Bina Rai: A Tribute to the Iconic Actress on Her Death Anniversary

Today is the time when even a 5-year-old child tells his parents that he wants to become an actor or actress in Bollywood, then the parents themselves get him prepared, but it was not like this at all in 1949. First of all, for a boy, working in films meant doing a bad thing and for girls, it was considered a crime. But Krishna Sarin alias Beena Rai, who studied at Isabel Thoburn College, Lucknow, was not one to give up so easily.

Bina Rai: From Lahore to Lucknow

Since childhood, he was interested in acting. She used to do theatre, drama, acting, etc. since college time. His family lived in Lahore before independence and you know how many filmmakers and musicians from Lahore came to Mumbai.

But when Krishna Sarin's family crossed the border, they got a place in Kanpur city of Uttar Pradesh and got their daughter educated in Lucknow. (The distance between Lucknow and Kanpur is less than 100 kilometers)

Now his daughter has such a dangerous desire that she has to act and participate in a contest for advertisements; The parents did not like it at all and they flatly refused. Krishna Sareen kept on coaxing and pleading, but when her parents were adamant that they would not agree, Krishna shot her last arrow and gave up eating and drinking and she too insisted on not eating until he sent her to Mumbai. Will not eat.

How can any parent tolerate the stubbornness of their child? Eventually, they too broke down and sent him to Mumbai to participate in that contest. Krishna Sarin not only participated in that contest but she also won it and also got a huge prize of Rs 25000 in the year 1950 and also Krishna Sarin now changed her name to ‘Bina Rai’. 

Along with this advertisement, Kishore Sahu's film Kali-Ghata (1951) was released on 13 July. It was during this film that she fell in love with actor Prem Nath and got engaged to Prem Nath on the day of the film's release.

Just a year later, in 1952, she became Premnath's wife and both of them opened their own production house. Prem Nath and Beena worked for the first time in the film Aurat (1953). However this film did not work. After this, films named Shagufa, Samundra and Watan also flopped.

But her film Ghunghat with Pradeep Kumar can be considered the best film of her career. He also received the Filmfare Award for this film. His acting in the films Taj Mahal and Anarkali was also appreciated and the list of his fans kept increasing.

Prem Nath and Bina Rai, whose real name was Krishna Sarin; Named his son ‘Prem Krishna’ and Prem Krishna also worked in films. He played an important role in the film 'Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye' and that is also his only hit film.

Bina Rai left acting after some time, although she said that now she is too old and hence no one casts her. His third generation grandson, Sidharth Malhotra is also associated with the showbiz industry and has directed the super hit serial Sanjeevani.

Although she became alone after Premnath's death in 1992, she left her body after 17 years on 6 December 2009, but even in a very short interval, Bina Rai created such an identity for herself which continues till today.