Nutan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nutan
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Nutan, c. 1963
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| Born |
Nutan Samarth
4 June 1936 |
| Died | 21 February 1991 (aged 54) Bombay, Maharashtra, India
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| Nationality | Indian |
| Years active | 1950–1991 |
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Notable work
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Hum Log (1951) Seema (1955) Anari (1959) Sujata (1959) Chhalia (1960) Bandini (1963) Milan (1967) Saraswatichandra (1968) Anuraag (1972) Saudagar (1973) Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978) |
| Spouse(s) |
Rajnish Bahl
(m. 1959) |
| Children | Mohnish Bahl |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Mukherjee-Samarth family |
| Honours | Padma Shri (1974) |
Nutan Samarth Bahl (born June 4, 1936 – died February 21, 1991), known simply as Nutan, was a famous Indian actress. She worked mostly in Hindi films for almost 40 years. She acted in over 80 movies, playing many different kinds of characters.
Nutan is seen as one of the best actors in Indian cinema history. She was known for her natural acting style. She often played strong women who faced challenges. Nutan won a record five Filmfare Awards for Best Actress. In 1974, she received the Padma Shri, which is one of India's highest awards for civilians.
Contents
Early Life and Family Connections
Nutan Samarth was born in Bombay (now Mumbai) on June 4, 1936. She was the oldest of four children. Her father, Kumarsen Samarth, was a filmmaker. Her mother, Shobhna Samarth, was also a famous actress and filmmaker. Nutan's grandmother and aunt were also actors, so she came from a family deeply involved in films.
Nutan had two sisters, Tanuja and Chatura, and a brother, Jaideep. Her parents separated before her brother was born. Famous actresses Kajol and Tanishaa Mukerji are Nutan's nieces. Kajol later tied Nutan's record for winning the most Filmfare Best Actress awards.
As a child, Nutan went to Villa Theresa School and then Baldwin Girls' High School. She loved singing and dancing, but she also enjoyed math and geography. She studied classical music for four years. In 1953, after starting her film career, she went to a special school in Switzerland for a year. She said that year was the happiest time of her life.
Her Amazing Film Career
Nutan first appeared in a film called Nal Damyanti in 1945 when she was a child. She officially started her acting career at age 14. This was in the 1950 film Hamari Beti, which her mother directed. People noticed her "fine performance" in this first movie.
Becoming a Star in Early Films
Her next big movie was the thriller Nagina (1951). This film was her first commercial success. She was only 15, so she wasn't allowed to attend its premiere because it was for adults only. The same year, she starred in Hum Log, a popular film about a middle-class family. These early roles helped her become a rising star.
In 1952, Nutan took part in the Miss India contest and won the title of Miss Mussoorie.
Big Success and Major Awards
Nutan's career really took off with the film Seema (1955). For this role, she won her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She then starred in a romantic comedy called Paying Guest with Dev Anand. By the late 1950s, she was a well-known star.
In 1959, she had two big hits: Anari and Sujata. She won her second Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her role in Sujata. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, she continued to have many successful films. These included Chhalia (1960), Saraswatichandra (1968), and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978).
In 1960, she acted with Raj Kapoor again in Chhalia. Critics praised her "superb and memorable portrayal" in the film. Nutan and Dev Anand were a popular on-screen pair, starring in four films together.
One of her most famous roles was in Bimal Roy's Bandini (1963). In this film, Nutan played Kalyani, a young woman in prison. The story explores her life and a difficult choice she faces. Nutan was pregnant during the making of this film.
Bandini was a huge success and is considered one of the best performances in Indian cinema. Nutan won her third Filmfare Award for Best Actress for this role. Many critics and authors have called her performance in Bandini one of the greatest in Indian film history.
She won her fourth Filmfare Award for Milan (1967). In 1978, she made a strong comeback with Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki. For this role, she won her fifth Filmfare Award for Best Actress at age 42. This made her a record holder for the most Best Actress wins at Filmfare. Nutan was one of the few actresses of her time who continued to play leading roles successfully in her 40s.
Later Roles and Final Films
In the 1980s, Nutan started playing more mature roles, often as a mother. She appeared in popular films like Meri Jung (1985), Naam (1986), and Karma (1986). For her role in Meri Jung, she won a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Her last film released while she was alive was Kanoon Apna Apna in 1989. She also acted in a TV show called Mujrim Hazir. Nutan also sang two songs in her films.
Personal Life and Family
Nutan married Indian Navy Lieutenant-Commander Rajnish Bahl on October 11, 1959. Their only son, Mohnish Bahl, was born in 1961. Mohnish also became a well-known actor in TV and films. Nutan's granddaughter, Pranutan Bahl, named after Nutan, is also an actress. Nutan enjoyed hunting as a hobby. Her husband passed away in 2004.
Illness and Passing
Nutan was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990. In February 1991, she became very ill and was admitted to a hospital in Mumbai. She passed away on February 21, 1991, at the age of 54. Two of her films, Naseebwala (1992) and Insaniyat (1994), were released after her death.
Her Artistic Style and Lasting Impact
Nutan is remembered as one of the greatest actors in Indian cinema. She was known for choosing unusual roles and for her natural way of acting. Many of her roles were seen as "path-breaking," meaning they broke new ground.
Rediff.com listed her as the third-greatest actress of all time. NDTV placed her among the most popular actresses ever. Actresses like Sadhana and Smita Patil said Nutan was an inspiration to them. Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali said, "They don't make actresses like her anymore." Singer Lata Mangeshkar also praised Nutan, saying she brought justice to her voice on screen.
Critics often noted Nutan's expressive voice and natural way of delivering lines. She could be quiet and gentle or strong and sarcastic, always making a big impact. She was known for playing female characters who were just as strong and important as the male characters in her films. Her performance in Bandini is still celebrated as one of the best in Indian cinema.
Notable Films and Awards
Nutan had a remarkable career filled with many memorable films and awards.
Key Films
- Hamari Beti (1950)
- Nagina (1951)
- Hum Log (1951)
- Seema (1955)
- Paying Guest (1957)
- Anari (1959)
- Sujata (1959)
- Chhalia (1960)
- Bandini (1963)
- Milan (1967)
- Saraswatichandra (1968)
- Saudagar (1973)
- Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978)
- Meri Jung (1985)
- Naam (1986)
Major Awards
- Padma Shri (1974): This is a high civilian honor from the Indian government for her contributions to arts.
- Filmfare Awards for Best Actress: She won this award a record five times for her roles in:
- Seema (1957)
- Sujata (1960)
- Bandini (1964)
- Milan (1968)
- Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1979)
- Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress: She won this award for Meri Jung (1986).
- Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards for Best Actress (Hindi): She won this award three times for Bandini (1964), Milan (1968), and Saudagar (1974).
Tributes and Honors
Nutan's life story is told in a book called Nutan – Asen Mi Nasen Mi. In February 2011, the Government of India released a postage stamp with Nutan's picture to honor her. In 2017, on what would have been her 81st birthday, Google created a special Doodle to celebrate her.
Many people in the film industry have paid tribute to Nutan. Lata Mangeshkar said Nutan was one of the best actresses in terms of acting skill. Actresses like Sonam Kapoor and Tara Sutaria have also expressed their admiration for Nutan's unique style and grace.
