixed R D Burman songs. She was criticized by many, including Khayyam for tampering with old melodies. Nevertheless, albums like ''Rahul And I'' became quite popular. In 1997, Asha did a private Indipop album ''Janam Samjha Karo'' with Leslie Lewis. The album was hugely popular and won her many awards including the 1997 MTV Award.

Asha had been once asked by director B R Ishaara to compose music for one of his films, but she had politely declined. In 2002, she turned music composer with the album ''Aap Ki Asha'', an eight-song music and video album. The lyrics were written by Majrooh Sultanpuri (his last lyrics). The album was released by Sachin Tendulkar on May 21, 2001 at a lavish party in Mumbai. The album received mixed reviews.

Asha had spotted Pakistani singer Adnan Sami's talent when he was about 10 years old. At that time, she was performing in London, with R D Burman. It was she who had asked him to pursue his interests in music seriously. When Adnan grew up and became a professional musician, Asha sang the title duet with him for his best-selling album ''Kabhi to nazar milao''. The two came together again in the album ''Barse Badal''. The album comprises eight songs, based on Indian Classical music. She contributed the song ''Yun Na Thi'' to the recording ''Womad Talking Book Volume Four: An Introduction to Asia 1'' on Womad Records.

Asha has sung ghazals for many albums like ''Meraj-E-Ghazal'', ''Aabshar-E-Ghazal'' and ''Kashish''. In 2005, Asha released a self-titled album as a tribute to the four ghazal maestros - Mehdi Hassan, Ghulam Ali, Farida Khanum and Jagjit Singh. The album features eight of her favorite ghazals like Farida Khanum’s ''Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo'', Ghulam Ali’s ''Chupke Chupke'', ''Aawargi'' and ''Dil Mein Ek Lahar'', Jagjit Singh’s ''Ahista Ahista'' and Mehdi Hassan’s ''Ranjish Hi Sahi'', ''Rafta Rafta'' and ''Mujhe Tum Nazar Se''. These classic ghazals were recreated with modern sounds by musician Pandit Somesh Mathur. The album was aimed at the younger generation, who, according to Asha, are "turned off" by the traditional sounds of tabla and sarangi.

Numerous compilations of Asha's songs have been released as well. To commemorate her 60th birthday, EMI India released three cassettes: ''Bala Main Bairagan Hoongi'' (devotional songs), ''The Golden Collection: Memorable Ghazals'' (non-film ghazals by composers such as Ghulam Ali, R D Burman and Nazar Hussain), and ''The Golden Collection: The Ever Versatile Asha Bhosle'' (44 popular film songs).

In 2006, she recorded an album ''Asha and Friends'', singing duets, with film actors Sanjay Dutt and Urmila Matondkar and famous cricket player Brett Lee, with whom she sang, You're the One for Me (''Haan Main Tumhara Hoon''). All these songs composed by Shamir Tandon were shot on video by journalist turned director S Ramachandran.

Concerts and collaborations with foreign artists

In 1980s and 1990s, Asha went globe-trotting, staging concerts in Canada, Dubai, UK, U.S. and many other countries. In 1989, during a world tour, she performed in 13 US cities in 20 days. Immediately after this, she had an already sold-out concert scheduled in Stockholm, Sweden. Due to the stressful schedule, Asha suffered a massive attack of colitis, together with fever, cough and weakness. In Stockholm, a pre-concert crisis meeting was called, attended by Asha's son (and manager) Anand and the sponsors. It was decided that the orchestra will play many instrumental tracks, the accompanying singers like Suresh Wadkar will shoulder the load, and Asha will make a small appearance. But Asha rejected all such proposals, and sang at the concert with great difficulty, in a not-so-good voice. Her first set of six Bollywood songs did not receive any response from the audience, which consisted mostly of Indian and Pakistani expats. Before the start of the second set of songs, a fan in the crowd requested her to sing a Marathi song. Asha obliged and sang ''Naach-naachuni ati mi damale'' ("I'm very tired of this endless dancing"). When the song ended, the auditorium erupted with claps and the encores started. After the concert, Asha was in bed for a month, recuperating from overexertion. In October 2002, she did a concert with Sudesh Bhosle and others, in London, for "Help the Aged" to help raise funds for the elderly in India. In 2007 she toured the USA, Canada, and West Indies in a tour called "The Incredibles". In this tour, she was accompanied by singers Sonu Nigam, Kunal Ganjawala and Kailash Kher. This tour, originally scheduled for only 12 concerts, went on to hold more than 20.

