Ameeta
Encyclopedia
Ameeta was a well known film actress in the 1950s and 1960s, appearing in Hindi films. Mainly a supporting actress and B grade leading lady, she had a brief period of A grade stardom in the late 1950s and early 1960s after playing prominent roles in successful films such as Tumsa Nahin Dekha
(1957), Goonj Uthi Shehnai
(1959) and Mere Mehboob
(1963).
and Madhubala
in films such as Munimji
(1955) and Shirin Farhad (1956).
Around this period Ameeta made a questionable choice in her fledgling career. She was approached by the legendary film maker, Mehboob Khan, to play a role in his much anticipated production, Mother India
(1957). The film had high expectations and had a stellar cast which included Nargis
, Sunil Dutt
, Rajendra Kumar
and Raaj Kumar
. It was being produced in Technicolor
, a rarity in India
then. The role Ameeta was approached for was as Rajendra Kumar
's sweetheart. It had already been rejected by Mala Sinha
and Ameeta too backed out, feeling that in a film starring the celebrated and charismatic Nargis
, she would be overlooked. However being associated with such a prestigious film as a relatively new and unknown actress could have raised her profile greatly and given her career a much needed boost. The part Ameeta rejected was eventually played by the actress Kumkum and Mother India
went on to be one of the most successful films in the history of India
n cinema.
(1957). The film was primarily produced as a vehicle for promoting Ameeta as a new star. Great care was taken with her make-up, wardrobe and lighting, to present Ameeta in the most flattering and adventagous way possible. Furthermore, much of the film's extensive publicity also centred around the actress. Ironically, the film's huge success at the box office made the then struggling Shammi Kapoor
an overnight sensation instead.
Though Shammi Kapoor
effectively stole the attention and applause for Tumsa Nahin Dekha
, the films prolific run at the box-office resulted in Vijay Bhatt
casting Ameeta in the highly coveted feminine lead for Goonj Uthi Shehnai
(1959), a role originally intended for super-star Meena Kumari
. The film co-starred a then up-and-coming Rajendra Kumar
and coupled with an exceptional music score, it became one of the top grossing films of 1959. Yet despite a mature and sensitive performance, Ameeta was overlooked and Rajendra Kumar
was given credit for the film's emphatic success.
In fact, although she proved lucky as a leading lady for Shammi Kapoor
and Rajendra Kumar
, both of whom went on to scale the heights of super-stardom, Ameeta herself never really benefited or capitalised on these successful films. Although showing strong potential and displaying all the requisite qualities of the emerging breed of Mod heroines, fully fledged stardom failed to materialise.
Roles in multi star-cast films like Raakhi (1962), which also featured Ashok Kumar
, Waheeda Rehman
, and Pradeep Kumar
, failed to cement her star status, and she was repeatedly sidelined by her co-stars.
Her last prominent role in a big budget successful movie was as Naseem Ara in Mere Mehboob
(1963). Ameeta played one of the films two heroines, alongside Sadhana
and opposite Rajendra Kumar
. Despite the presence of Sadhana
, who was by then the bigger star, Ameeta was given a new glamorous look, was photographed well with luminous Technicolor
close-ups, and had two of the films popular songs picturised on her. Although it was an important role unlike her co-stars Rajendra Kumar
, Ashok Kumar
, Sadhana
and Nimmi
, she was billed below the title, further diminishing her tenuous star status. Yet again despite the films big box-office success and a well received performance resulting in her only Filmfare award nomination as Best Supporting Actress, Mere Mehboob
did not really further her career, and major stardom continued to elude her.
(1963), by 1964, inexplicably, Ameeta was still languishing in B grade projects like Samson
(1964) and Namasteji (1965). Though Samson
proved yet another resounding success at the box office, it's B-grade action status did not help improve Ameeta's star image nor did it encourage more prolific film makers to cast her as the lead in big budget productions. Having previously appeared alongside more illustrious leading men, such as Dev Anand
(Munimji
1955), Bharat Bhushan
(Sawan
1959), Manoj Kumar
(Piya Milan Ki Aas 1961, Maa Beta 1962), and Ashok Kumar
(Raakhi 1962) she was now acting opposite the likes of action hero Dara Singh
and comedian Johnny Walker
, a clear demotion.
