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Nirupa Roy

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Nirupa Roy
Roy in 1956 film Taksaal
Born
Kanta Chauhan

(1931-01-04)4 January 1931
Died13 October 2004(2004-10-13) (aged 73)
Other namesChhibi (pet name)
Kokila Balsara (married name)
OccupationsActress
Lyricist
Years active1946–2002
Spouse
Kamal Balsara (later Kamal Roy)
​
​
(m. 1945)​
ChildrenYogesh Roy (son)
Kiran Roy (son)
AwardsFilmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Munimji (1956)
Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Chhaya (1962)
Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Shehnai (1965)
Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (2004)

Nirupa Roy (born Kanta Chauhan; 4 January 1931 – 13 October 2004)[1] was an Indian actress who primarily worked in Hindi films, besides working in a few Gujarati films. Starting her career as a leading actress, Roy became known for her portrayals of Parvati in several mythological films, including Har Har Mahadev (1950).[2][3] Later she earned further recognition playing motherly roles during the 1970s, and was dubbed the "Queen of Misery" in Hindi film circles due to her portrayals of tragedy and sorrow.[4][5] Roy was active from 1946 to 2002, appeared in over 250 films, and won three Filmfare Awards throughout her career, and was nominated a total of 4 times. In 2004, Roy received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.

Early life

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Based on her interview to film historian Shishir Krishna Sharma, Nirupa Roy was born to a Gujarati Chauhan household on 4 January 1931 in the city Valsad, Gujarat. Her birth name was Kanta Chauhan although she was addressed as Chhibi by her parents. She was one of the two daughters born to her parents. Her father was employed in the railways. She was only 14 years old in 1945 and was still in school when she was married off to Kamal Balsara following which her name changed to Kokila Balsara and with her husband, they went to Bombay (now Mumbai).

Career

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As per what Nirupa Roy herself stated, her marriage had been just 3 to 4 months only when her husband came across an advertisement from Sunrise Pictures in the newspapers which required the lookout for a fresh face for their upcoming Gujarati film Ranakdevi (1946) for which Kamal Balsara himself applied. However, Kamal failed the interview but his wife Kokila Balsara, who had accompanied him to the interview was noticed by the crew present there who immediately offered her the female lead role without an interview for her at all. She accepted the role only after Kamal Balsara insisted her too. Later, she was dismissed from that role and was, instead, given a different and brief role to portray. At the same time, the owner of Sunrise Pictures, film producer and director Vishnukumar Maganlal Vyas changed her name from Kokila Balsara to Nirupa Roy and introduced her with this new name in the film. Soon, Kamal Balsara too changed his family name to Roy and became Kamal Roy.[6]

The first Hindi film she signed was Ajit Pictures' Gunsundari (1948), a Hindi-Gujarati bilingual film opposite Manhar Desai (with whom, she co-starred in several films later on). Her first released film, however, turned out to be Lakhon Mein Ek (1947). However, contrary to what she said, she was first seen in the Hindi film Amar Raj (1946).

As per her, even though mythological, historical and social films had a certain group of actors, Roy remained in demand from all genres to star in. She did almost 50 mytholgical films viz. Har Har Mahadev (1950), Shiv Shakti (1952), Naag Panchami (1953), Shiv Kanya (1954), Sati Madalsa (1955), Sati Naag Kanya (1956), Chandi Pooja (1957) often portraying Sita, Savitri, Parvati and Damyanti. Such was her popularity in mythologicals that people often tend to visit her home and seek blessings.

She also worked in 10 historical films viz. Amarsingh Rathaur (1956), Samrat Chandragupta (1958), Kavi Kalidas (1959), Rani Roopmati (1959), Veer Durgadas (1960) and Razia Sultan (1961). At the same time, she got the offers of both lead, second lead or character roles across social films and family dramas like Uddhar (1949), Hamari Manzil (1949), Mann Ka Meet (1950), Bhagyawaan (1953), Do Bigha Zamin (1953), Garam Coat (1955), Bhai-Bhai (1956), Janam Janam Ke Phere (1957), Kangan (1959), Ghar Ki Laj (1960) etc.