In the mid-1980s, Asha sang with Boy George (''Bow down mister'') and Stephen Lauscombe. In 1997, she sang a love song with the boy band Code Red, at the age of 64. She also recorded the song ''The Way you Dream'' (One Giant Leap, ) with Michael Stipe that was used in the English movie, ''Bulletproof Monk''. The song was also released on the album 1 Giant Leap for 2002.

In 1997, the British band Cornershop paid tribute to Asha with their song ''Brimful of Asha'', an international hit which was later remixed by Fatboy Slim. In 2001, the CD single of Nelly Furtado's "I'm Like A Bird" included a "Nellie vs. Asha Remix" created by Digital Cutup Lounge.

In 2003, British opera pop singer Sarah Brightman sampled her song "Dil Cheez Kya Hai" on her album ''Harem''. It was used as the intro for her song "You Take My Breath Away".

In 2005, American string quartet Kronos Quartet re-recorded R D Burman compositions like ''Chura Liya'', ''Piya Tu'', ''Mera Kuchh Saaman'' among others and got Asha to sing them. Despite her age, she recorded three to four songs in a day, leaving the quartet members stupefied. On August 23, 2005, ''You've stolen my heart - Songs From R D Burman's Bollywood'' was released in US. The album was nominated for Grammy Awards 2006 in the category of "Best Contemporary World Music Album". In the 1990s, a friend had introduced David Harrington of Kronos Quartet to the song ''Aaj ki raat''. Harrington was mesmerised, and the song ended up on the album ''Kronos Caravan''.

Also in 2005, The Black Eyed Peas sampled her songs "Ae Naujawan Sab Kuchh Yahan" (''Apradh'', 1972) and "Yeh Mera Dil Pyaar Ka Diwana" (''Don'', 1978) in their hit single "Don't Phunk with My Heart". In late 2006, Asha collaborated with Australian test cricket star, Brett Lee. The single, You're the One for Me, debuted at number 4 on the charts and reached a peak position of number 2.

In 2006 Asha recorded one song for the soundtrack of Pakistani movie ''Mein Ek Din Laut Kay Aaaonga''. She sang the song, titled ''Dil Key Taar Bajey'', with famous Pakistani pop singer Jawad Ahmed. It was aired as part of the film's promotional campaign and became very popular, featuring on top music charts.

Personal life

Asha's house is situated in Prabhukunj Apt on Peddar Road area of South Mumbai. She has three children and five grandchildren. The eldest of her three children, Hemant Bhosle (named after Hemant Kumar), spent most of his early years as a pilot and quit to have a brief career as a music director. Asha's daughter Varsha worked as a columnist for ''The Sunday Observer'' and ''Rediff''. Asha's youngest child, Anand Bhosle, has studied business and film direction. He manages Asha's career. Her grandson, Chaitanya (Chintu) Bhosle (Hemant's son) is a part of the world of music. He is a member of India's first & only boy band, "A Band of Boys". Her sisters Lata and Usha Mangeshkar are playback singers. Her other, sister Meena Mangeshkar and brother Hridayanath Mangeshkar are music directors.

Asha is an excellent cook and cooking is her favorite hobby. She often gets flooded with requests by Bollywood celebrities for ''kadai ghosht'' and ''biryani'' dishes and has rarely turned down a request. In fact, her ''paya curry'', ''Goan fish curry'' and ''dal'' are very popular with the Kapoor family of Bollywood. Once, when asked in a ''Times of India'' interview, what if her singing career had not taken off, she said "I would have become a cook. I'd have cooked in four houses and made money."