Despite some considerable success at the box office in starring roles, Ameeta never gained a strong foothold in the industry or consolidated a position as an A grade leading lady. Although in possession of an angelic face, voluptuous figure and a considerable acting range, she never achieved the career heights or fan following of her contemporaries; Asha Parekh
, Mala Sinha
, Saira Banu
, Sadhana
, Nanda
and Waheeda Rehman
, all joined established stars like Nutan
, Meena Kumari
, and Vyjayanthimala
to become the most successful and popular actresses of the 1960s.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Ameeta had vied for the leading roles in prestigious films. When the widely popular comedian Mehmood launched his own production of Chotte Nawab (1961), he sidelined all the established heroines of the day and cast Ameeta as his female lead. (Today, the film is remembered only as R.D. Burman's debut as music composer.) She had even been considered a more viable star option, when she replaced Asha Parekh
after she was dropped from the lead in Goonj Uthi Shehnai
(1959). The writer/director Nasir Hussain
, who had worked with Ameeta in her earlier successes Munimji
(1955) and Tumsa Nahin Dekha
(1957), complained that she had never fit his concept of a heroine, and instead built Asha Parekh
, into a major star. Promoting Asha as his new star discovery, he cast her as the female lead in seven films, including the highly successful Dil Deke Dekho
(1959), Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai
(1961), Teesri Manzil
(1966), Baharon Ke Sapne, and aravan (1971]. By contrast, despite an initial advantage over Asha Parekh
, Ameeta's career never really took off. Apart from a brief period of starring roles in good films, like her contemporary actresses Shubha Khote and Kumkum
, Ameeta's image never graduated from B-grade leading lady or second lead in bigger film productions.
By the mid sixties, while Asha Parekh
had reached the zenith of success and popularity as a leading lady, Ameeta had descended into negative and villainous characters in films like Rishte Naate (1965), and Aasra (1966). Worse still, she was seen in supporting roles to fledgling starlets Rajshree
and Babita
, in films like Around the World (1967) and Haseena Maan Jayegi
(1968). A sad end to the career of an actress who had once shown great promise as the leading lady of prominent stars such as Rajendra Kumar
and Shammi Kapoor
.
After her last film Haseena Maan Jayegi
(1968) a disillusioned Ameeta left the film industry and settled down to married life. Today she is all but forgotten and remains extremely bitter about her experiences as an actress, becoming a virtual recluse.
In the early 1990s Ameeta's daughter, Sabeeha pursued a career as an actress. After co-starring with some popular leading actors like Sanjay Dutt
and Akshay Kumar
, Rajesh Khanna/Karan Shah in in lead roles in films such as Khiladi
(1990) and Quayamat Ki Raat (1992),Anokha Rishta, she also disappeared from the Hindi movie scene.
Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957 film)
Tumsa Nahin Dekha is a 1957 film produced by Sashadhar Mukherjee for Filmistan- the breakaway studio formed by some old Bombay Talkies hands like Sashadhar. The film marked Nasir Hussain's evolution into a director. He had written films like Munimjee and Paying Guest...
(1957), Goonj Uthi Shehnai
Goonj Uthi Shehnai
Goonj Uthi Shehnai is 1959 Hindi film directed by Vijay Bhatt, with Rajendra Kumar, Ameeta, Anita Guha and I.S. Johar as leads. The film has music by Vasant Desai and lyrics by Bharat Vyas, and the duo created numerous hits like Jivan Men Piya Tera Sath Rahe sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd...
(1959) and Mere Mehboob
Mere Mehboob
Mere Mehboob is a 1963 Indian film directed by Harnam Singh Rawail and starring Rajendra Kumar, Sadhana, Ashok Kumar, Nimmi, Pran, Johnny Walker and Ameeta. The film became a "blockbuster" and took the number one position at the box office in 1963. The movie drew a background from Aligarh Muslim...
(1963).
Early work
After her debut in the film Anmol Sahara (1952), in a small part, Ameeta spent the next few years playing various supporting roles in films such as Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1953) and Aab E Hayat (1955). Her strikingly pretty looks and fresh-faced appeal, combined with some confident performances, meant that she quickly graduated as second lead to prominent heroines like Nalini JaywantNalini Jaywant
Nalini Jaywant was an Indian movie actress from Bollywood in the 1940s and 1950s.-Personal life and education:...
and Madhubala
Madhubala
Mumtaz Jahan Begum Dehlavi, known by her stage name Madhubala was a Hindi movie actress. She starred in several successful movies in the 1950s and early 1960s, many of which have attained a classic status...
in films such as Munimji
Munimji
Munimji is a 1955 Indian Hindi movie. Written by Nasir Hussain, it starred Dev Anand and Nalini Jaywant as the lead couple. Pran played the villain in the film. The film also starred Ameeta and Nirupa Roy. The team of Mukherjee, Nasir Hussain, Dev Anand and music director S.D. Burman later got...
