Shobhna Samarth
Encyclopedia
Shobhna Samarth (ca. 1915 – 9 February 2000) was a Marathi actress who began her career in the early days of talkie movies in the Indian film industry, and continued in lead roles into the 1950s. She started in Marathi cinema
. Her first Hindi
film, Nigahen Nafrat was released in 1935. She is best remembered for her portrayal of Sita in Ram Rajya (1943).
She later produced and directed a pair of movies that launched the careers of her daughters, Nutan
and Tanuja.
since the 1940s, Shobhna was born as Saroj Shilotri to banker P.S. Shilotri and his wife, Rattan Bai
.
She was married to director and cinematographer Kumarsen Samarth from Vile Parle(E), Mumbai. They had four daughters. Eventually the couple parted amicably and Shobhana became linked to actor Motilal. Two of her daughters, Nutan
and Tanuja, also became actresses. Shobhana produced their debut films. Another daughter, Chatura, is an artist, and her daughter Reshma, who is married, currently lives in St. Louis, MO. Chatura acted in only 1 Bollywood movie, and Reshma never entered into movies. Nutan's son Mohnish Behl
is also an actor as are Tanuja's daughters Kajol
& Tanisha Mukherjee
. Kajol is married to actor Ajay Devgan
. Other members of the dynasty include Shomu Mukherjee
who married Tanuja. (See [Mukherjee-Samarth family (film)).
She and daughter Nutan were estranged for more than two decades but reconciled three years before Nutan's death from cancer in February 1991. At her own death from cancer in 2000, Shobhna had seven granddaughters, one grandson, three great-granddaughters, and two great-grandsons.
Samarth won a Filmfare
Special Award in 1996.
Marathi cinema
Marathi cinema refers to films produced in the Marathi language in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is the oldest and pioneer film industry in India...
. Her first Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
film, Nigahen Nafrat was released in 1935. She is best remembered for her portrayal of Sita in Ram Rajya (1943).
She later produced and directed a pair of movies that launched the careers of her daughters, 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...
and Tanuja.
Personal life
A member of a prominent film industry family, which has been in BollywoodBollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
since the 1940s, Shobhna was born as Saroj Shilotri to banker P.S. Shilotri and his wife, Rattan Bai
Rattan Bai
Rattan Bai was a courtesan and entertainer who is the ancestress of several Bollywood film stars. She was the mother of actress Shobhna Samarth and thus the grandmother of actresses Nutan and Tanuja...
.
She was married to director and cinematographer Kumarsen Samarth from Vile Parle(E), Mumbai. They had four daughters. Eventually the couple parted amicably and Shobhana became linked to actor Motilal. Two of her daughters, 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...
and Tanuja, also became actresses. Shobhana produced their debut films. Another daughter, Chatura, is an artist, and her daughter Reshma, who is married, currently lives in St. Louis, MO. Chatura acted in only 1 Bollywood movie, and Reshma never entered into movies. Nutan's son Mohnish Behl
Mohnish Behl
Mohnish Bahl Mohnish Bahl Mohnish Bahl (Hindi: मोह्निश बहल,(born 14 February 1963) is an Indian actor working in the Bollywood film industry. He is currently playing the role of Dr. Ashutosh in the show Kuch Toh Log Kahenge-Personal life:...
is also an actor as are Tanuja's daughters Kajol
Kajol
Kajol Devgn , better known as Kajol, is an Indian film actress appearing in Hindi films. She is regarded as one of India's most successful and talented female actors....
& Tanisha Mukherjee
Tanisha Mukherjee
Tanisha , also known as Tanisha, is a Hindi, Telugu and Tamil actress.-Family background:Tanisha is an Indian actress of Bengali–Marathi descent. Tanisha comes from a prominent industry family, which has been working in Bollywood since the 1940s...
. Kajol is married to actor Ajay Devgan
Ajay Devgan
Ajay Devgan , born Vishal Veeru Devgan on 2 April 1969, is an Indian film actor, director, and producer.He made his film debut with Phool Aur Kaante in 1991 and received a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for his performance in the film and for which he won a Filmfare Best Debut Award...
