We all know Old Hollywood — now it is time to speak Old Bollywood.
1.
Madhubala’s title is just about synonymous with Bollywood. Born in 1933, she is thought to be one of the stunning, gifted, and influential personalities of Indian cinema. She’s often known as the “Marilyn Monroe of Bollywood” (as a result of we at all times want a Western comparability to grasp the magnitude of the success of South Asians 😩).
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In most movies, her title would come earlier than the movie’s lead male actor, which was uncommon for that point however a testomony to her reputation! She is related most together with her magnum opus Mughal-e-Azam (1960) because the ill-fated courtesan Anarkali.
Heartbreakingly, her life was reduce quick on the peak of her stardom; she died in 1969 at age 36 from a protracted sickness on account of a coronary heart defect. An icon of the Golden Age of Bollywood (1940s-1960s), she is well-loved and revered even at present. In 2018, The New York Occasions printed a belated obituary and in 2019, Google commemorated her with a Doodle.
2.
Thought to be the “Meryl Streep of India” and the primary true feminine celebrity of Indian cinema, Sridevi’s profession spanned 5 many years. Born in 1963, she was identified for her portrayals of robust vigorous ladies and her giant expressive eyes, and he or she was extremely regarded for her performing vary.
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She was the recipient of a Nationwide Movie Award and 5(!) Filmfare Awards.
Her premature dying in 2018 from unintentional drowning shocked the nation and made worldwide headlines. She was one of many solely two Indian stars honored in memoriam on the 90th Academy Awards. Her final movie was Mother (2017), a thriller. It goes with out saying that she’s missed drastically 😞.
3.
Amitabh Bachchan is named one of many best and most influential Bollywood actors — no record like that is full with out him. Born in 1942 and affectionately often known as “Huge B,” Bachchan is a reigning icon of Basic Bollywood (the 1970s-1980s). He’s notably well-known for his “offended younger man” persona due to his portrayals of the wronged hero in opposition to a corrupt system within the ’70s.
Trimurti Movies, @amitabhbachchan / Through instagram.com
This was seen as a pointy departure from the “romantic hero” and romance movies dominant in Bollywood on the time. In different phrases, he dared to be completely different.
He has earned 4 Nationwide Movie Awards and 16 Filmfare Awards for his work. Right now, his son, Abhishek Bachchan, is a outstanding Bollywood actor.
4.
Raj Kapoor was fairly a heartthrob throughout his time 😍. Born in1924, he is often known as the best showman within the historical past of Bollywood and the “Charlie Chaplin” of India on account of his quirky performing model. He was nominated twice for the Palme d’Or grand prize on the Cannes Movie Competition within the ’50s, obtained three Nationwide Movie Awards, and gained India’s highest award in cinema in 1987! Phew!
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Kapoor’s movies — which he acted in, directed, and produced — are common all through Asia and Europe. He is one of the outstanding members of the Kapoor household, aka “the primary household of Indian cinema” (with 5 generations and nearly 100 years within the movie business!).
His son Rishi Kapoor was well-known all through the ’70s, and his grandson Ranbir Kapoor and granddaughter Kareena Kapoor are two of the most important superstars in Bollywood at present. One other one among his grandsons married Amitabh Bachchan’s daughter! The connections are everywhere 😂.
5.
Vyjayanthimala is without doubt one of the most iconic actresses within the golden period. Born in 1936, she is widely known for being the primary South Indian to grow to be a Bollywood star. She broke obstacles and was a key determine in introducing classical dance to the business. She was additionally the primary individual to ever refuse a Filmfare Award. A lot of firsts right here so kudos to her!
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Her poise and doe eyes had been usually identified by media. Certainly one of her most iconic movies is Sangam (1964), which additionally starred our very personal Raj Kapoor!
On the time, Sangam was the primary Indian movie shot in Europe, the longest-running movie in India, the first-ever movie to have two intervals, and thought of Bollywood’s best love triangle. We stan an actress with so many firsts!
6.
Recognized for her grace and heat display presence, Nargis, born in 1929, was one of many greatest names within the business. Lots of her iconic movies noticed her paired with Raj Kapoor (over 16 movies; their chemistry was unimaginable!). Plus, songs from these movies are a few of the hottest basic songs in Bollywood at present.