(1955) and Shirin Farhad (1956).
Around this period Ameeta made a questionable choice in her fledgling career. She was approached by the legendary film maker, Mehboob Khan, to play a role in his much anticipated production, Mother India
Mother India
Mother India is a 1957 Hindi film epic, written and directed by Mehboob Khan and starring Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar and Raaj Kumar. The film, a melodrama, is a remake of Mehboob Khan's earlier film, Aurat...
(1957). The film had high expectations and had a stellar cast which included Nargis
Nargis
Nargis Dutt , born Fatima Rashid but known by her screen name, Nargis, was an Indian film actress. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest actresses in the history of Hindi cinema. She made her screen debut as a child in Talash-E-Haq in 1935, but her acting carer began in 1942 with Tamanna...
, Sunil Dutt
Sunil Dutt
Sunil Dutt , born Sunil Balraj Dutt, was an Indian Hindi movie actor , producer, director and politician. He was the cabinet minister for Youth Affairs and Sports in the Manmohan Singh government...
, Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar was one of the most successful Indian Bollywood actors in the 1960s and 1970s. He also produced several films in the 1980s starring his son Kumar Gaurav....
and Raaj Kumar
Raaj Kumar
Raaj Kumar , born Kulbushan Pandit was an Indian actor in Hindi movies. Raaj Kumar started out as sub-inspector of Mumbai police in the late 1940s before he turned to acting with the 1952 film Rangili...
. It was being produced in Technicolor
Technicolor
Technicolor is a color motion picture process invented in 1916 and improved over several decades.It was the second major process, after Britain's Kinemacolor, and the most widely used color process in Hollywood from 1922 to 1952...
, a rarity in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
then. The role Ameeta was approached for was as Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar was one of the most successful Indian Bollywood actors in the 1960s and 1970s. He also produced several films in the 1980s starring his son Kumar Gaurav....
's sweetheart. It had already been rejected by Mala Sinha
Mala Sinha
Mala Sinha is an Indian actress, who has worked in Hindi, Bengali and Nepali films. Recognised for her acting talent and beauty, she went on to become a popular leading actress in Hindi films from the early fifties till late seventies...
and Ameeta too backed out, feeling that in a film starring the celebrated and charismatic Nargis
Nargis
Nargis Dutt , born Fatima Rashid but known by her screen name, Nargis, was an Indian film actress. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest actresses in the history of Hindi cinema. She made her screen debut as a child in Talash-E-Haq in 1935, but her acting carer began in 1942 with Tamanna...
, she would be overlooked. However being associated with such a prestigious film as a relatively new and unknown actress could have raised her profile greatly and given her career a much needed boost. The part Ameeta rejected was eventually played by the actress Kumkum and Mother India
Mother India
Mother India is a 1957 Hindi film epic, written and directed by Mehboob Khan and starring Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar and Raaj Kumar. The film, a melodrama, is a remake of Mehboob Khan's earlier film, Aurat...
went on to be one of the most successful films in the history of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n cinema.
Breakthrough and stardom
Recognising her star potential, she soon became the protege of Filmistan Studios' owner Tolaram Jalan, who relaunched her with Tumsa Nahin DekhaTumsa Nahin Dekha (1957 film)
Tumsa Nahin Dekha is a 1957 film produced by Sashadhar Mukherjee for Filmistan- the breakaway studio formed by some old Bombay Talkies hands like Sashadhar. The film marked Nasir Hussain's evolution into a director. He had written films like Munimjee and Paying Guest...
(1957). The film was primarily produced as a vehicle for promoting Ameeta as a new star. Great care was taken with her make-up, wardrobe and lighting, to present Ameeta in the most flattering and adventagous way possible. Furthermore, much of the film's extensive publicity also centred around the actress. Ironically, the film's huge success at the box office made the then struggling Shammi Kapoor
Shammi Kapoor
Shammi Kapoor was an Indian film actor and director. He was a prominent lead actor in Hindi cinema from the late 1950s until the early 1970s....
an overnight sensation instead.
Though Shammi Kapoor
Shammi Kapoor
Shammi Kapoor was an Indian film actor and director. He was a prominent lead actor in Hindi cinema from the late 1950s until the early 1970s....
effectively stole the attention and applause for Tumsa Nahin Dekha
Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957 film)
Tumsa Nahin Dekha is a 1957 film produced by Sashadhar Mukherjee for Filmistan- the breakaway studio formed by some old Bombay Talkies hands like Sashadhar. The film marked Nasir Hussain's evolution into a director. He had written films like Munimjee and Paying Guest...