In the film Samrat Chandragupt (1958) starring her, she also wrote the song "Mujhe Dekh Chand Sharmaaye..." sung by Lata Mangeshkar with music by Kalyanji Veerji Shah which was also picturised on her.

The image she created through mythological films was so strong that when she dared to change her image by doing a couple of stunt films like Sinbad The Sailor (1952), Baazigar (1959) or Superman (1960), she didn't receive much success and met with heavy criticism from public, forcing her to stop working in stunt films. She essayed the title role of Superman in its Indianized version titled Superman (1960). This was a rare instance in Hindi Cinema when a woman portrayed a masculine character.

While in mythological films, she was often cast opposite Manhar Desai, Mahipal, Shahu Modak and Trilok Kapoor (with whom she did 18 films), she was often paired with Paidi Jairaj and Bharat Bhushan in historicals while in family dramas, her frequent chemistry used to be opposite Ashok Kumar and Balraj Sahni.[7]

While she had often portrayed motherly characters in several films of 1950s, she was seen in the role of an aged mother for the first time in Munimji (1955). She played the old mother of the male lead, which was played by Dev Anand. She was still in her 20s when she played the role of Dev Anand's mother who himself, in reality, was 8 years older to her and who also worked as a parallel role earlier in Uddhar (1949). She also played the stepmother of Pran's character when Pran himself was 11 years older to her. Same way, the female lead Nalini Jaywant was 5 years older to her. As per Roy herself, she was originally given the heroine's role which required to show the heroine's journey from young to old. Despite completing the role, she was not informed about the changes made where her youth portion was cut and she was replaced there by Nalini Jaywant. Despite this, she received Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress though she remained upset from the turn of events during the making of the film.

She transitioned into character roles during the 1960s, winning Filmfare Awards for her performances in Chhaya (1961) and Shehnai (1964). Her other noteworthy performances were in Chand Aur Suraj (1965), Ram Aur Shyam (1967), Aaya Sawan Jhhom Ke (1969), Aan Milo Sajna (1970) and Chhoti Bahu (1971).

Her major success during her second innings arose when she essayed the role of the mother to the characters played by Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor made her name synonymous to the impoverished, suffering mother. Her role in Deewaar (1975), especially the iconic dialogue "Mere paas maa hai," became a cultural touchstone and is still cited today.[6] She was offered the role only after Vyjayanthimala had turned it down. She thereby came to be identified as Amitabh Bachchan's mother and did the same in several films alongside playing the mothers of Shashi Kapoor, Dharmendra etc. as well viz. Maa (1976), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Ganga Ki Saugand (1978), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Suhaag (1979), Gautam Govinda (1979), Ganga Meri Maa (1983), Ganga Jamuna Saraswati (1988), Ganga Tere Desh Mein (1988) etc.

Her roles in Lal Baadshah (1999) where she played Amitabh Bachchan's foster mother, Jahan Tum Le Chalo (1999) where she played Jimmy Shergill's paternal grandmother and Love You Hamesha (2002) were amongst her last films.

Personal life and death

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At age 14, she married 23 years old Kamal Balsara (later Kamal Roy; 28 March 1922 - 9 November 2015) in 1945. They had two sons, Yogesh Roy and Kiran Roy. In the years following her death, they engaged into a dispute over Roy's property and belongings, which has received much attention in the news and media.[8][9] Though she was supported by her husband regarding pursuing a film career, she initially met with heavy criticism for entering the showbiz despite being a married woman by the society, including her father. Though the people in general pacified soon after her first film release, her father remained angry and neither saw her nor spoke to her again till his death. Such was his anger on her that while he was alive, she had to surreptitiously meet her mother.

On 13 October 2004, Roy suffered a cardiac arrest in Mumbai, and died at the age of 73.[10] Her husband Kamal Roy, 9 years older to her, outlived her by 11 years and died at age 93.

