Lalita Pawar PROFILE
Lalita Pawar (April 18, 1916—February 24, 1998) was a prolific Indian actress, who later became famous as character actress, appearing in over 700 films in Hindi and Marathi cinema, where she gave hits like, 'Netaji Palkar' (1938), made by Bhalji Pendharkar, New Hana Pictures' 'Sant Damaji', Navyug Chitrapat's 'Amrit', written by VS Khandekar, and Chhaya Films' 'Gora Kumbhar'. Her other memorable roles were in the film, 'Anari' (1959), 'Shri 420' and 'Mr and Mrs 55', and the role of Manthara, in Ramanand Sagar's television epic serial, 'Ramayan'. Born as Amba Laxman Rao Sagun, into an orthodox family in a village, Yevle in Nashik, where her father Laxman Rao Shagun was a rich silk and cotton piece goods merchant, she started her acting career at age nine, as a child artist in the film, 'Raja Harishchandra' (1928), and later went on to play lead roles in the silent era and the 1940's films in Hindi cinema, in a career that lasted until the end of her life, spanning seven decades. Her first marriage was to G.P. Pawar, a stunt film director, who directed most of her later silent, and initial sound films. She co produced and acted in a silent film, 'Kailash' (1932), and later produced another film, 'Duniya Kya Hai' in 1938, a talkie. In 1942, she was slapped by actor Bhagwan Dada, during the shooting of a film, which resulted in facial paralysis and a burst left eye vein. Even three years of treatment she was left with a defective left eye; thus she had to abandon lead roles, and switch to character roles, which won her much of her fame later in life. She was known particularly for playing maternal figures, especially wicked matriarchs or mothers in law. She also notably played the role of the strict but kind Mrs. L. D'Sa in 'Anari' (1959) with Raj Kapoor, acting under Hrishikesh Mukherjee's direction, she gave the performance of a lifetime, for which she received Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award; as the tough matriarch who falls in love in 'Professor' (1962), and the devious hunchback Manthara in Ramanand Sagar's television series 'Ramayan'. Her first marriage was to Ganpatrao Pawar, which went sour after his affair with her younger sister. She later married, film producer husband Rajprakash Gupta, of 'Ambika studios', Mumbai She died on February 24, 1998 in Aundh, Pune, where she had been staying, for a while. She was survived by her husband, Rajprakash Gupta, a son and daughter in law, who stay in Mumbai.