, the films prolific run at the box-office resulted in Vijay Bhatt
Vijay Bhatt
Vijay Bhatt was a noted producer-director-screenwriter of Hindi cinema, who made such films as Ram Rajya , Baiju Bawra , Goonj Uthi Shehnai and Himalaya Ki God Mein .He founded Prakash Pictures, a film production company and Prakash Studios in Andheri East, Mumbai, which...
casting Ameeta in the highly coveted feminine lead for Goonj Uthi Shehnai
Goonj Uthi Shehnai
Goonj Uthi Shehnai is 1959 Hindi film directed by Vijay Bhatt, with Rajendra Kumar, Ameeta, Anita Guha and I.S. Johar as leads. The film has music by Vasant Desai and lyrics by Bharat Vyas, and the duo created numerous hits like Jivan Men Piya Tera Sath Rahe sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd...
(1959), a role originally intended for super-star Meena Kumari
Meena Kumari
Meena Kumari , born Mahjabeen Bano, was an Indian movie actress and poetess. She is regarded as one of the most prominent actresses to have appeared on the screens of Hindi Cinema...
. The film co-starred a then up-and-coming Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar was one of the most successful Indian Bollywood actors in the 1960s and 1970s. He also produced several films in the 1980s starring his son Kumar Gaurav....
and coupled with an exceptional music score, it became one of the top grossing films of 1959. Yet despite a mature and sensitive performance, Ameeta was overlooked and Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar was one of the most successful Indian Bollywood actors in the 1960s and 1970s. He also produced several films in the 1980s starring his son Kumar Gaurav....
was given credit for the film's emphatic success.
In fact, although she proved lucky as a leading lady for Shammi Kapoor
Shammi Kapoor
Shammi Kapoor was an Indian film actor and director. He was a prominent lead actor in Hindi cinema from the late 1950s until the early 1970s....
and Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar was one of the most successful Indian Bollywood actors in the 1960s and 1970s. He also produced several films in the 1980s starring his son Kumar Gaurav....
, both of whom went on to scale the heights of super-stardom, Ameeta herself never really benefited or capitalised on these successful films. Although showing strong potential and displaying all the requisite qualities of the emerging breed of Mod heroines, fully fledged stardom failed to materialise.
Roles in multi star-cast films like Raakhi (1962), which also featured Ashok Kumar
Ashok Kumar
Ashok Kumar also fondly called Dadamoni was an Indian film actor. Born Kumudlal Ganguly in Bhagalpur, Bengal Presidency he attained iconic status in Indian cinema...
, Waheeda Rehman
Waheeda Rehman
Waheeda Rehman , is an Indian film actress who appears in Bollywood movies and is known for many successful and critically acclaimed movies from 1950's, 60's and early 70's most notably C.I.D. and Guru Dutt classics such as Pyaasa , 12 O'Clock , Kaagaz Ke Phool , Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam...
, and Pradeep Kumar
Pradeep Kumar
Pradeep Kumar was an Indian actor in Bengali and Hindi films.-Career:When Kumar was 17 years old, he decided to take up acting. His started his film career in Bengali films...
, failed to cement her star status, and she was repeatedly sidelined by her co-stars.
Her last prominent role in a big budget successful movie was as Naseem Ara in Mere Mehboob
Mere Mehboob
Mere Mehboob is a 1963 Indian film directed by Harnam Singh Rawail and starring Rajendra Kumar, Sadhana, Ashok Kumar, Nimmi, Pran, Johnny Walker and Ameeta. The film became a "blockbuster" and took the number one position at the box office in 1963. The movie drew a background from Aligarh Muslim...
(1963). Ameeta played one of the films two heroines, alongside Sadhana
Sadhana
Sādhanā literally "a means of accomplishing something" is ego-transcending spiritual practice. It includes a variety of disciplines in Hindu, Sikh , Buddhist and Muslim traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spiritual or ritual objectives.The historian N...
and opposite Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar was one of the most successful Indian Bollywood actors in the 1960s and 1970s. He also produced several films in the 1980s starring his son Kumar Gaurav....
. Despite the presence of Sadhana
Sadhana
Sādhanā literally "a means of accomplishing something" is ego-transcending spiritual practice. It includes a variety of disciplines in Hindu, Sikh , Buddhist and Muslim traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spiritual or ritual objectives.The historian N...
