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Durga Khote

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Durga Khote
Khote in Prithvi Vallabh (1943)
Born
Vita Lad

(1905-01-14)14 January 1905
Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India (present-day Mumbai, Maharashtra, India)
Died22 September 1991(1991-09-22) (aged 86)
Bombay, Maharashtra, India (present-day Mumbai)
EducationCathedral High School
Alma materSt. Xavier's College, Mumbai (BA)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • film producer
Years active1931–1983
SpouseVishwanath Khote
FamilyViju Khote (nephew)
Shubha Khote (niece)
Bhavna Balsavar (grand-niece)
Awards
Honours

Durga Khote (née Vita Lad; 14 January 1905 − 22 September 1991) was an Indian actress, beginning as one of the foremost leading ladies of her time. She remained active in Hindi and Marathi cinema, as well as theatre, for over 50 years, starring in around 200 films and numerous theatre productions.

In 2000, in a millennium issue, India Today named her among "100 People Who Shaped India", noting: "Durga Khote marks the pioneering phase for women in Indian Cinema",[1] she was one of the first women from respectable families to enter the film industry, thus breaking a social taboo.[2]

She also ranks among the top ten actresses in mother roles in Hindi cinema,[3] most notable among them were as Jodhabai in K. Asif's Mughal-e-Azam (1960), which earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress; as Kaikeyi in Vijay Bhatt's classic Bharat Milap (1942); her other memorable roles as mother were in Charnon Ki Dasi (1941); Mirza Ghalib (1954); Bobby (1973) and Bidaai (1974), winning the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for the lattermost. She has received the highest award in Indian cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1983), for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.

Early life

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Khote was born as Vita Lad to a Konkani Brahmin family[4] which hailed from Goa and spoke Konkani at home.[5] Her father's name was Pandurang Shamrao Lad and her mother's name was Manjulabai.[5] She grew up in a large Hindu joint family in Kandewadi. She was educated at Cathedral High School and St. Xavier's College where she studied for a Bachelor of Arts degree. While still a college-going teenager, she married into the Khote family and settled down with her husband Vishwanath Khote.[6]

By the age of 26, Durga Khote was a widowed mother with two young sons; Bakul and Harin. She had to seek work in film to support her children. In doing so, she became a pioneer of sorts: She hailed from a traditional family and the film industry was regarded as the preserve of the base and the bawdy. Also, most of the female characters were played by men at the time.

Career

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Early career

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Khote in Seeta (1934).

Durga Khote debuted in a minor role in the obscure 1931 silent film Farebi Jaal, by the Prabhat Film Company, followed by Maya Machindra (1932). She was soon promoted to play heroine in the 1932 double version (Hindi and Marathi) Ayodhyecha Raja, another Prabhat film, which was the first ever Marathi talkie, and proved to be a runaway hit, where she played the role of Rani Taramati.[7] Indeed, she ventured yet another pioneering trend: Despite working closely with the Prabhat Film Company, she broke away from the "studio system" (exclusive contract with a studio to work in its films on a monthly salary) then in vogue and became one of the first "freelance" artistes of that era by working occasionally with the New Theatres, East India Film Co. (both at Calcutta), and Prakash Pictures.

In 1936, she played Saudamini in Amar Jyoti, which is one of her most memorable roles.[8][9] The characters played by her were very much like her regal personality and she commanded a screen presence even in front of legendary actors like Chandra Mohan, Sohrab Modi and Prithviraj Kapoor.[10]

In 1937, she produced and directed a film titled Saathi, making her one of the first women to step into this role in Indian cinema.[11] The 40s opened for her in a big way, with award-winning performances in Aachary Atre's Payachi Dasi (Marathi) and Charnon Ki Dasi (Hindi) (1941) and Vijay Bhatt's classic Bharat Milap (1942), both of which got her the BFJA Best Actress Award for two consecutive years.

Durga Khote remained active in the theatre circuit for many years, especially the Marathi theatre in Mumbai. She was actively associated with the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and worked in several plays for the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh. In 1954, she famously performed the role of Lady Macbeth in V.V. Shirwadkar's Marathi adaptations of Macbeth, as Rajmukut, The Royal Crown, along with Nanasaheb Phatak.[12]

Later career

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Durga Khote played a wide variety of roles over a career that was not only long, but also untouched by scandal. She was the inspiration for several generations of Indian actresses, including veterans such as the late Shobhna Samarth, who frequently spoke of how she had been inspired by Khote's example.

