Priya Rajvansh
Encyclopedia
Priya Rajvansh born Vera Sundersingh, was an India
n film actress, who is known her performance in films like, Heer Ranjha
(1970) and Hanste Zakhm
(1973), amongst a handful of films she did during her career.
noted Gaiety Theatre.
Her father was on a UN
assignment, so after graduation she joined the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
(RADA
) in London
, UK.
and Vijay Anand) in 1962, who cast her in his next film, Haqeeqat
(1964), which remains one of most noted war-films in India. Soon she was in a relationship with her mentor, Chetan Anand, who had just separated from his wife; Priya was many years younger and very beautiful and the two grew close to each other. Thereafter she starred only in Chetan Anand's films, where she was involved in every aspect of film-making from story to scripting, lyrics, and post-production. Chetan, too, never made a film without her as the central character. Despite being a highly talented actress, her anglicised accent and western femininity did not click with the Indian audience.
Her next film, Heer Raanjha
came out only in 1970, where she acted opposite the rage of that time, actor Raaj Kumar
, and the film was a hit. Then came Hanste Zakhm
, arguably the finest film of her career, in 1973. Her other noted films were Hindustan Ki Kasam
(1973), and Kudrat
(1981), where she had a parallel role with Hema Malini
in the lead. Her last film Haathon ki Lakeerein came out in 1985. After that her film career ended and she died in 2000.
After Chetan Anand's death, in 1997, she inherited a part of his property along with his sons from his first marriage. She was murdered on 27 March 2000 in Chetan Anand's, Ruia Park bungalow in Juhu, Mumbai, India. Police charged Chetan Anand's sons Ketan Anand and Vivek Anand along with their employees Mala Choudhary and Ashok Chinnaswamy with her murder. Their motive was thought to be rights to her inheritance of Chetan Anand's property. The four accused were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in July 2002. In 2011, Mumbai high court accepted the appeals filed by the accused duo against the trial court's order.
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 film actress, who is known her performance in films like, Heer Ranjha
Heer Ranjha
For 1970 Hindi movie of same name and characters, see Heer Raanjha.Heer Ranjha is one of the four popular tragic romances of the Punjab. The other three are Mirza Sahiba, Sassi Punnun and Sohni Mahiwal. There are several poetic narrations of the story, the most famous being 'Heer' by Waris Shah...
(1970) and Hanste Zakhm
Hanste Zakhm
Hanste Zakhm is a 1973 Indian Hindi film produced and directed by Chetan Anand with music by Madan Mohan, and lyrics by Kaifi Azmi. The film stars Navin Nischol, Priya Rajvansh, Balraj Sahni, and Nadira in lead roles.-Plot & Textual Analysis:...
(1973), amongst a handful of films she did during her career.
Early life and education
Priya Rajvansh was born as Vera Sunder Singh in Shimla in a Sikh family. Her father Sunder Singh was a Conservator in the Forest Department. She grew up in Shimla along with her brothers, Kamaljit Singh (Gulu) and Padamjit Singh. She studied at Auckland House, where she was school captain, and Convent of Jesus and Mary, Shimla. She passed intermediate from St. Bede’s College, Shimla in 1953, and joined Bhargava Municipal College (BMC), during this period, she acted in several English plays at Shimla'sShimla
Shimla , formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills," a term coined by the British...
noted Gaiety Theatre.
Her father was on a UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
assignment, so after graduation she joined the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art is a drama school located in London, United Kingdom. It is generally regarded as one of the most renowned drama schools in the world, and is one of the oldest drama schools in the United Kingdom, having been founded in 1904.RADA is an affiliate school of the...
(RADA
Rada
Rada is the term for "council" or "assembly"borrowed by Polish from the Low Franconian "Rad" and later passed into the Czech, Ukrainian, and Belarusian languages....
) in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, UK.