, who was by then the bigger star, Ameeta was given a new glamorous look, was photographed well with luminous Technicolor
Technicolor
Technicolor is a color motion picture process invented in 1916 and improved over several decades.It was the second major process, after Britain's Kinemacolor, and the most widely used color process in Hollywood from 1922 to 1952...
close-ups, and had two of the films popular songs picturised on her. Although it was an important role unlike her co-stars Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar was one of the most successful Indian Bollywood actors in the 1960s and 1970s. He also produced several films in the 1980s starring his son Kumar Gaurav....
, Ashok Kumar
Ashok Kumar
Ashok Kumar also fondly called Dadamoni was an Indian film actor. Born Kumudlal Ganguly in Bhagalpur, Bengal Presidency he attained iconic status in Indian cinema...
, Sadhana
Sadhana
Sādhanā literally "a means of accomplishing something" is ego-transcending spiritual practice. It includes a variety of disciplines in Hindu, Sikh , Buddhist and Muslim traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spiritual or ritual objectives.The historian N...
and Nimmi
Nimmi
Nimmi was a popular Indian screen actress who achieved stardom in the 1950s and early 1960s in Hindi films. She gained popularity playing spirited village belle type characters, but also appeared in diverse genres such as fantasy and social films.-Early life:...
, she was billed below the title, further diminishing her tenuous star status. Yet again despite the films big box-office success and a well received performance resulting in her only Filmfare award nomination as Best Supporting Actress, Mere Mehboob
Mere Mehboob
Mere Mehboob is a 1963 Indian film directed by Harnam Singh Rawail and starring Rajendra Kumar, Sadhana, Ashok Kumar, Nimmi, Pran, Johnny Walker and Ameeta. The film became a "blockbuster" and took the number one position at the box office in 1963. The movie drew a background from Aligarh Muslim...
did not really further her career, and major stardom continued to elude her.
Career decline and later years
Even after the impressive success of films like Mere MehboobMere Mehboob
Mere Mehboob is a 1963 Indian film directed by Harnam Singh Rawail and starring Rajendra Kumar, Sadhana, Ashok Kumar, Nimmi, Pran, Johnny Walker and Ameeta. The film became a "blockbuster" and took the number one position at the box office in 1963. The movie drew a background from Aligarh Muslim...
(1963), by 1964, inexplicably, Ameeta was still languishing in B grade projects like Samson
Samson
Samson, Shimshon ; Shamshoun or Sampson is the third to last of the Judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Tanakh ....
(1964) and Namasteji (1965). Though Samson
Samson
Samson, Shimshon ; Shamshoun or Sampson is the third to last of the Judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Tanakh ....
proved yet another resounding success at the box office, it's B-grade action status did not help improve Ameeta's star image nor did it encourage more prolific film makers to cast her as the lead in big budget productions. Having previously appeared alongside more illustrious leading men, such as Dev Anand
Dev Anand
Dharam Dev Anand , better known as Dev Anand , is an Indian Hindi Cinema actor, director and film producer. Dev is the second of three brothers who were active in Hindi Cinema. His brothers are Chetan Anand and Vijay Anand. Their sister, Sheel Kanta Kapur, is the mother of renowned Hindi and...
(Munimji
Munimji
Munimji is a 1955 Indian Hindi movie. Written by Nasir Hussain, it starred Dev Anand and Nalini Jaywant as the lead couple. Pran played the villain in the film. The film also starred Ameeta and Nirupa Roy. The team of Mukherjee, Nasir Hussain, Dev Anand and music director S.D. Burman later got...
1955), Bharat Bhushan
Bharat Bhushan
Bharat Bhushan was an Indian bollywood actor, scriptwriter and producer, who is best remembered for playing Baiju Bawra in the 1952 film of the same name. He was born in Meerut, and brought up in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.-Personal Life:...
(Sawan
Sawan
Sawan is a fifth month in the traditional Vikrama as well as the Nanakshahi calendar, which governs the activities within Sikhism. This month coincides with July and August in the Gregorian and Julian calendars and is 31 days long, like the Gregorian and Julian calendars.-July:* July 16 - The...
1959), Manoj Kumar
Manoj Kumar
Manoj Kumar is an award-winning Indian actor and director in the Bollywood film industry. He is known for acting in and directing films with patriotic themes, and has been given the nickname "Mr Bharat"...