Several tributes and articles have been made in Roy's memory.[11] Her dialogues from the film Deewaar became iconic,[12] and her acting in the film along with her other notable films, is considered to be a landmark in Hindi cinema.[13]

Filmography

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Hindi

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Year Film Role Notes
1946 Amar Raj Bakula Hindi film debut
1947 Lakhon Mein Ek
Meerabai Made simultaneously in Gujarati.
Bhanwar
1948 Gunsundari Guniyal First Hindi film she signed; Made simultaneously in Gujarati.
Hip Hip Hurray alias Chaubeji
Jai Hanuman
Mitti Ke Khiloune
Nanand Bhojai Made simultaneously in Gujarati.
Satyavan Savitri
1949 Garibi
Hamari Manzil
Uddhar
1950 Alakh Niranjan
Bhai Bahen
Har Har Mahadev
Man Ka Meet
Veer Bhimsen
1951 Bare Bhaiyya
Dasavtaar
Ishwar Bhakti
Jai Mahakali
Kashmir
Lav Kush
Maya Machhindra
Nai Zindagi
Parnetar
Ram Janma
Shri Ganesh Janma
Shri Vishnu Bhagwan
1952 Bhakta Puran
Izzat
Rajrani Damayanti
Shiv Shakti
Sinbad Jahazi
Veer Arjun
1953 Bhagyawan
Do Bigha ZaminParvati Mahato (Paro)
Naulakha Haar Lakha
Dharm Patni Neeru
Madmust
Manchala
Naag Panchami
Naya Rasta
Raj Ratan
Shuk Rambha
Teen Batti Char Raasta Kanta
1954 Aulad
Aurat Teri Yehi Kahani
Bilwamangal
Chakradhari
Durga Puja
Hukumat
Paheli Tarikh
Shiv Kanya
Watan
1955 Bhagwat Mahima
Garam CoatGeeta
Mahasati Savitri
MunimjiMalti Won—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
Navratri
Oonchi Haveli
Raj Durbar
Sati Madalsa
Shri Ganesh Vivah
Teen Bhai
Tonga-WaliRajjo
Waman Avtar
1956 Amarsingh Rathaur
Bajrang Bali
Basant Panchami
Bhai-BhaiLakshmi
Dashera
Dwarikadheesh
Gauri Puja
Lalkar
Ram Navami
Sati Naag Kanya
Taksaal
1957 Chandi Pooja
Do Roti[14] Malti
Ek Gaon Ki Kahani Maya
Janam Janam Ke Phere[15] Annapurna
Krishna Sudama
Laxmi Pooja
MohiniThe Queen
MusafirBhanu's Sister-In-Law
Naag Lok
Naag Mani
Narsi Bhagat
Ram Hanuman Yuddha
Shesh Naag
1958Chaal Baaz
DulhanSharada
Karigar Parvati
Naag Champa
Pati Parmeshwar
Raj Pratigya
Ram Bhakta Vibhisan
Samrat Chandragupt Helena Also lyricist of the song "Mujhe Dekh Chand Sharmaye..." sung by Lata Mangeshkar with music by Kalyanji Veerji Shah & picturised on herself.
1959 Baazigar
Bedard Zamana Kya Jane
Charnon Ki Dasi
Daaka
Dr. Z
Heera Moti
Kavi Kalidas Vidyatma
Kangan Karuna Das
Pakshiraj
Rani Rupmati Rupmati
1960AanchalJanaki
Ghar Ki Laj Ranjana
Lal Qilla
Maya Machhendra
Superman[16][17] Shanti alias Superman
Veer Durgadas
1961 Apsara
Batwara
ChhayaManorama Won—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
Dharm Putra Savitri Rai
Jai Chitod[18]
Razia Sultana Razia Sultana
1962 Aalha Udal
BezubanAchala
Bijli Chamke Jamna Paar
Maa Beta
1963 Chandrashekhar Azad
GrahastiMaya Khanna
Gumrah Kamala
Kaun Apna Kaun ParayaMangala
Mujhe Jeene DoChampa
1964BenazirNawab's wife
Bhakta Dhruv Kumar
Hameer Hath
Phoolon Ki SejJanaki Verma
ShehnaiShobha Won—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
1965 Chand Aur Suraj Kamala Malik
ShaheedDurga Bhabi
Shahi Raqasa
Shankar Sita Ansuya
Shri Ram Bharat Milap
1966 Aasra Maya
Laadla Savitri
Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare Begum Khan Bhadur
1967 Badrinath Yatra
JaalSundar Singh's mother
Ram Aur ShyamSulakshana
1968AabrooTilottama
