Anita Guha
Encyclopedia
Anita Guha was an India
n actress who usually played mythological characters in films. She became known for playing the title role in Jai Santoshi Maa
(1975). Previously, she had played Sita
in other mythological films "Sampoorna Ramayana" (1961), "Shree Ram Bharat Milap" (1965) and, "Tulsi Vivah" (1971).
in the 1950s as a beauty pageant contestant, when she was 15 years old. She became an actress there and made her film debut in "Tangewali" (1955). She moved onto hit films like "Sharada" (1957), and "Goonj Uthi Shehnai" (1959), for which she earned her only Filmfare
nomination of her career as Best Supporting Actress.
But it was her title role in Jai Santoshi Maa
(1975) that brought her the most fame. She had never even heard of goddess Santoshi until she was offered the role, as this was a little-known goddess. It was only a guest appearance, and her scenes were shot 10–12 days. She fasted during the shooting. The low-budget pic was a surprise hit, and broke box office records while becoming a cultural phenomenon. The goddess Santoshi now became a famous goddess, and women all over India worshipped her. People treated the movie theatres showing Jai Santoshi Maa
as a temple, bringing offerings of food, leaving slippers at the door. Guha claimed that people came to her asking her to bless them, as they perceived her to be a real goddess. Oddly, she never became a devotee of the goddess herself, claiming that she was a devotee of Kali
Maa.
Other mythological films she acted in include "Dekh Kabira Roya" (1957), "Kavi Kalidas (1959), "Jai Dwarkadesh" (1977) and "Krishna Krishna" (1986). She wasn't happy that she became typecast as a mythological actress, because acting offers eventually stopped coming her way. Her earlier credits include period films such as "Sangeet samrat Tansen" (1962), "Kan Kan Mein Bhagwan" (1963), "Veer Bhimsen" (1964). She played Rajesh Khanna
's adoptive mother in the huge hit Aradhana.
where she died of cardiac failure on 20 June 2007.
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 actress who usually played mythological characters in films. She became known for playing the title role in Jai Santoshi Maa
Jai Santoshi Maa
Jai Santoshi Maa is a 1975 low-budget Hindi film that became one of the top blockbusters of all time. Santoshī Mā , a goddess of satisfaction, was not widely known prior to the release of this film, but immediately after the release, became a huge phenomenon...
(1975). Previously, she had played Sita
SITA
SITA is a multinational information technology company specialising in providing IT and telecommunication services to the air transport industry...
in other mythological films "Sampoorna Ramayana" (1961), "Shree Ram Bharat Milap" (1965) and, "Tulsi Vivah" (1971).
Career
She came to MumbaiMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
in the 1950s as a beauty pageant contestant, when she was 15 years old. She became an actress there and made her film debut in "Tangewali" (1955). She moved onto hit films like "Sharada" (1957), and "Goonj Uthi Shehnai" (1959), for which she earned her only Filmfare
Filmfare
Filmfare is an English-language tabloid-sized magazine about Indian cinema. Published by The Times Group, India's largest media services conglomerate, in Mumbai , it highlights the doings of the Bollywood film scene...
nomination of her career as Best Supporting Actress.
But it was her title role in Jai Santoshi Maa
Jai Santoshi Maa
Jai Santoshi Maa is a 1975 low-budget Hindi film that became one of the top blockbusters of all time. Santoshī Mā , a goddess of satisfaction, was not widely known prior to the release of this film, but immediately after the release, became a huge phenomenon...
(1975) that brought her the most fame. She had never even heard of goddess Santoshi until she was offered the role, as this was a little-known goddess. It was only a guest appearance, and her scenes were shot 10–12 days. She fasted during the shooting. The low-budget pic was a surprise hit, and broke box office records while becoming a cultural phenomenon. The goddess Santoshi now became a famous goddess, and women all over India worshipped her. People treated the movie theatres showing Jai Santoshi Maa
Jai Santoshi Maa
Jai Santoshi Maa is a 1975 low-budget Hindi film that became one of the top blockbusters of all time. Santoshī Mā , a goddess of satisfaction, was not widely known prior to the release of this film, but immediately after the release, became a huge phenomenon...
as a temple, bringing offerings of food, leaving slippers at the door. Guha claimed that people came to her asking her to bless them, as they perceived her to be a real goddess. Oddly, she never became a devotee of the goddess herself, claiming that she was a devotee of Kali
Kali
' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
Maa.
Other mythological films she acted in include "Dekh Kabira Roya" (1957), "Kavi Kalidas (1959), "Jai Dwarkadesh" (1977) and "Krishna Krishna" (1986). She wasn't happy that she became typecast as a mythological actress, because acting offers eventually stopped coming her way. Her earlier credits include period films such as "Sangeet samrat Tansen" (1962), "Kan Kan Mein Bhagwan" (1963), "Veer Bhimsen" (1964). She played Rajesh Khanna
Rajesh Khanna
Rajesh Khanna is an Indian actor of from Hindi films, and has been Hindi film producer and an Indian politician....
's adoptive mother in the huge hit Aradhana.
Personal life
She was married to actor Manik Dutt; they had no children. After her husband's death, she lived alone in MumbaiMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
where she died of cardiac failure on 20 June 2007.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Character/Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 Bollywood films of 1978 A list of films produced by the Bollywood film industry based in Mumbai in 1978:-Highest grossing:The top thirty six grossing films at the Indian Box Office in 1978:... |
Tumhare Liye Tumhare Liye Tumhare Liye is a 1978 Bollywood film directed by Basu Chatterjee. The film stars Sanjeev Kumar, Vidya Sinha and Ashok Kumar as leads with music scored by Jaidev.-Plot:... |
Sheela devi | |
| 1975 Bollywood films of 1975 A list of films produced by the Bollywood film industry based in Mumbai in 1975:-Highest grossing:The top ten grossing films at the Indian Box Office in 1975:--Aandhi could not run in theatres due to controversey... |
Jai Santoshi Maa Jai Santoshi Maa Jai Santoshi Maa is a 1975 low-budget Hindi film that became one of the top blockbusters of all time. Santoshī Mā , a goddess of satisfaction, was not widely known prior to the release of this film, but immediately after the release, became a huge phenomenon... |
Godess Santoshi | Popular & Memorable role |
Awards and nominations
- 1960: Filmfare Award
- Filmfare Best Supporting Actress AwardFilmfare Best Supporting Actress AwardThe Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Awards is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a supporting role...
: Goonj Uthi Shahnai: Nominated
- Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award