(Piya Milan Ki Aas 1961, Maa Beta 1962), and Ashok Kumar
Ashok Kumar
Ashok Kumar also fondly called Dadamoni was an Indian film actor. Born Kumudlal Ganguly in Bhagalpur, Bengal Presidency he attained iconic status in Indian cinema...
(Raakhi 1962) she was now acting opposite the likes of action hero Dara Singh
Dara Singh
Dara Singh Randhawa is a wrestler and Indian film actor. He was born in a Jat Sikh family of Punjabi background.He was a wrestler before he started acting in Hindi films in 1962....
and comedian Johnny Walker
Johnny Walker (actor)
Johnny Walker is the screen name of an Indian movie comedian, who acted in over 300 movies. He was born as Badruddin Jamaluddin Kazi in Indore, India, the son of a mill worker. The family shifted to Mumbai when the textile mill his father worked in closed...
, a clear demotion.
Despite some considerable success at the box office in starring roles, Ameeta never gained a strong foothold in the industry or consolidated a position as an A grade leading lady. Although in possession of an angelic face, voluptuous figure and a considerable acting range, she never achieved the career heights or fan following of her contemporaries; Asha Parekh
Asha Parekh
Asha Parekh is a Bollywood actress, director, and producer. She was one of the top stars in Hindi films from 1959 to 1973.-Early life:...
, Mala Sinha
Mala Sinha
Mala Sinha is an Indian actress, who has worked in Hindi, Bengali and Nepali films. Recognised for her acting talent and beauty, she went on to become a popular leading actress in Hindi films from the early fifties till late seventies...
, Saira Banu
Saira Banu
Saira Banu , also known as Saira Bano, is an Indian Bollywood actress and the wife of the film actor Dilip Kumar. She acted in many Bollywood films between 1960 and 1980.-Early life:...
, Sadhana
Sadhana
Sādhanā literally "a means of accomplishing something" is ego-transcending spiritual practice. It includes a variety of disciplines in Hindu, Sikh , Buddhist and Muslim traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spiritual or ritual objectives.The historian N...
, Nanda
Nanda
Nanda is a surname of Punjabis . Nanda is a Tarkhan , Ahluwalia and Kamboj surname. All the clans of Tarkhan , Lohar, Gujjar, Kamboj, Ahluwalia tribes have a close genetic and ancestral relationship with each other, and together they form the Khatri/Rajput caste.-Among Kamboj people:*Nanda is a...
and Waheeda Rehman
Waheeda Rehman
Waheeda Rehman , is an Indian film actress who appears in Bollywood movies and is known for many successful and critically acclaimed movies from 1950's, 60's and early 70's most notably C.I.D. and Guru Dutt classics such as Pyaasa , 12 O'Clock , Kaagaz Ke Phool , Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam...
, all joined established stars like Nutan
Nutan
Nutan Behl , better known as Nutan , was an Indian actress. She appeared in more than 70 Hindi films in a career spanning over four decades...
, Meena Kumari
Meena Kumari
Meena Kumari , born Mahjabeen Bano, was an Indian movie actress and poetess. She is regarded as one of the most prominent actresses to have appeared on the screens of Hindi Cinema...
, and Vyjayanthimala
Vyjayanthimala
Vyjayanthimala Bali is an Indian film actress, Bharathanatyam dancer, carnatic singer, dance choreographer, golfer and a Parliamentarian....
to become the most successful and popular actresses of the 1960s.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Ameeta had vied for the leading roles in prestigious films. When the widely popular comedian Mehmood launched his own production of Chotte Nawab (1961), he sidelined all the established heroines of the day and cast Ameeta as his female lead. (Today, the film is remembered only as R.D. Burman's debut as music composer.) She had even been considered a more viable star option, when she replaced Asha Parekh
Asha Parekh
Asha Parekh is a Bollywood actress, director, and producer. She was one of the top stars in Hindi films from 1959 to 1973.-Early life:...
after she was dropped from the lead in Goonj Uthi Shehnai
Goonj Uthi Shehnai
Goonj Uthi Shehnai is 1959 Hindi film directed by Vijay Bhatt, with Rajendra Kumar, Ameeta, Anita Guha and I.S. Johar as leads. The film has music by Vasant Desai and lyrics by Bharat Vyas, and the duo created numerous hits like Jivan Men Piya Tera Sath Rahe sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd...
(1959). The writer/director Nasir Hussain
Nasir Hussain
Nasir Husain was an Indian film producer, director and screenwriter.-Early career:Husain first worked with A. R. Kardar when he joined Filmistan as a writer in 1948. The famous films he wrote for Filmistan include Anarkali , Munimjee , and Paying Guest...