During later years, she played several important character roles, such as the mother of the protagonist. Her portrayal of Jodhabai, the queen of Akbar torn between duty towards her husband and love towards her son in Mughal-e-Azam (1960) was highly acclaimed and earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 1963, she acted in Merchant Ivory's debut film The Householder (1963).[13][14]

She went on to play other widely appreciated character roles in later movies, such as the role of the grandmother of the heroine in Bobby (1973), the hero's aunt in Abhimaan (1973), and the very memorable Bidaai (1974), where she played a mother, which earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Her final memorable role was in Subhash Ghai's Karz (1980), where she played the role of the mother of Raj Kiran and later, mother to Rishi Kapoor, who played the role of Raj Kiran's reincarnation after the screen death of Raj Kiran in the film.

She acted in over 200 films in her career. By the 1980s she successfully diversified into production of short films, ad films and documentaries by setting up Fact Films and later, Durga Khote Productions, which produced the Doordarshan TV series Wagle Ki Duniya.

Personal life

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Khote in 1938

Durga Khote was married when she was a teenager to Vishwanath Khote, of her own caste and similar social background, in a match arranged by their parents. It was a traditional marriage into an orthodox family, and the couple lived a harmonious and happy life. They had two sons. Vishwanath was a mechanical engineer who had graduated from Banaras Hindu University. His family was upper middle class, with modern English education and high social standing; his ancestors had been prominent bankers.

Unfortunately, Vishwanath Khote died young, when Durga was 26. She and her sons continued to reside with her in-laws, as is traditional in India, but she was not comfortable with her dependent, especially because her father-in-law was no more, and they were dependent on other family members financially. She thus felt compelled to make a living any which way she could, and the opening in films happened entirely by chance. The fact that she came from a modern and English-educated family meant that, even as a widow, she was able to act in films, which was derided as a disreputable profession in those days.

She thus raised her two sons, Bakul and Harin, single-handedly. Both of them went on to be well-settled in life. But she suffered the loss of her son Harin, who predeceased her and died in his 40s. Harin was married to Vijaya Jaywant, and they were the parents of two sons.[15] After Harin's early death, his widow married a Parsi man named Farrokh Mehta and became famous as the film-maker Vijaya Mehta.

Durga Khote's grandchildren include her grandson Ravi, a filmmaker; granddaughters Anjali, Rekha and Priya; and grandson Deven Khote, a successful producer who is one of the co-founders of UTV, and who has also directed a film.[16] Deven Khote is noted for producing films such as Jodhaa Akbar and Life in a Metro.[17]

Durga Khote's brother-in-law, Nandu Khote (brother of Vishwanath), was a noted stage and silent movie actor. Two of Nandu's children also became actors in the film industry. His son Viju Khote (1941–2019) was an actor perhaps best known for his role of "Kalia" in Sholay (1975). Nandu's daughter is the actress Shubha Khote, who debuted in Seema (1955) and worked as a heroine in several films before moving to character roles. Still later, she moved to directing and producing Marathi films and also entered television in the '90s. Shubha's daughter, Bhavana Balsavar, is also an award-winning TV actress who appeared in sitcoms like Dekh Bhai Dekh and Zabaan Sambhalke before deciding to settle down and raise a family.[18][19] Thus, the acting profession which was pioneered by Durga Khote in her family has been embraced by her late husband's family.

Durga Khote also had some rather improbable, distinguished relatives with no connection to films. The socialite and politician Sharda Mukherjee (née Sharada Pandit), who herself served as governor of the states of Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, and who was the wife of Subroto Mukherjee, India's first Chief of the Air Staff, was Durga Khote's first cousin (her mother's sister's daughter). Sharda Mukherjee's paternal uncle, Ranjit Sitaram Pandit, was the husband of Jawaharlal Nehru's sister Vijayalakshmi Pandit.

Later in life, Durga Khote wrote an autobiography in Marathi, entitled Mee, Durga Khote, which was translated into English as I, Durga Khote,[20] and moved to Alibaug, near Mumbai. Durga Khote died on 22 September 1991.