Career
While still in London and 22-years old, one of her photographs, clicked by a London photographer, somehow reached the Hindi film industry and Chetan Anand, (brother of Dev AnandDev 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...
and Vijay Anand) in 1962, who cast her in his next film, Haqeeqat
Haqeeqat
Haqeeqat is a 1964 Hindi war-film directed by Chetan Anand. It was supported by the Government of India.The movie stars Balraj Sahni, Dharmendra, Rajender Kumar, Priya Rajvansh, Sanjay Khan and Vijay Anand. the music is by Madan Mohan and the lyrics by Kaifi Azmi. The movie was based on the 1962...
(1964), which remains one of most noted war-films in India. Soon she was in a relationship with her mentor, Chetan Anand, who had just separated from his wife; Priya was many years younger and very beautiful and the two grew close to each other. Thereafter she starred only in Chetan Anand's films, where she was involved in every aspect of film-making from story to scripting, lyrics, and post-production. Chetan, too, never made a film without her as the central character. Despite being a highly talented actress, her anglicised accent and western femininity did not click with the Indian audience.
Her next film, Heer Raanjha
Heer Raanjha
Heer Raanjha is a 1970 Hindi movie, produced by son Ketan Anand and directed by father Chetan Anand. The film stars Raaj Kumar, Priya Rajvansh, Pran, Prithviraj Kapoor, Ajit, Jayant, Sonia Sahni, Kamini Kaushal, Indrani Mukherjee, Achla Sachdev and Tun Tun...
came out only in 1970, where she acted opposite the rage of that time, actor 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...
, and the film was a hit. Then came Hanste Zakhm
Hanste Zakhm
Hanste Zakhm is a 1973 Indian Hindi film produced and directed by Chetan Anand with music by Madan Mohan, and lyrics by Kaifi Azmi. The film stars Navin Nischol, Priya Rajvansh, Balraj Sahni, and Nadira in lead roles.-Plot & Textual Analysis:...
, arguably the finest film of her career, in 1973. Her other noted films were Hindustan Ki Kasam
Hindustan Ki Kasam
Hindustan Ki Kasam is a 1973 war movie based on the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 directed by Chetan Anand.-Cast:*Chetan Anand*Vijay Anand*Raaj Kumar*Priya Rajvansh*Balraj Sahni*Padma Khanna*Amjad Khan*Amrish Puri*Parikshat Sahni*Bharat Kapoor...
(1973), and Kudrat
Kudrat
Kudrat is a Hindi/Urdu word which was probably derived from the Persian language. It means Nature in English. The word is used widely in lots of expressions in Hindi and Urdu languages. There is also a 1981 Hindi movie written and directed by Chetan Anand. The film stars Rajesh Khanna and Hema...
(1981), where she had a parallel role with Hema Malini
Hema Malini
Hema Malini is an Indian actress, director and producer, as well as a Bharatanatyam dancer-choreographer. Making her acting debut in Sapno Ka Saudagar , she went on to appear in numerous Bollywood films, most notably those with actor and future-husband Dharmendra. She was initially promoted as...
in the lead. Her last film Haathon ki Lakeerein came out in 1985. After that her film career ended and she died in 2000.
Personal life
Priya Rajvansh and Chetan Anand had a personal relationship and they lived-in together, though she kept her own flat first in Kalumal Estate and, later, a bigger house in Mangal Kiran. Her two brothers, Kamaljit Singh (Gulu) and Padamjit Singh, reside in London and the USA respectively, and have an ancestral home in Chandigarh.After Chetan Anand's death, in 1997, she inherited a part of his property along with his sons from his first marriage. She was murdered on 27 March 2000 in Chetan Anand's, Ruia Park bungalow in Juhu, Mumbai, India. Police charged Chetan Anand's sons Ketan Anand and Vivek Anand along with their employees Mala Choudhary and Ashok Chinnaswamy with her murder. Their motive was thought to be rights to her inheritance of Chetan Anand's property. The four accused were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in July 2002. In 2011, Mumbai high court accepted the appeals filed by the accused duo against the trial court's order.
Filmography
|}External links
- Remembering Priya Rajvansh Rediff.comRediff.comRediff.com India is a news, information, entertainment, and shopping portal. It was founded in 1996 as "Rediff On The NeT" and is headquartered in Mumbai, India with offices in New Delhi and New York City, USA....