, who had worked with Ameeta in her earlier successes Munimji
Munimji
Munimji is a 1955 Indian Hindi movie. Written by Nasir Hussain, it starred Dev Anand and Nalini Jaywant as the lead couple. Pran played the villain in the film. The film also starred Ameeta and Nirupa Roy. The team of Mukherjee, Nasir Hussain, Dev Anand and music director S.D. Burman later got...
(1955) and Tumsa Nahin Dekha
Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957 film)
Tumsa Nahin Dekha is a 1957 film produced by Sashadhar Mukherjee for Filmistan- the breakaway studio formed by some old Bombay Talkies hands like Sashadhar. The film marked Nasir Hussain's evolution into a director. He had written films like Munimjee and Paying Guest...
(1957), complained that she had never fit his concept of a heroine, and instead built Asha Parekh
Asha Parekh
Asha Parekh is a Bollywood actress, director, and producer. She was one of the top stars in Hindi films from 1959 to 1973.-Early life:...
, into a major star. Promoting Asha as his new star discovery, he cast her as the female lead in seven films, including the highly successful Dil Deke Dekho
Dil Deke Dekho
Dil Deke Dekho, a 1959 Indian Hindi romantic comedy film, was Nasir Hussain's second film as director. His first directorial venture was Tumsa Nahin Dekha , which became a big hit and which gave star Shammi Kapoor a new image as a comedic, dancing hero. Husain and Kapoor reteamed here. Asha...
(1959), Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai
Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai
Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai is a 1961 Bollywood movie that became a box office hit. It was written, produced, and directed by Nasir Hussain. The first film Hussain ever produced, it featured Dev Anand and Hussain fixture Asha Parekh in the leading roles...
(1961), Teesri Manzil
Teesri Manzil
Teesri Manzil is a Bollywood thriller directed by Vijay Anand and produced by Nasir Hussain. It starred his regular actors Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh. Nazima, Premnath, Prem Chopra, Iftekhar, Helen, K. N. Singh and Salim Khan were part of the supporting cast...
(1966), Baharon Ke Sapne, and aravan (1971]. By contrast, despite an initial advantage over Asha Parekh
Asha Parekh
Asha Parekh is a Bollywood actress, director, and producer. She was one of the top stars in Hindi films from 1959 to 1973.-Early life:...
, Ameeta's career never really took off. Apart from a brief period of starring roles in good films, like her contemporary actresses Shubha Khote and Kumkum
Kumkum
Kumkum , is a powder used for social and religious markings in Hinduism. It is either made from turmeric or saffron...
, Ameeta's image never graduated from B-grade leading lady or second lead in bigger film productions.
By the mid sixties, while Asha Parekh
Asha Parekh
Asha Parekh is a Bollywood actress, director, and producer. She was one of the top stars in Hindi films from 1959 to 1973.-Early life:...
had reached the zenith of success and popularity as a leading lady, Ameeta had descended into negative and villainous characters in films like Rishte Naate (1965), and Aasra (1966). Worse still, she was seen in supporting roles to fledgling starlets Rajshree
Rajshree
Rajshree is an Indian actress. She was known for her classic beauty, acting and dancing capabilities.-Personal life:Rajshree is the daughter of acclaimed Indian film maker V. Shantaram and actress Jayshree, second wife of V. Shantaram...
and Babita
Babita
Babita is an Indian actress. She is now better known as the mother of actresses Kareena Kapoor and Karisma Kapoor and the wife of Randhir Kapoor.- Early life :...
, in films like Around the World (1967) and Haseena Maan Jayegi
Haseena Maan Jayegi
Haseena Maan Jayegi is a 1968 Hindi movie directed by Prakash Mehra. The film stars Shashi Kapoor, Babita, Ameeta, Yunus Parvez and Johnny Walker...
(1968). A sad end to the career of an actress who had once shown great promise as the leading lady of prominent stars such as Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar
Rajendra Kumar was one of the most successful Indian Bollywood actors in the 1960s and 1970s. He also produced several films in the 1980s starring his son Kumar Gaurav....
and Shammi Kapoor
Shammi Kapoor
Shammi Kapoor was an Indian film actor and director. He was a prominent lead actor in Hindi cinema from the late 1950s until the early 1970s....
.
After her last film Haseena Maan Jayegi
Haseena Maan Jayegi
Haseena Maan Jayegi is a 1968 Hindi movie directed by Prakash Mehra. The film stars Shashi Kapoor, Babita, Ameeta, Yunus Parvez and Johnny Walker...