Asha is a successful restaurateur and runs restaurants in Dubai and Kuwait, called Asha's. Asha's offers traditional north-western Indian cuisine. It has a presence in the Wafi City development in Dubai, as well as three restaurants in Kuwait, at The Avenues Mall, the Marina Mall and a brand new third outlet at the Spoons Complex. Other restaurants can be found in Abu Dhabi's Khaldiya Mall, Doha's Villagio and Bahrain's City Center Mall, with future outposts planned for Dubai's Mall of the Emirates and Cairo, Egypt. Asha Bhosle has a 20% stake in the business. Asha is not involved in day-to-day running of the restaurant which is looked after by the Wafi Group. She takes care of the kitchen and the décor. She personally trained the chefs for almost six months. According to a December 2004 report in the Menu Magazine, Russell Scott, a former head of Harry Ramsden's (the fish and chips chain), secured the UK rights to the Asha's brand and planned to open up to 40 restaurants over the next five years. As part of her chain of restaurants, Asha has recently opened a new restaurant in Birmingham, UK.

Asha's fashion statement is white saree with sparkling embroidery, pearls around her neck and a touch of diamonds. Harrington said "The first time I met Ashaji she was dressed in the most beautiful sari with diamonds and looked very regal. Then I looked down and saw that she was wearing tennis shoes! I thought I love this woman."

Asha is a good mimicry artist as well. At a concert at World Trade Center in Dubai on April 22, 2004, she mimicked the song ''Kabhi To Nazar Milaao'' in the voices of Noor Jehan, Lata Mangeshkar and Ghulam Ali.

Nowadays, apart from singing and her restaurant, Asha is also working on her autobiography.

Rivalry with Lata Mangeshkar

Asha's sibling rivalry with Lata Mangeshkar is often talked about, in spite of their insistence that these are just tales. As young children, they were very close. As a child, Lata used to carry Asha all the time. They were so inseparable that when Lata went to school she would take Asha with her. One day the teacher protested and said that they cannot have two students on one fee. Lata refused to return to school without Asha and quit her studies.

Lata considered Asha's act of eloping with her lover as irresponsible, leaving her alone to sing and earn for the family. This led to tensions between them. Asha herself accepted in an interview — "It was a love marriage and Lata ''didi'' did not speak to me for a long time. She disapproved of the alliance." At one time, their relationship was very adversarial and there have been periods of non-communication.

In her initial days in the industry, Asha always played second fiddle to her elder sister. Some say that Lata had once criticised Asha's relationship with O. P. Nayyar. This widened the rift between the two sisters and O P Nayyar also decided that he would never work with Lata. O.P. Nayyar had once revealed "Asha and Lata, staying in opposite flats at Bombay's Peddar Road, had a common maidservant. Now this maidservant had merely to come and tell the younger sister that Lata had just recorded something wonderful for Asha to lose her vocal poise. Such was her Lata phobia that it took me some months to convince Asha that she had a voice individualistic enough to evolve a singing style all of her own." Asha once said that she has worked for years to create a voice and a style that was different from Lata, so that she could carve her own niche and not be banished to live in her sister's shadow.

Asha and Lata have also sung together. Their first duet was for the film ''Daman'' (1951). Some of their songs include ''Man Bhawan Ke Ghar aye'' (''Chori Chori'', 1956), ''Sakhi ri sun bole papihaa us paar'' (''Miss Mary'', 1957), ''O chaand jahaan woh jaaye'' (''Sharada'', 1957), ''Mere Mehboob Mein Kya Nahi'' (''Mere Mehboob'', 1963), ''Ai kash kisi deewane ko'' (''Aaye Din Bahar Ke'', 1966), ''Main Chali Main Chali'' (''Padosan'', 1968), ''Chhap tilak sab'' (''Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki'', 1978), and ''Man kyun behka'' (''Utsav'', 1984). While singing, Lata used to hold her notebook in her right hand, while Asha held hers in the left hand. This meant Lata had her face away from Asha, making it difficult for them to "anticipate" each other.