Ek Kali MuskaiHostel Principal
Jyot Jale Sandhya
Mitti Ka Dev
Raja Aur RunkShanta
Sadhu Aur Shaitaan Actress who played Parvati in play Uncredited special appearance
1969Aansoo Ban Gaye PhoolDr. Sumitra
Anjaana Raju's mother
Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke Maya
Hum Ek Hain
Jigri Dost Annapoorna Das
Pyar Ka MausamJamuna
Rahgir
Surya Devata
1970 Aan Milo SajnaSavitri Choudhary
AbhinetriShekhar's Mother
Ghar Ghar Ki KahaniPadma
Gopi Parvati
Maa Aur MamtaPolly
MaharajaRadha
My Love Durga
Purab Aur PaschimKaushalya
1971 Chhoti Bahu Sita
Ganga Tera Pani AmritShobha
Jawan Mohabbat Sunita Sareen
Nadaan Ranjana (Rani Maa)
Sansar Shobha
1972 Anokhi Pehchan
Ek Hasina Do Diwane Amar's mother
Janwar Aur Insaan Gauri
Jawani DiwaniMadhu Anand
1973 Kuchhe DhaageThakurain
Manchali Leena's aunt
Pyaar Ka Rishta Radha
Taxi Driver
1974 Badla
Farebi Annapoorna
Roti Malti
Zehreela Insaan Shobha
1975DeewarSumitra Verma Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
Mounto
Ponga Pandit Janaki Nath
1976 Aap Beati Laajo Kapoor
MaaVijay's Mother
Suntan Tulsi
1977 Aaina Savitri
Aakhri Goli Janaki Singh
Amar Akbar AnthonyBharati
AnurodhRadha Mathur
Hatyara Prakash's mother
Kasam Khoon Ki Shanti
Khoon Pasina Shiva's mother
1978 Anjane Mein Shanti Lal
Aankh Ka TaraParvati
Besharam Ramchandra's mother
Dil Aur Deewaar Mother of Saroj & Chandu
Muqaddar Ka Sikandar Fatima Cameo appearance
Ram Kasam Lakshmi Singh
1979 Aatish Shobha Rai
Gautam Govinda Ganga
Jaandaar
Kartavya Mother of Vijay & Ajay
Khandaan Savitri Shrivastav
Naalayak
SuhaagDurga Kapoor
1980 Chambal Ki Kasam
Lootmaar Satyavati
Zalim
1981Aas PaasArun Choudhury's mother
Jail Yatra Radha Verma
Kahani Ek Chor Ki Gauri
Katilon Ke Kaatil Radha Pratap Singh
Khoon Aur Paani Son of Ram & Lakshman Singh
Kranti Radha
Professor Pyarelal Shanti
Shakka
1982 Baawri
Badle Ki AagDurga
Chalti Ka Naam Zindagi
Deedar-E-Yaar
Do Dishayen Neeru
Do Ustad Aslsm's mother
Geet Ganga
Jaanwar Durgavati Singh
Main Intaquam Loonga Janaki Agnihotri
Teesri AnkhMalti Nath
Teri Kasam Parvati
1983BetaabSumitra Kapoor
Chor Police Rohan Sinha's mother Special appearance
Ganga Meri Maa Ganga
Mawaali Mother of Ramesh & Gangu
1984 Aan Aur Shaan Kaushalya
Inquilaab Amarnath's mother
Mera Faisla Raj Saxena's mother
Ram Tera Desh
1985 Aaj Ka Daur Lakshmi Agnihotri
GeraftaarDurga Khanna
Mahaguru Subhash's mother
MardDurga Singh
Pataal Bhairavi Ramu's mother
Ramkali
SarfaroshJwala Singh's Mother
1986AngaarayAarti & Sanjay Verma's mother
Locket Lakshmi
1987 Naam O Nishan Champa Singh
Pyaar Karke Dekho
1988 Aurat Teri Yehi Kahani Thakurain
Charanon Ki Saugandh Malti
Dharam Shatru
Do Waqt Ki Roti Kaushalya
Gangaa Jamunaa SaraswatihBharati
Ganga Tere Desh Mein Ajay Nath's mother
IntaqaamBirju’s mother
Pyar Ka Mandir Lakshmi Kumar
Sone Pe Suhaaga Kashinath's mother
1989 Dana Paani Satya Prakash Tripathi's mother
Santosh Kamala
1990 Kaarnama Savitri
1991 Hai Meri Jaan Neelam's grandmother
Jaan Se Badhkar
Lakhpati
Pyar Ka Devta Parvati Kumar
PratikarParvati Prasad
1992 Mere Sajana Saath Nibhana Kanhaiya's Mother
Humshakal Vinod's Mother
1993 Aasoo Bane Angaarey
1996 Namak Shanti Sharma
1999 Jahan Tum Le Chalo Akash's Grandmother
Lal Baadshah Malti Singh
2002 Love You Hamesha