(1968) a disillusioned Ameeta left the film industry and settled down to married life. Today she is all but forgotten and remains extremely bitter about her experiences as an actress, becoming a virtual recluse.
In the early 1990s Ameeta's daughter, Sabeeha pursued a career as an actress. After co-starring with some popular leading actors like Sanjay Dutt
Sanjay Dutt
Sanjay Dutt is an Indian Hindi film actor and politician. Dutt, son of Hindi film actors Sunil and Nargis Dutt, made his acting debut in 1981.-Personal life:...
and Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar is an Indian film actor, producer and martial artist who has appeared in over a hundred Hindi films. When he began his acting career in the 1990s, he primarily starred in action films and was particularly known for his appearances in feature films commonly called the "Khiladi series",...
, Rajesh Khanna/Karan Shah in in lead roles in films such as Khiladi
Khiladi
Khiladi is a 1992 Bollywood suspense thriller film directed by Abbas Mustan. The film was Akshay Kumar's breakthrough role and also stars Ayesha Jhulka, Prem Chopra, Deepak Tijori and Sabeeha. Khiladi was the first in a series of films which had Khiladi in the title and Akshay Kumar in the...
(1990) and Quayamat Ki Raat (1992),Anokha Rishta, she also disappeared from the Hindi movie scene.
Filmography
- Haseena Maan JayegiHaseena Maan JayegiHaseena Maan Jayegi is a 1968 Hindi movie directed by Prakash Mehra. The film stars Shashi Kapoor, Babita, Ameeta, Yunus Parvez and Johnny Walker...
(1968) - Around the World (1967)
- Aasra (1966)
- Rishte Naate (1965)
- Saat Samandar Paar (1965)
- Hum Sab Ustaad Hai (1965)
- Namasteji (1965)
- SamsonSamsonSamson, Shimshon ; Shamshoun or Sampson is the third to last of the Judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Tanakh ....
(1964) - Mere MehboobMere MehboobMere Mehboob is a 1963 Indian film directed by Harnam Singh Rawail and starring Rajendra Kumar, Sadhana, Ashok Kumar, Nimmi, Pran, Johnny Walker and Ameeta. The film became a "blockbuster" and took the number one position at the box office in 1963. The movie drew a background from Aligarh Muslim...
(1963) - Mummy Daddy (1963)
- Raj Nandini (1962)
- Raakhi (1962)
- Maa Beta (1962)
- Main Aur Mera Bhai (1961)
- Chhotte Nawab (1961)
- Piya Milan Ki Aas (1961)
- Pyar Ki Dastan (1961)
- Teen Ustad (1961)
- Lucky Number (1961)
- Pyaase Panchhi (1961)
- Ek Ladki Saat Ladke (1961)
- Maine Jeena Seekh Liya (1959)
- Sawan (1959)
- Aangan (1959)
- Goonj Uthi ShehnaiGoonj Uthi ShehnaiGoonj Uthi Shehnai is 1959 Hindi film directed by Vijay Bhatt, with Rajendra Kumar, Ameeta, Anita Guha and I.S. Johar as leads. The film has music by Vasant Desai and lyrics by Bharat Vyas, and the duo created numerous hits like Jivan Men Piya Tera Sath Rahe sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd...
(1959) - Hum Bhi Kuch Kum Nahin (1958)
- Raj Sinhasan (1958)
- Sanskar (1958)
- Bada Bhai (1957)
- Dekh Kabira Roya (1957)
- Tumsa Nahin DekhaTumsa Nahin Dekha (1957 film)Tumsa Nahin Dekha is a 1957 film produced by Sashadhar Mukherjee for Filmistan- the breakaway studio formed by some old Bombay Talkies hands like Sashadhar. The film marked Nasir Hussain's evolution into a director. He had written films like Munimjee and Paying Guest...
(1957) - Zamana (1957)
- Abhiman (1957)
- Baghi Sardar (1956)
- Shirin Farhad (1956)
- Indra Sabha (1956)
- Hum Sab Chor Hain (1956)
- MunimjiMunimjiMunimji is a 1955 Indian Hindi movie. Written by Nasir Hussain, it starred Dev Anand and Nalini Jaywant as the lead couple. Pran played the villain in the film. The film also starred Ameeta and Nirupa Roy. The team of Mukherjee, Nasir Hussain, Dev Anand and music director S.D. Burman later got...
(1955) - Aab E Hayat (1955)
- Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1953)
- Anmol Sahara (1952)