{"id":8443,"date":"2024-03-25T05:49:45","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T00:19:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/?p=8443"},"modified":"2024-03-24T21:37:03","modified_gmt":"2024-03-24T16:07:03","slug":"the-elusive-nanda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/the-elusive-nanda\/","title":{"rendered":"The Elusive Nanda"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Nanda<\/a>

The vulnerable sweetness – Nanda in Kaise Kahoon<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Nanda had a career spanning over two decades. While it was weepfests like Bhabhi<\/em> and Chhoti Bahen <\/em>or melodramas like Jab Jab Phool Khile, <\/em>where she donned a western avatar<\/em> that brought her fame and made her one of the highest paid actresses of her time, she had a vulnerable sweetness and more talent than the roles she was offered demanded.<\/p>\n

Born Nandini Karnataki in a showbiz family, it was no surprise when she donned the grease paint while she was still a child. Her father, Master Vinayak was a well-known Marathi and Hindi actor\/producer\/director. Her debut was a film called Mandir<\/em>, directed by her father, in which she essayed the role of a boy. Nanda was, however, a reluctant actress, upset at having to miss school to face the camera.<\/p>\n

But when her father suddenly passed away in August 1947, Nanda had no other option but to be the breadwinner of the family. Her mother and six siblings depended on her. Luckily, Mandir <\/em>released in 1948, and Nanda began getting offers in both Marathi and Hindi films. She even acted as a heroine in a few Marathi films. It was V Shantaram, her father\u2019s maternal cousin, who offered her a lead role in Rajkamal\u2019s Toofan aur Diya <\/em>opposite Rajendra Kumar. This film dealt with the trials and tribulations of a pair of orphaned siblings. Satish Vyas played the role of her brother. The film was an average grosser, but real success didn\u2019t come her way until much later.\u00a0 Until then, she played minor roles \u2013 the hero\u2019s sister, or a love interest with not much to do except look pretty.<\/p>\n

It was AVM Productions\u2019 Bhabhi<\/em> (1957), the remake of Kuladaivam<\/em> (1956) that brought success to her door. Nanda played a child widow, unaware of her marriage. Other roles, both supporting and second lead, followed in quick succession, Nanda was becoming famous for playing the sweet, innocent girl next door.<\/p>\n

Then, she was offered the titular role of Chhoti Bahen<\/em> (1959). The film\u2019s catapulted the actress into the big league. But Nanda never forgot her struggles; she was quick to work with newcomers when other actresses wouldn\u2019t. Shashi Kapoor always spoke of Nanda with gratitude \u2013 she signed eight films with him at a time he was considered box-office poison. Their biggest hit was the 1965 blockbuster Jab Jab Phool Khile. <\/em>Shashi Kapoor was not the only \u2018new\u2019 hero she worked with: while Sadhana and Mala Sinha had refused the role, she signed her career-best film Ittefaq<\/em> with then-newcomer Rajesh Khanna.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, her films in the early 70s were not very successful. Nothing if not dignified, Nanda eased into semi-retirement. Until Esmayeel Shroff offered her a role in Ahista Ahista<\/em> (1981).<\/p>\n