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Attention-grabbing truth: Nargis was buddies with Madhubala and helped put together Madhubala’s physique for her funeral 😔. She herself died of pancreatic most cancers simply three days earlier than her son Sanjay Dutt made his performing debut.
Right now, Sanjay Dutt can be a well known title within the business!
7.
Rekha, born in 1954, is lauded for breaking away from conventional roles and taking part in robust, impartial, and tempestuous feminine characters — ones that may maintain their very own in opposition to the male lead.
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She can be identified for her work ethic. Early in her profession, she was criticized closely for her seems to be. Decided to show the business mistaken, Rekha underwent a surprising transformation, honing her performing method and her look, to then emerge within the ’80s as one of the coveted display personalities of the period.
This means of hers to efficiently reinvent herself at completely different factors in her profession is well-noted!
8.
Sharmila Tagore is acclaimed as a key affect in the course of the Bengali Renaissance and has labored in each Hindi and Bengali cinema. Oh yeah, she’s up there. Born in 1944, her ’60s aesthetic is iconic — as is her trademark eyeliner and dimple.
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She has gained two Nationwide Movie Awards. Her son is Saif Ali Khan, one of the outstanding Bollywood actors at present, and her granddaughter (Saif Ali Khan’s daughter) is Sara Ali Khan, who made her movie debut in 2018.
She’s additionally associated to Rabindranath Tagore, the author who closely reformed Bengali literature and music!
9.
Like Sridevi, Rajesh Khanna is known as the primary true male celebrity of Indian cinema and the primary romantic hero in Bollywood! Born in 1942, his movies had been identified for his or her superhit songs, lots of which at the moment are classics. (This tune is the place the above screenshot of Sharmila Tagore comes from!) The terribly giant fan following he amassed has been famous by his fellow actors for being uncommon and the primary of its variety within the business.
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Modern actors have stated this sort of craze stays unmatched by even the most important stars at present. His co-stars, together with Sharmila Tagore, have spoken about how followers would kiss his automotive and the way he wanted police safety in public!
He starred in 15 consecutive hits from 1969 to 1971, a document that continues to be unbroken. After his dying in 2012, he was honored with a statue. His son-in-law is Bollywood celebrity Akshay Kumar.
10.
A legend at this level, Dilip Kumar is named “The Tragedy King” and “the last word methodology actor.” Born in 1922, he has been credited for pioneering a technique performing method that predated Hollywood methodology actors. He holds the Guinness World File for many awards gained by an Indian actor 😱! And at nearly 100 years previous(!!!) as of 2021, Kumar is without doubt one of the final surviving stars of the Golden Age 🥺.
Filmfare, @thedilipkumar / Through Twitter: @TheDilipKumar
Kumar’s profession spanned 5 many years. He has been known as an affect by nearly each Bollywood actor, from Amitabh Bachchan within the basic period to Shah Rukh Khan within the current.
All through his profession, he was most frequently paired with Vyjayanthimala as a result of the 2 had nice chemistry! He additionally starred because the prince reverse Madhubala in milestone movie Mughal-e-Azam (1960).
11.
Recognized for her unconventional roles — which had been thought of pathbreaking — and her understated but impactful performing model, Nutan was one of many few stated to share equal footing together with her male counterpart onscreen. Born in 1936, she’s famous for not becoming the traditional concepts of magnificence. She was skinny and gangly at a time when the business most well-liked plump and petite (however um, have you ever seen her? She was stunning).
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Her efficiency in 1963 movie Bandini is thought to be one of many best performances within the historical past of Indian cinema, and her character is taken into account one among Bollywood’s strongest feminine characters!
She held the document of 5 wins of the Greatest Actress Filmfare Award for over 30 years(!). Her document was damaged by her personal niece, Kajol, one of many greatest Bollywood stars at present.
Nutan additionally holds the title for oldest recipient of the Greatest Actress Filmfare Award (she was 42) and is the one actress of her technology who took on main roles in her 40s with success. Google commemorated her in 2018 with a Doodle. Right now, her son, Mohnish Bahl, is an actor as nicely.
12.
Hema Malini, born in 1948, is named “Dream Lady” in Bollywood (becoming too — simply have a look at her!). Her “Dream Lady” persona grew to become so well-known that she even starred in a movie of the identical title in 1977! She additionally performed the feminine lead in iconic movie Sholay (1975), often known as one among India’s prime 10 greatest movies of all time, wherein she starred alongside her future husband, Dharmendra!
