Nalini Jaywant: From 1940s–50s Stardom to a Life Away From the Spotlight

Nalini Jaywant (February 18, 1926 – December 22, 2010) was an Indian actress who appeared in Hindi films in the 1940s and 1950s. In a 1950s poll conducted by Filmfare, she was voted the most beautiful woman in cinema. Actor Dilip Kumar called her "the greatest actress he ever worked with."

Background and personal life

Nalini Jaywant was born in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1926. At the age of six, she sang on All India Radio's Bal Sabha program in Mumbai. By the age of ten, she was acting in school plays. Her popularity grew rapidly after playing the lead role in Rabindranath Tagore's play "Shrimatiji."

Nalini's aunt was the Marathi singer and actress Ratnabai. In December 1931, when Nalini was five years old, Ratnabai's husband, Prabhakar Shilotri, died, after which Ratnabai, along with her 15-year-old daughter, Sarojini, moved in with the Jaywant family. Around that time, Nalini's father's cousin, Kumarsen Samarth, returned from Germany after studying cinematography.

His influence, Sarojini began acting under the stage name Shobhana and later married Kumarsen Samarth. After 1983, Nalini Jaywant led a rather secluded life, living in a quiet environment in Mumbai's Chembur area. Her neighbors were her co-stars Ashok Kumar and Trilok Kapoor. Nalini was first married to director Virendra Desai in the 1940s. She later married actor Prabhu Dayal, with whom she worked in several films.

Career

As a teenager, Nalini Jaywant starred in Mehboob Khan's film "Behan" (1941), which focused on a brother-sister relationship. She then appeared in films like "Gunjan." After 1948's "Anokha Pyar," she reached her peak in 1950 when her films "Samadhi" and "Sangram," both opposite Ashok Kumar, were huge successes. "Samadhi" was a patriotic film based on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the Azad Hind Fauj.

After this, she worked with Ashok Kumar in many films like 'Jalpari' (1952), 'Kafila' (1952), 'Nau Bahar' (1952), 'Saloni' (1952), 'Lakrein' (1954), 'Naaz' (1954), 'Mr. X' (1957), 'Sheru' (1957), and 'Toofan Mein Pyar Kahan' (1963).

Nalini remained a leading actress until the mid-1950s. Her performances were praised in films such as "Raahi" (1953), "Shikast" (1953), "Railway Platform" (1955), "Nastik" (1954), "Munimji" (1955), and "Hum Sab Chor Hain" (1956). Her last major hit was the 1958 film "Kala Pani," for which she received the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award. She retired from acting after 1965's "Bombay Race Course."

About Dev Anand and Nalini Jaywant's memorable film 'Kaala Paani'

Kala Pani, considered a classic thriller of Hindi cinema, was released in 1958. Directed by renowned director Raj Khosla, the film is considered one of the most memorable films in Dev Anand's career.

The film starred Dev Anand in the lead role, while Nalini Jaywant was the female lead. "Kaala Paani" is a suspenseful crime drama that revolves around a young man's efforts to save his father from false accusations, and in the process, he uncovers many shocking secrets.

Nalini Jaywant played a strong and serious character in this film, which was highly praised by both audiences and critics. Her performance was so well-received that she was awarded the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award, considered a major honor in her career.

The film's music was also extremely popular. Songs composed by S.D. Burman, such as "Hum Bekhudi Mein Tumko Pukare Chale Gaye" and "Achha Ji Main Haari," are still considered classics. Dev Anand and Nalini Jaywant's onscreen chemistry made the film even more special.

"Kaala Paani" was one of the last major successes of Nalini Jaywant's career. After this, she gradually distanced herself from films. Her film, starring Dev Anand, still evokes the golden era of Hindi cinema and is considered an evergreen classic.

Nalini Jaywant Died Alone At Mumbai Home

Nalini Jaywant passed away on December 22, 2010, at the age of 84, at her home in Chembur, Mumbai. Unfortunately, her death was discovered three days later, when an ambulance arrived to take her body. After the death of her husband, Prabhu Dayal, in 2001, she had become virtually isolated from society and had been out of touch with relatives for a long time.

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FAQs

Q1. Who was Nalini Jaywant?

Nalini Jaywant was a famous actress of Hindi cinema who worked in many memorable films in the 1940s and 1950s.

Q2. When and where was Nalini Jaywant born?

He was born on 18 February 1926 in Bombay (now Mumbai).

Q3. What is Nalini Jaywant best known for?

She was known for her beauty, serious acting, and classic films. In the 1950s, Filmfare named her the most beautiful woman in films.

Q4. What did Dilip Kumar say about Nalini Jaywant?

Dilip Kumar called her "the greatest actress I have ever worked with".

Q5. How did Nalini Jaywant start her career?

As a child, she sang on All India Radio's Bal Sabha programme and acted in school plays. She gained recognition as a film actress with Behen (1941).