The movie ''Saaz'', was supposedly based on Lata and Asha's rivalry. Asha said about the movie — "To have two women in long plaits, take a couple of incidents and exaggerate them into a 3-hour film is such a waste of time." In the last few years, Asha and Lata have often been seen in public, enjoying each other's company. In an interview with ''The Times of India'', Asha once said - "I remember, sometimes both of us would be at a function and some industry types would ignore me and interact only with her, as if to prove their loyalty. Later, didi and I would have a good laugh!"

Awards

;Filmfare awards Asha Bhosle has won seven Filmfare Best Female Playback Awards of 18 nominations. She won her first two awards in 1967 and 1968. (Mangeshkar asked not to be considered for the award nominations after 1969 to promote new talent). After receiving the award in 1979, Bhosle emulated her elder sister and requested that her name not be considered for the nominations hereafter. Despite this, Bhosle is the most frequent winner of this award to date, tying with Alka Yagnik. She was later given a ''Special Award'' for ''Rangeela'' in 1996, and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. Following is the list of her Filmfare Awards:

Filmfare Best Female Playback Award:

1968: "Garibon ki Suno" (''Dus Lakh'', 1966)

1969: "Parde Mein Rehne Do" (''Shikar'', 1968)

1972: "Piya Tu Ab To Aaja" (''Caravan'', 1971)

1973: "Dum Maro Dum" (''Hare Rama Hare Krishna'', 1972)

1974: "Hone Lagi Hain Raat" (''Naina'', 1973)

1975: "Chain Se Humko Kabhi" (''Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye'', 1974)

1979: "Yeh Mera Dil" (''Don'', 1978)

Other Awards:

1996 - Special Award (''Rangeela'', 1995)

2001 - Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award

;National Film Awards Asha has won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer twice:

1981: ''Dil Cheez Kya Hai'' (''Umrao Jaan'')

1986: ''Mera Kuch Samaan'' (''Ijaazat'')

;Other awards Asha has won numerous other awards, including: 1987: Nightingale Of Asia Award (from the Indo–Pak Association, UK). 1989: Lata Mangeshkar Award (Government of Madhya Pradesh). 1997: Screen Videocon Award (for the album ''Jaanam Samajha Karo''). 1997: MTV Award (for the album ''Jaanam Samajha Karo''). 1997: Channel V Award (for the album ''Jaanam Samjha Karo''). 1998: Dayawati Modi Award.

1999: Lata Mangeshkar Award (Government of Maharashtra)

2000: Singer of the Millennium (Dubai).

2000: Zee Gold Bollywood Award (for ''Mujhe Rang De'' from ''Thakshak'').

2001: MTV Award (for ''Kambakht Ishq'').

2002: BBC Lifetime Achievement Award (presented by the UK Prime Minister Tony Blair).

2002: Zee Cine Award for Best Playback Singer - Female (for ''Radha Kaise Na Jale'' from ''Lagaan'').

2002: Zee Cine Special Award for Hall of Fame.

2002: Screen Videocon Award (for ''Radha Kaise Na Jale'' from ''Lagaan'').

2002: Sansui Movie Award (for ''Radha Kaise Na Jale'' from ''Lagaan'').

2003: Swaralaya Yesudas Award for outstanding contributions to Indian music. 2004: ''Living Legend Award'' by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 2005: MTV Immies, Best Female Pop Act for ''Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo''. 2005: Most Stylish People in Music.

;Honours and recognitions

In 1997, Asha became the first Indian singer to be nominated for the Grammy Award, for ''Legacy'', an album with Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.

She has received seventeen Maharashtra State Awards.

She received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2000 for her outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.

She holds honorary doctorates from the University of Amravati and University of Jalgaon in Literature.

She has received ''The Freddie Mercury Award'' for Outstanding Achievement in Arts.

The Birmingham Film Festival paid her a special tribute in November 2002.

She was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India. She was among top 20 music icons of the past 50 years.

