Shobhna Samarth

Shobhna Samarth (Hindi/Marathi: शोभना समर्थ) (1915 – February 9 2000) was an actress who began in the early days of sound in the Indian film industry. She started with Marathi cinema and her first Hindi film, "Nigahen Nafrat" was released in 1935. She is best remembered for her portrayal of Sita in "Ram Rajya" (1943).

Biography

Shobhna was a member of a prominent film industry family, which has been working in Bollywood since the 1940s. She was born as Saroj Shilotri to banker P.S. Shilotri and film actress Rattan Bai.

She was married to director and cinematographer Kumarsen Samarth. They had four children. Eventually the couple parted amicably and Shobhana became linked to actor Motilal (Moti Lal). [ [http://www.rediff.com/movies/1999/oct/29sama.htm Rediff On The NeT, Movies: Down memory lane with Shobhana Samarth ] ] Two of her daughters became leading actresses when they grew up, they were Nutan Behl and Tanuja Samarth. Shobhana produced their debut films. Another daughter, Chatura, is an artist. Nutan's son Mohnish Behl is also a character actor, and Tanuja's daughter Kajol is also an actress and is married to actor Ajay Devgan. Other members of the dynasty include granddaughter Tanisha and sons-in-law Rajnish Behl and Shomu Mukherjee. (See Mukherjee-Samarth family (film)). Additionally, she was first cousin to actress Nalini Jaywant.

She and daughter Nutan didn't speak to each other for 20 years because of differences over finances, but they reconciled three years before Nutan's death from cancer in February 1991.She won a Filmfare Special Award in 1996. [ [http://deep750.googlepages.com/FilmfareAwards.pdf 1st Filmfare Awards 1953 ] ] At her own death from cancer in 2000, Shobhana Samarth had seven granddaughters, one grandson, three great-granddaughters, and two great-grandsons.

Filmography

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) Taramati (1945) Shahkar (1947) Sati Toral (1947)

Malika (1947) Hamari Beti (1950) Ram Janma (1951) Insaniyat (1955) Love in Simla (1960) Chhalia (1960) Chitralekha (1964) Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal (1965) Wahan Ke Log (1967) Ek Bar Mooskura Do (1972) Do Chor (1972) Panitheeratha Veedu (1973) Esthappan (1980) Ghar Dwaar (1985) Vasthuhara (1991)

Director

Hamari Beti (1950)

Chhabili (1960)

References

External links

* http://freespace.virgin.net/jamal.akbar/shobana.htm