Tanuja facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tanuja
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Tanuja in 2021
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| Born |
Tanuja Samarth
23 September 1943 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1950–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Shomu Mukherjee
(m. 1973; died 2008) |
| Children | 2 (Kajol and Tanisha) |
| Parents |
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| Family | Mukherjee-Samarth family |
Tanuja Mukherjee, known simply as Tanuja, is a famous Indian actress. She was born on September 23, 1943. She has mostly worked in Hindi films, also known as Bollywood movies. Tanuja comes from a well-known family of actors and filmmakers. Her mother, Shobhna Samarth, and her father, Kumarsen Samarth, were also in the film industry. She is the younger sister of the famous actress Nutan.
Tanuja was married to filmmaker Shomu Mukherjee. They have two daughters who are also actresses: Kajol and Tanisha. Tanuja has won a Filmfare Award for her acting. She is well-known for her roles in Hindi films like Memdidi (1961) and Haathi Mere Saathi (1971). She also starred in Bengali films such as Deya Neya (1963).
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About Tanuja's Family Life
Tanuja was born on September 23, 1943, into a Marathi family. Her parents were filmmaker Kumarsen Samarth and actress Shobhna Samarth. She has three sisters, including the well-known actress Nutan. Her grandmother, Rattan Bai, and cousin Nalini Jaywant were also actresses.
Tanuja married filmmaker Shomu Mukherjee in 1973. They had two daughters, Kajol and Tanisha, who both became actresses. Kajol is married to actor Ajay Devgan. Shomu Mukherjee passed away in 2008. Tanuja is also related to other famous people in the film industry. Her brothers-in-law include filmmakers Joy, Deb, and Ram. She is also the aunt of actors Mohnish Behl, Rani, and Sharbani, and director Ayan Mukherjee.
Tanuja's Acting Journey
Tanuja started her film career as a child actress. She appeared with her older sister Nutan in the film Hamari Beti (1950). She was known as Baby Tanuja back then. As an adult, she made her debut in the film Chhabili (1960). This movie was directed by her mother, Shobhna Samarth.
Her role in Hamari Yaad Aayegi (1961) truly showed her talent as a lead actress. One of her early films that showed her great acting was Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966). She was nominated for a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the spy film Jewel Thief (1967).
Tanuja starred in Jeene Ki Raah (1969) with Jeetendra, which was a big hit. In the same year, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Paisa Ya Pyaar. After the success of Haathi Mere Saathi (1971), she acted in many other films. These included Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972) and Do Chor (1972). She also appeared in Marathi films like Zaakol and Pitruroon.
In the mid-1960s, Tanuja also started working in Bengali movies in Kolkata. Her first Bengali film was Deya Neya (1963), where she starred opposite Uttam Kumar. She also made films with Soumitra Chatterjee, such as Teen Bhuvaner Parey (1969). Tanuja spoke her own lines in these Bengali films.
After some time, Tanuja took a break from films. She later returned to acting, often taking on supporting roles. For example, in Khud-Daar (1982), she played a supporting role. She also appeared in Raj Kapoor's Prem Rog (1982). In 1986, she starred in the Sinhalese film Peralikarayo in Sri Lanka.
More recently, Tanuja has appeared in films like Saathiya (2002) and Khakee (2003). In 2008, she was a judge on the TV dance show Rock-N-Roll Family on Zee TV, alongside her daughter Kajol and son-in-law Ajay Devgan. In 2013, Tanuja played a widow in the Marathi film Pitruroon. For this role, she even shaved her head to make her character look very real.
Awards and Recognitions
Tanuja has received several awards for her acting:
- 1964 - Bengal Film Journalists Association Award for Best Supporting Actress (Hindi) for Benazir
- 1970 - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Paisa Ya Pyaar
- 2013 - Best Actress Award for Marathi Movie Pitruroon at the 20th Life OK Screen Awards
- 2014 - Lifetime Achievement Honour at Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Award
- 2014 - Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
Filmography
- Modern Love: Mumbai (2022)
- Shonar Pahar (2018)
- A Death in the Gunj (2016)
- Pitruroon (2013) (Marathi Movie)
- Son of Sardaar (2012)
- Toonpur Ka Superrhero (2010)
- Deewaar (2004)
- Khakee (2004)
- Bhoot (2003)
- Rules: Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula (2003)
- Saathiya (2002)
- Aatish: Feel the Fire (1994)
- Bekhudi (1992)
- Taaqatwar (1989)
- Agnee (1988)
- Peralikarayo (1986) (Sinhala movie)
- Love 86 (1986)
- Masoom (1983)
- Khud-Daar (1982)
- Prem Rog (1982)
- Yaarana (1981)
- Haathi Mere Saathi (1971)
- Anubhav (1971)
- Pyar Ki Kahani (1971)
- Jeene Ki Raah (1969)
- Paisa Ya Pyaar (1969)
- Jewel Thief (1967)
- Nai Roshni (1967)
- Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966)
- Bhoot Bungla (1965)
- Chand Aur Suraj (1965)
- Deya Neya (1963) Bengali Film
- Mem-Didi (1961)
- Hamari Yaad Aayegi (1961)
- Chhabili (1960)
- Hamari Beti (1950)
Television Shows
- Aarambh (2017)
- Junoon (1994)
- Khandaan (1985)