Footnotes and references

Further reading

External links

Asha Bhosle: The Voice Of Bollywood And More - audio report by ''NPR''

Category:1933 births Category:Living people Category:Bengali-language singers Category:Bollywood playback singers Category:Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipients Category:English-language singers Category:Female guitarists Category:Gujarati-language singers Category:Hindi-language singers Category:Indian female singers Category:Indian film singers Category:Indian guitarists Category:Kollywood playback singers Category:Marathi-language singers Category:Marathi playback singers Category:Nepali-language singers Category:People from Maharashtra Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan Category:Russian-language singers Category:Tamil-language singers

bn:আশা ভোঁসলে de:Asha Bhosle es:Asha Bhosle fr:Asha Bhosle gu:આશા ભોંસલે hi:आशा भोंसले id:Asha Bhosle it:Asha Bhosle kn:ಆಶಾ ಭೋಂಸ್ಲೆ ml:ആശാ ഭോസ്‌ലേ mr:आशा भोसले ne:आशा भोसले pnb:آشا بھوسلے ru:Бхосле, Аша fi:Asha Bhosle sv:Asha Bhosle ta:ஆஷா போஸ்லே te:ఆశా భోస్లే

bgcolour	chocolate
name	Deepti Naval
birth date	February 03, 1957
birth place	Amritsar, India
occupation	Film actor, director
years active	1979–present
years active	1979 - present
spouse	Prakash Jha 1985 - 2002
website	http://www.deeptinaval.com/
tonyawards	}}

Deepti Naval (born 3 February 1957) is an acclaimed Indian actress. She has acted in over 75 Hindi films, and most often worked in arthouse and independent films, known as parallel cinema in India.

Early life

Born in Amritsar, Punjab, India. She went to the City University of New York and received her Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts at Hunter College in Manhattan.

Career

Deepti Naval started her film career with ''Junoon'' in 1978 and then she worked in ''Ek Baar Phir'' in 1980. She is known to be a sensitive actress and was a part of the art films and light films of the 80's. ''Saath Saath'' , ''Chashme Buddoor'' and ''Mirch Masala'' are some of her films from the era. She was often cast with ''Farooq Shaikh''. Though considered as talented as Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil she somehow did not achieve the same stature in terms of awards or memorable casts.

Once she moved out of lead roles, she portrayed character roles in mainstream Hindi films but was not satisfied with the roles she got and took a break. Of late she has made a comeback of sorts with films like ''Bawandar'' and ''Freaky Chakra''.

In April Naval was recognized as the 2007 Tribute Honoree of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles.

She is directing her first film as a director in ''Do Paise Ki Dhoop, Chaar Aane Ki Baarish'' which stars Manisha Koirala.

She published a collection of her Hindi poems in 1981, entitled 'LAMHA LAMHA'

She also starred in the critically acclaimed Punjabi film ''Marhi Da Diva'' (1989).

She is back in acting with a daily soap Mukti Bandhan in colors.

Personal life

Deepti Naval was at one time married to filmmaker and director Prakash Jha with whom she has an adopted daughter Disha. Naval was also once involved with actor Nana Patekar, and later engaged to Vinod Pandit before he died.

Filmography

Chronology of Deepti's work as an actress in various specific projects are listed below:

Memories in March - 2011

Bhindi Baazaar - 2011

Firaaq - 2008

Freaky Chakra - 2003

Anaahat Marathi - 2003

Muqammal - 2003

Leela - 2002

Shakti - The Power - 2002

Bawandar - 2001

Kabhi Pass Kabhi Fail - 1999

Kasak - 1999

Anant - 1999

Wings of Hope - 1999

Bombay Boys - 1998

Sautela Bhai - 1996

Love, Lust and Marriage - 1996

Guddu - 1995

Thoda Sa Aasmaan - 1995

Bollywood - 1994

Tanaav - 1994

Kehkashaan - 1993

Yalgaar - 1992

Jai Vikraanta - 1992

Current - 1992

Dushmani - 1991

Suryodaya - 1991

Laapata - 1991

Saudagar - 1991

Ek Ghar - 1991

Didi - 1990

Marhi Da Diva - 1989

Mane - 1989

Sungharsh - 1989

Umeed - 1989

Sauda - 1989

Ghar Ho To Aisa - 1988

Main Zinda Hoon - 1988

Aakhri Daao - 1988

Himalaya Darshan - 1988

Andhere - 1987

Faasle - 1985

Aurat Pair Ki Jooti Nahin - 1985

Mirch Masala - 1985

Apna Jahan - 1985

Begaana - 1985

Panchvati - 1985

Tere Sheher Mein - 1985

Kamla - 1985

Ankahi - 1985

Damul - 1985

Naseehat - 1984

Kanoon Kya Karega - 1984

Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho! - 1984

Wanted - 1984

Andhi Gali - 1984

Hip Hip Hurray - 1984

Rang Birangi - 1983

Holi - 1983

Yeh Ishq Naheen Aasaan - 1983

Kissi Se Na Kehna - 1983

Khamosh Nigahen - 1983

Chhaya - 1983

Ek baar Chale Aao - 1983

Katha - 1983

Partner - 1982

Angoor - 1982

Cricketer - 1982

Mein Aur Meriu Tanhai - 1982

''Shriman Shrimati'' - 1982

Aashiana (Jism Ka Rishta) - 1982

Saath Saath - 1982

Jaliaan Waalaa Bagh - 1982

Chashme Buddoor - 1981

Hum Paanch - 1981

Doosra Kinara - 1981

Humdard - 1981

Chirutha - 1980

''Hum Paanch'' - 1980 - Lajiya

''Ek Baar Phir'' - 1980 - Kalpana Kumar

Junoon - 1979

References

External links

Deepti Naval's own website

Naval,Deepti Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:Hindi film actors Category:Hunter College alumni Category:People from Amritsar

name	Jaya Pradha
birth date	April 03, 1962
years active	1974–present
constituency	Rampur
office	MP
term start	2004
predecessor	Noor Bano
party	Samajwadi Party [SP],Uttar Pradesh
religion	Hindu
occupation	Actress, Politician }}

Jaya Pradha ( born 3 April 1962) is an Indian film actress and politician.

Early life

Jaya Pradha was born Lalita Rani on 3 April 1962 in a middle-class family in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India. Her father Krishna Rao was a Telugu film financier. Her mother Neelavani enrolled her in dance and music classes at an early age

Film career

1970s

When she was fourteen years old, she performed a dance at her school's annual function. A film director was in the audience, and he offered her a three-minute dance number in the Telugu film ''Bhoomikosam''. She was hesitant, but her family encouraged her to accept it. She was paid only 10 rupees for her work in the film, but she also received much greater opportunities, as the rushes of those three minutes of film was shown to the major figures of the Telugu film industry, and the floodgates opened. Major filmmakers offered her starring roles in quality films, and she accepted them. She became a major star in 1976 with big hits. Famous director K. Balachander's black-and-white film ''Anthuleni Katha'' (1976) showcased her dramatic skills; K. Viswanath's color film ''Siri Siri Muvva'' (1976) showed her playing a mute with excellent dancing skills; and her title role as Sita in the big-budget mythological film ''Seetha Kalyanam'' confirmed her versatility. In 1977, she starred in ''Adavi Ramudu'', which broke box office records and which permanently cemented her star status. The song "Aaresukoboyi Paresukunnanu" picturized on her and co-star N.T. Rama Rao became a mass hit. In 1979, she acted in ''Ninaithale Inikkum'' opposite Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth in which she played a terminally-ill patient. She continued to act in more films in Telugu opposite major actors throughout the 70s. K. Viswanath remade ''Siri Siri Muvva'' (1976) in Hindi as ''Sargam'' introducing Jayaprada to Bollywood in 1979. The film became a huge hit and she became an overnight star there as well. She earned her first Filmfare nomination as Best Actress but couldn't capitalize on her success since she couldn't speak Hindi.

1980s

In 1981, she starred in the critically acclaimed ''47 Natkal''. Director K. Vishwanath relaunched her again in Hindi films, with the hit film ''Kaamchor'' where she spoke Hindi fluently for the first time. She was now able to consistently work in Hindi films and earn two more Filmfare nominations as Best Actress for playing Amitabh Bachchan's endearing girlfriend in Prakash Mehra's Sharaabi (1984) and for her challenging double role in K. Vishwanath's ''Sanjog''. ''Saagara Sangamam'' released in 1983 proved to be a milestone in her career, Starring Kamal Haasan, the film won her lot of accolades including Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telugu.