. Other members of the dynasty include Shomu Mukherjee
Shomu Mukherjee
Shomu Mukherjee was a Bengali Indian director, writer and producer.Born in 1943, he was the fourth son of Sashadhar Mukherjee, the owner of Filmalaya studios, and Sati Rani Devi. His mother was the only sister of the Ganguly brothers....
who married Tanuja. (See [Mukherjee-Samarth family (film)).
She and daughter Nutan were estranged for more than two decades but reconciled three years before Nutan's death from cancer in February 1991. At her own death from cancer in 2000, Shobhna had seven granddaughters, one grandson, three great-granddaughters, and two great-grandsons.
Samarth won a 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...
Special Award in 1996.
As Actress
- Vilasi Ishwar (1935)
- Nigah-e-Nafrat (1935)
- Do Diwane (1936)
- Be Kharab Jan (1936)
- Pati Patni (1939)
- Apni Nagariya (1940)
- Savera (1942)
- Vijay Lakshmi (1943)
- Ram Rajya (1943)
- Naukar (1943)
- Mahasati Ansuya (1943)
- Veer Kunal (1945)
- TaramatiTaramatiTaramati is one of two peaks on Harishchandragad, a fort dating back to the Yadav kingdom. This is the Second Highest Peak in Maharashtra State and is ranked just after Kalsubai. Located atop the Harishchandragad Plateau, this place offers a great trekking experience for both amateurs and experts...
(1945) - Shahkar (1947)
- Sati Toral (1947)
- MalikaMalikaMalika may refer to:*the Arabic word for queen, the feminine of Malik, which is a forename-People:*Malika al-Fassi, Moroccan writer*Malika Amar Sheikh, Marathi Indian writer*Malika Ayane, Italian singer*Malika Benarab-Attou, French politician...
(1947) - Hamari Beti (1950)
- Ram Janma (1951)
- InsaniyatInsaniyatInsaniyat is an Urdu word meaning Humanity and is the title of the following Hindi films :-*Insaniyat starring Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand* Insaaniyat starring Shashi Kapoor*Insaniyat starring Kimi Katkar...
(1955) - Love in SimlaLove in SimlaLove In Simla is a 1960 Indian Hindi film, produced by Sashadhar Mukherjee and his Filmalaya production house. Directed by R.K. Nayyar, the film had the producer's son, Joy Mukherjee, in the lead...
(1960) - ChhaliaChhaliaChhalia is a 1960 Hindi film. Directed by Manmohan Desai it stars Raj Kapoor, Nutan, Pran, Rehman and Shobhna Samarth. Raj Kapoor plays his stereotyped "simple guy with a heart of gold" role yet again in this film....
(1960) - ChitralekhaChitralekhaChitralekha was a friend of Usha and daughter of minister of Banasura. She was a talented lady who helped Usha to identify the young man seen in the dream of Usha. Usha was daughter of Banasura, a thousand-armed asura and son of Bali. Banasur was a powerful and terrible asura. When Usha became...
(1964) - Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal (1965)
- Wahan Ke Log (1967)
- Ek Bar Mooskura DoEk Bar Mooskura DoEk Bar Mooskura Do is a 1972 Bollywood drama film directed by Ram Mukherjee. The film stars Shobhna Samarth, Joy Mukherjee, Tanuja and Deb Mukherjee . O.P.Nayyar's hit music was one of the plus point of this film...
(1972) - Do ChorDo ChorDo Chor is a 1972 Hindi/Urdu film produced by Raj Khosla and directed by Padmanabh. It stars Dharmendra, Tanuja, Shobhana Samarth, K.N. Singh and Jalal Agha. The music is by R.D. Burman and the lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri...
(1972) - Panitheeratha VeeduPanitheeratha VeeduPanitheeratha Veedu is a 1973 Malayalam language film directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan. It stars Prem Nazir, Nanditha Bose, Baby Sumathi, N. Govindankutty, Veeran and Kaviyoor Ponnamma. It is an adaptation of Parappurath's 1964 novel of the same name. It won the Kerala State Film Awards for Best...
(1973) - Esthappan (1980)
- Ghar Dwaar (1985)
- VasthuharaVasthuharaVasthuhara , a Malayalam film by the late G. Aravindan is a social film which looks into the lives of partition refugees from East Bengal to West Bengal. At a larger level, it's the universal story of refugees.- Plot :...
(1991)
As Director
- Hamari Beti (1950)
- Chhabili (1960)