Gujarati

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YearFilmRole Notes
1946Ranakdevi Debut film
1947 Meerabai Meerabai
1948 Gunsundari Guniyal Made simultaneously in Hindi.
Jivan Palto
Nanand Bhojai Made simultaneously in Hindi.
1949 Mangalfera Shobha
Sati Sukanya
1950 Gadano Bel
Jawabdari
1961 Chundadi Chokha
1976 Dharti Mata
1977 Saubhagya Sindoor
1985 Maanu Mangalsutra


Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
1956 Filmfare Awards Best Supporting Actress Munimji Won
1962 Chhaya Won
1965 Shehnai Won
1976 Deewaar Nominated
2004 Lifetime Achievement Award N/a Won

References

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  1. ↑ "Nirupa Roy: The iconic on-screen mother who faced tragedy in real life". The Times of India. 5 January 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  2. ↑ Bosch, Lindsay J.; Mancoff, Debra N. (22 December 2009). Icons of Beauty: Art, Culture, and the Image of Women [2 volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. pp. 117–118. ISBN 978-0-313-08156-9.
  3. ↑ Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Routledge. p. 318. ISBN 978-1-135-94318-9.
  4. ↑ "Remembering Nirupa Roy, the Iconic 'Mother' of Bollywood". The Quint. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  5. ↑ "Mothers Day Special: Bollywood's Most Iconic Screen Mothers". filmfare.com. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  6. 1 2 Desk, Sentinel Digital (1 June 2018). "Nirupa Roy: A FLASHBACK (ICONIC ACTRESS)". The Sentinel - of this Land, for its People. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  7. ↑ Rishi, Tilak (2012). Bless You Bollywood!: A Tribute to Hindi Cinema on Completing 100 Years. Trafford. p. 100. ISBN 9781466939639.
  8. ↑ Sayed, Nazia (10 January 2018). "Battle between Nirupa Roy's sons gets uglier". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  9. ↑ "Deewar's Maa Nirupa Roy's Sons Fight Over Her Property". NDTV.com. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  10. ↑ "Javed Akhtar on Nirupa Roy 87th birth anniversary: She looked like Goddess in mother roles". India Today. Indo-Asian News Service. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  11. ↑ "Tribute to legendary actress Nirupa Roy". The Siasat Daily - Archive. 5 January 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  12. ↑ "Mother's Day 2019: Entertain your Maa with 13 famous Bollywood 'Mom Dialogues'". Latest Indian news, Top Breaking headlines, Today Headlines, Top Stories at Free Press Journal. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  13. ↑ Arora, Sakshi (4 January 2019). "Remembering Nirupa Roy, Indian cinema's 'Goddess' who became its most popular mother". ThePrint. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  14. ↑ "Screen 'mother' Nirupa Roy no more". The Times of India. 14 October 2004. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  15. ↑ Nazir, Asjad. "Manmohan Desai: Magician of the Bollywood masala entertainer | EasternEye". www.easterneye.biz. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  16. ↑ "When 'Bollywood's Majbur Maa' Nirupa Roy played India's first superman in 1960". MensXP. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  17. ↑ Keshri, Shweta (4 November 2025). "Nirupa Roy, mother of all heroes, once played Bollywood's 1st flying superhero". India Today. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  18. ↑ "Padmavati trailer out: The other Padmavatis you need to know about before the film". India Today. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
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