She earned fans, not just with the masses, but also with the great Indian director Satyajit Ray, who has said she was one of the prettiest women in the world. Although, she has acted in Bengali films, she has never worked for Ray. (She claimed that Ray had her in mind for a film, but his illness and subsequent death prevented their collaboration)

Jayaprada made a successful team, not just with Amitabh Bachchan and Jeetendra, but also with her immediate screen rival Sridevi, with whom she has acted in about a dozen films. Their hit Telugu film Devata (film) (1982) where they played sisters who made big sacrifices for each other, was remade into the hit Hindi film ''Tohfaa'' (1984). These films endeared Jayaprada to the traditional conservative section of filmgoers. It was an image that would serve her well when she started a new career as a politician.

In film Paatal Bhairavi, at the peak of her facial and physical beauty, Jayapradha plays the role of a princess in a magical kingdom. This performance became renowned as the supreme example of grand and classical beauty of South Indian women in Bollywood.

In 2002, she stepped into the Marathi film industry by being a guest in the movie ''Aadhaar''. Thus far, she acted in eight languages and has completed 300 films during a 30-year film career. She started playing mature roles in 2004.

She also owns the Jaya Prada Theater in Chennai.

Personal life

In 1986, she married producer Srikanth Nahata, who was already married to Chandra and had 3 children. Needless to say, this marriage stirred a lot of controversy, especially since Nahata did not divorce his current wife and had children with his first wife after marrying Jayaprada. Jayaprada and Srikanth have no children together, but she expressed desire to have children. Both Jaya Prada and her husband's first wife have cordially agreed to share a husband.

Political career

Jayaprada was initiated into the Telugu Desam Party by her former co-star N.T.Rama Rao in 1994. She later broke away from him and joined the Chandrababu Naidu faction of the party. She was nominated to the Rajya Sabha representing Andhra Pradesh in 1996.

Following differences with party Supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu, she left TDP to join Samajwadi Party and contested from Rampur parliamentary Constituency in UP during the last General election in 2004 and got elected. During her campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, she was issued a notice by the Election Commission for violating the code of conduct by distributing bindis to women in Rampur's Swar locality. On 11 May 2009, Jaya Prada alleged that senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan was distributing nude pictures of her. She was re-elected with a margin of more than 30,000 votes.

Jayaprada was expelled from the party on February 2, 2010 on the charge of indulging in activities inimical to its political interests and damaging its image.Jayaprada was accused by Samajwadi party members for infiltration into the party of capitalist and communal forces, which threatened to derail it from its Samajwadi moorings and damage its secular character.

Filmfare Awards & Nominations

; Won

Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telugu - ''Saagara Sangamam'' (1983)

Lifetime Achievement Award (South) (2007) ;Nominated

Best Actress - ''Sargam'' (1979)

Best Actress - ''Sharaabi'' (1985)

Best Actress - ''Sanjog'' (1986)

Other awards

Nandi Special Award for ''Anthuleni Katha'' (1976)

Kala Saraswati Award

Kinnera Savitri Award

Rajiv Gandhi Award

Nargis Dutt Gold Medal

Shakuntala Kala Rathnam Award

Uttam Kumar Award ANR Achievement Award (2008) Venus of Indian Cinema Award from TSR TV9 Film Awards (2011)

References

External links

#Jayaprada's biographical data

Other links

Dasavatharam (Ten Reincarnations): Jaya Prada, the evergreen Indian Actress charms once again

Category:Living people Jaya Prada Category:Indian Hindus Category:Tamil film actors Category:Hindi film actors Category:Indian politicians Category:Telugu people Category:Telugu cinema Category:Telugu actors Category:Telugu politicians Category:14th Lok Sabha members Category:Samajwadi Party politicians Category:Indian actor-politicians Category:15th Lok Sabha members Category:Non Malayali actors acted in Malayalam-language films Category:1962 births

hi:जयाप्रदा kn:ಜಯಪ್ರದಾ ml:ജയപ്രദ mr:जयाप्रदा ta:ஜெயபிரதா te:జయప్రద