Filmography

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Khote in Amar Jyoti (1936)
YearTitleRoleNotes
1931Farebi Jaal
1932Ayodhyecha RajaTaramatiHindi / Marathi film
Maya MachhindraQueenHindi / Marathi film
1933Patit Pawan
Rajrani MeeraMeera
1934SeetaSeeta
1935InquilabMiss Renee
Jeevan NatakMiss Queen
1936Amar JyotiSaudamini
1937PratibhaPratibha
1938Nandakumar
Saathi
1939Adhuri KahaniHarbala
1940GeetaDurgaHindi / Marathi film
Narsi BhagatManekbaiGujarati / Hindi film
Yamla Jat
1941Charnon Ki DasiVidya's mother-in-lawHindi / Marathi film
1942Bharat MilapMaharani KaikeyiHindi / Marathi film
Vijay
1943Kurbani
Mahasati Ansuya
Mahatma Vidur
Prithvi VallabhMrinalvati
TasveerVidya Devi
Zameen
1944Dil Ki Baat
Maharathi KarnaKunti
1945Gaon Ki Gori
LakharaniBichwa
Pannadai
Phool
Veer Kunal
1946Hum Ek HainZamindari Ma
Maharani Minaldevi
Rukmini Swayamvar
1948Anjuman
Seeta Sawayamwar
1949JeetRatan's mother
Maya Bazaar
SingaarKishan's Mother
1950Alakh Niranjan
Beqasoor
Hamara Ghar
Har Har Mahadev
Magroor
Nishana
Surajmukhi
1951AaramSita
Hamari Shaan
Hum LogMother
Nai Zindagi
Nandkishore
Sazaa
1952Aandhiyan
Hyderabad Ki NazneenMrs. Jwala Prasad
Lal Kunwar
Mordhwaj
Narveer Tanaji
Sandesh
1953Chacha Chowdhury
Dharma PathniNataraj's Wife
Malkin
Mashooka
Naag PanchamiRani Sanka
Naulakha HaarDevla
Shikast
Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
1954Laila
Lakeeren
Maan
Mirza GhalibAmma, Chaudvin's mother
1955Adl-E-JahangirMallika-e-Jahangeer
Haseena
Jagadguru Shankaracharya
Madh Bhare Nain
Shri Ganesh Vivah
1956Dwarikadheesh
Harihar Bhakti
Insaaf
Parivar
PatraniRaj Mata
Rajdhani
1957Bade SarkarSumitra Maan Singh
BhabhiRatan's aunt
Mera Salaam
MusafirMrs. Nilambar Sharma
Ram Hanuman Yuddha
Talaash
1958Gopichand
1959ArdhanginiPrakash's mom
Ghar Ghar Ki Baat
Maine Jeena Seekh Liya
Raj Tilak
1960Love in SimlaSonia's grandmother
Mughal-E-AzamMaharani Jodha BaiNominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
ParakhRani Ma, J.C. Roy's mother
Usne Kaha ThaParo
1961Bhabhi Ki ChudiyanPrabha's mother
Do BhaiGopi's Mother
Ek Ladki Saat Ladke
Kismet Palat Ke Dekh
Senapati
1962Main Shadi Karne Chala
Man-MaujiDr. Mohan's mother
RungoliSubhagi
Son of IndiaHead Nun
1963Mujhe Jeene DoDhara Khan's Mom
The HouseholderPrem's mother
1964Benazir
Door Ki AwaazPrakash's mother
Kaise Kahoon
Main Suhagan Hoon
ShagoonUncredited
Tere Dwaar Khada Bhagwan
1965Do DilRanimaa
Janam Janam Ke Saathi
KaajalRani Sahiba
PurnimaSharda R. Lal
1966AnupamaAshok's mother
Daadi MaaDaadi Maa / Maharani
DevarGopinath's Mom
Pyar MohabbatRajmata Rajeshwari
SagaaiSheel's mother
1967Chandan Ka PalnaMrs. Radha Laxmidas
1968Jhuk Gaya AasmanMrs. Saxena
Sapno Ka SaudagarPeter's mother
SunghurshMrs. Bhawani Prasad
1969Dharti Kahe PukarkeParvati
Ek Phool Do MaliLeela
Jeene Ki RaahJanki
Pyar Ka SapnaSudha's mother
1970Dhartichi Lekaren
GopiKunwar's Mother
KhilonaThakurain Singh
UmangAunti JiUncredited
1971AnandRenu's motherGuest Appearance
BanphoolHaria's maternal grandma
ChingariMohan's Mother
Ek Nari Ek BrahmachariRajlaxmi S. Chaudhary
1972BawarchiSita Sharma
Mangetar
Mere BhaiyaAvinash's mother
Raja JaniRajmata
ShararatHarry's mother
1973AbhimaanDurga Mausi
Agni RekhaDurga
BobbyMrs. Braganza
Door Nahin ManzilDadima
Namak HaraamSomu's mother
Sone Ke HathVijay Khanna's mother
1974BidaaiParvatiWon – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
Dil DiwanaVijay's Dadimaa
InsaaniyatRam's mother
1975Biwi Kiraya Ki
ChaitaliManish's mother
Kala SonaMrs. Ranjeet Singh
KhushbooBrindaban's mother
VandanaRakesh's Mother
1976JaanemanRonnie's mother
Jai Bajrang BaliDevi Maa Anjani
Rangila Ratan
ShaqueMrs. Bannerjee
1977Chacha BhatijaMrs. D'Silva
Chor SipaheeMrs. Khanna, Raja's mother
Darling Darling
Do ChehereDaadima
Naami Chor
PaapiAshok's mother
PaheliBrij Mohan's mother
Saheb BahadurMeena's grandmother
1980KarzMrs. Shanta Prasad Verma
1981Sangdil
1983Daulat Ke DushmanSunil's mother(final film role)

Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
1942 Charnon Ki Dasi[21] BFJA Awards: Best Actress Won
1943 Bharat Milap[22] BFJA Awards: Best Actress Won
1958 – Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Awarded
1968 – Padma Shri, fourth highest civilian award by the Government of India. Awarded
1970 Dhartichi Lekre Maharashtra State Award Won
1974 Bidaai Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress Won
1983 – Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the lifetime recognition award for films from Government of India[11] Awarded

Honours and recognitions

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Khote on a 2013 stamp of India

A postage stamp, bearing her face, was released by India Post to honour her on 3 May 2013.

References

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  1. ↑ Women of Substance Archived 8 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine, India Today.
  2. ↑ Ten most important women stars in Indian films Archived 21 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine Gautam Rajadhyaksha, Rediff.com.
  3. ↑ Memorable Moms The Statesman, 4 October 2008.
  4. ↑ Kumar, Anuj (6 March 2014). "Divas in a duel". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Welcome to Muse India". Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  6. ↑ "Durga Khote Profile on Cineplot.com". Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  7. ↑ "Profile with photographs". Archived from the original on 18 January 2006. Retrieved 22 January 2006.
  8. ↑ Ashok Raj (1 November 2009). Hero Vol.1. Hay House, Inc. pp. 45–. ISBN 978-93-81398-02-9. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  9. ↑ Tilak Rishi (2012). Bless You Bollywood!: A Tribute to Hindi Cinema on Completing 100 Years. Trafford Publishing. pp. 155–. ISBN 978-1-4669-3963-9. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  10. ↑ Kahlon, Sukhpreet. "Durga Khote, the formidable trailblazer of Hindi and Marathi cinema: Anniversary special". Cinestaan.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  11. 1 2 Dadasaheb Phalke Award 15th Recipient – 1983 – Durga Khote Archived 30 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Ultraindia.com. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  12. ↑ Shakespeare in India Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine internetshakespeare.uvic.ca
  13. ↑ Filmography on Allmovie Archived 31 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine.
  14. ↑ Filmography on The New York Times[dead link].
  15. ↑ Shanta Gokhale (26 November 2012). "Life at play". Pune Mirror.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  16. ↑ Durga Khote profile Washington State University
  17. ↑ Deven Khote The New York Times
  18. ↑ An Interview with Shobha Khote Archived 21 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine Rediff.com.
  19. ↑ The Forgotten Bollywood bhai-behan Brigade[dead link] Bollywood Hungama, 9 August 2006.
  20. ↑ "Autobiography – details from Oxford University Press website". Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2006.
  21. ↑ 5th Annual BFJA Awards – Awards For The Year 1941 Archived 8 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine BFJA Awards Official website.
  22. ↑ 6th Annual BFJA Awards – Awards For The Year 1942 Archived 8 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine BFJA Awards Official website.

Further reading

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