Trimurti Movies, @dreamgirlhemamalini / Through instagram.com
She’s additionally a educated Bharatanatyam dancer. Right now, she helps many social causes, resembling animal rights.
13.
Often known as Bollywood’s first “He-Man” and motion king, Dharmendra’s rugged look made him voted among the many prime 10 most good-looking males in Bollywood within the ’70s. Born in 1935, he’s greatest identified for iconic movie Sholay (1975), really a defining movie of the period, wherein he starred alongside Amitabh Bachchan, and as talked about above, his future spouse, Hema Malini!
@aapkadharam / Through instagram.com, Hema Malini / Twitter / Through Twitter: @dreamgirlhema
Yep, he is the fortunate man married to Bollywood’s Dream Lady! His most profitable pairing was together with her, they usually starred in numerous movies collectively till they lastly acquired married.
Right now, his sons Sunny and Bobby Deol (from a earlier marriage earlier than Malini), are well-known Bollywood actors.
14.
Coined the Tragedy Queen, Meena Kumari has been known as “a traditionally incomparable” actress in Indian cinema. Born in 1933, she was additionally a poet and style trendsetter within the ’50s. In different phrases, she was a BOSS. In an business dominated by males, Kumari was famous to be highly effective.
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She was closely admired by her contemporaries. Apparently, even Dilip Kumar would get nervous in entrance of her! She made historical past on the 10th Filmfare Awards (1963) the place she obtained all three Greatest Actress nominations (and gained, too!).
In a flip eerily just like Madhubala, Kumari died on the peak of her stardom at age 38 from liver cirrhosis after struggling for 4 years. Her tragic life usually attracts comparisons to Marilyn Monroe. Lots of at present’s stars have said that whereas there could also be nice actresses, there’ll by no means be one other Meena Kumari.
15.
The oldest star on this publish, Prithviraj Kapoor, born in 1906, is particular as a result of he started his profession in the course of the silent period of Hindi cinema! He starred in India’s very first sound movie in 1931 (Alam Ara)! Thus, he is often known as a pioneer of Indian theater and movie. And he actually is one in each sense of the phrase as a result of guess what? He is Raj Kapoor’s father and the patriarch of the cinematic Kapoor household!
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Yep, he is the one who gave the business 4 generations of wonderful, influential actors (two generations of that are nonetheless lively at present). He is the place it began!
Later in life, he performed the domineering emperor in Mughal-e-Azam (1960), alongside Dilip Kumar and Madhubala. Although he is not the preferred member of the Kapoor fam, he is definitely crucial for laying down the roots!
16.
Born in 1947, Mumtaz is legendary for her model and flexibility all through the late ’60s to ’70s. She was additionally a outstanding intercourse image, and lots of of her seems to be within the ’70s grew to become iconic. Simply have a look at that hair!
17.
Why, say whats up to the “Elvis Presley” of India! That is proper, Shammi Kapoor was dubbed that on account of his means to entertain the plenty and his “playboy” and “dancing hero” picture in his movies. Born in 1931, he’s a part of the Kapoor fam and is Raj Kapoor’s second youngest brother!
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Enjoyable truth: he had proposed marriage to Mumtaz after they grew to become shut whereas filming a film collectively, however she politely refused as a result of he wished her to surrender her movie profession.
18.
Devika Rani, born in 1908, is taken into account the very first woman of Indian cinema! She was socially unconventional, extremely educated, and — uncommon for the time — concerned in each facet of filmmaking, from performing to directing. Her movie Karma (1933) was the earliest Indian movie to characteristic a kissing scene (scandalous!). It lasted 4 minutes, a document at some point of a kissing scene that continues to be unbroken in Indian cinema even at present! LOL.
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She ran a manufacturing studio together with her husband, with which she launched then-newcomers (and future legends) Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, and Madhubala!
Rani can be known as the “Dragon Woman” as a result of she was spunky, and, normally, a rulebreaker — as in, her apparel was thought of “risque,” she had a scorching mood, she eloped with another person whereas married, after which after her husband’s dying, she retired and randomly married a Russian painter. Are you able to think about all that in a hyper-conservative Indian society? Like, she actually didn’t give a rattling. Adore it!
There are lots extra golden-age Bollywood stars I know I missed! Let me know your fave within the feedback 🙂
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