In today’s weekend blog, I am continuing with my blogs on actresses of yesteryears, and today I am writing about an actress who started her career in the 1950s.
Regarded as one of the finest actresses in the history of Indian cinema. She was noted for her naturalistic acting in parts of conflicted women often deemed unconventional. In a career spanning four decades, she appeared in more than 80 films, which ranged in genre from urban romances to socio-realist dramas. She was the recipient of five Filmfare awards for Best Actress, and one for Supporting Actress; she also received the Padma Shri award. Friends, I am talking about NUTAN.
She was born on 4th June 1936, to filmmaker Kumarsen Samarth and film actress Shobhna Samarth. Nutan started her career at the age of 14 in Hamari Beti, directed by her mother. She subsequently starred in Nagina and Hum Log (both 1951). Her role in Seema (1956) garnered her wider recognition and her first Filmfare award for Best Actress.
She followed her success with a romantic comedy, Paying Guest, in which she co-starred with Dev Anand. By the late 1950s, she was an established star. In 1959, she acted in two hit films Anari (with Raj Kapoor) and Bimal Roy’s Sujata (with Sunil Dutt), for which she won her second Filmfare award for Best Actress. In 1960, she once again acted opposite Raj Kapoor in Manmohan Desai’s Chhalia
Nutan’s masterful performance as a jilted young woman who murders her lover’s life in Bimal Roy’s Bandini is arguably the best acting by a lead actress in Indian cinema. Her genius lay in portraying a whole range of emotions without resorting to over-the-top histrionics. The piece de resistance is the scene in which her face conveys conflicting sentiments as she is about to commit the murder. Having reduced her assignment after her marriage, she was persuaded to accept this role by Bimal Roy, who asserted that he would abandon the project if she refused. She was pregnant during the making of the film. This film won her third Filmfare Best Actress award.
She formed popular screen pairing with Dev Anand, with whom she acted in four films: Paying Guest (1957), Baarish (1957), Manzil (1960) and Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963).
Her fourth Filmfare win came for Milan (1967). She starred opposite Amitabh Bachchan in Saudagar (1973), for which she received her sixth Filmfare nomination. In 1978, she made an astonishing return to the silver screen as the righteous Sanjukta Chauhan in Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki. For this performance, she won her fifth Filmfare award for Best Actress, at the age of 42 she was also the oldest winner of this award.
In the 1980s, she switched to character roles, and here she acted in Saajan Ki Saheli (1981), Meri Jung (1985), Naam (1986) and Karma (1986). Karma was notable for being the first time she was paired with Dilip Kumar. For Meri Jung she won Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her last film released while she was alive was Kanoon Apna Apna (1989). She died in 1991. Two of her films Naseebwala (1992) and Insaniyat (1994) were released after her death.
She also acted in a TV serial named Mujrim Hazir, her only appearance on the small screen. She was also a singer and sang two songs, one in Paying Guest and the other in Chhabili.
Here are some of my favourite Nutan songs with their YouTube link.
1 Marna Tei Gali Mein, Jeena Teri Gali Mein– Shabab (Film-F) 1954, Lata Mangeshkar (Singer-S), Shakeel Badayuni (Lyricist-L), Naushad (Music Director-MD).
https://youtu.be/q6EnZsJHuZE?si=DEydlvEr-gy_kRjh
2 Suno Choti Si Gudiya Ki Lambi Kahani– Seema (F) 1956, Lata Mangeshkar (S), Shailerndra (L), Shankar Jaikishan (MD).
https://youtu.be/doPf67IeGiA?si=isL3LSHZY1s0GURx
3 Chod Do Aaanchal Zamana Kya Kahega– Paying Guest (F) 1957. Ashaa Bhosle & Kishore Kumar (S), Majroohh Sultanpuri (L), SD Burman (MD). On screen with Dev Anand.
https://youtu.be/QUyFoyHT8s8?si=n0N6-B2eyorqXAN8
4 C A T, Cat Maine Billi, R A T, Rat Maine Choohaa– Dilli Ka Thug (F), 1958. Asha Bhosle & Kishor Kumar (S), Majroh Sultanpuri (L), Ravi (MD). On screen with Kishore Kumar.
https://youtu.be/kSY4vYRtcQw?si=9_pKKYjVOzSLZ99_
5 Pyar Par Bas To Nahin Hai Lekin- Sone Ki Chidiya (F)1958, Asha Bhosle, & Kishore Kumar (S), Sahir Ludhianvi (L), OP Nayyar(MD). On screen with Talat Mehmood.
https://youtu.be/t6hlDeM1YfE?si=GgUXsJY8OHDlMa-H
6 Tera Jaana Dil Ke Armanon Ka Lut Jaana– Anari (F) 1959. Lata Mangeshkar (S), Shailendra (L), Shankar Jaikishan (MD)
https://youtu.be/_Mrl_oozN4U?si=4hzC09tWe3V45IQD
7 Woh Chand Khila, Woh Taare Hansen– Anari (F) 1959, Lata Mangeshkar & Mukesh (S), Hasrat Jaipuri (L), Shankar Jaikishan (MD). On screen with Raj Kapoor.
https://youtu.be/SGp63HixAXY?si=VPK2L-2dfBnqFY0v
8 Kali Ghata Chhaye, Mora Jiya Lalchaaye– Sujata (F) 1959. Asha Bhosle (S), Majrooh Sultanpuri (L), SD Burman )MD).
https://youtu.be/SGp63HixAXY?si=VPK2L-2dfBnqFY0v
9 Ek Ghar Banaoonga, Tere Ghar Ke Saamne– Tere Ghar Ke Saamne (F) 1963. Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd Rafi (S), Hasrat Jaipuri (L), SD Burman (MD). On screen with Dev Anand.
https://youtu.be/nAtvOAn_lmA?si=z-RE7WOVg9e77fIV
10 Mera Gora And Lai Le, Mohe Shyam Tang Dai De– Bandini (F) 1963. Lata Mangeshkar (S), Gulzar (L), SD Burman (MD)
https://youtu.be/nAtvOAn_lmA?si=z-RE7WOVg9e77fIV
11 Tumhi Mere Mandir, Tumhi Meri Pooja– Khandaan (F) 1965. Lata Mangeshkar (S), Rajender Krishan (L), Ravi (MD)
https://youtu.be/zmwpWYwYKpw?si=rz2R5iblt6bMV7ME
12 Sawan Ka Mahina Pawan Kare Sor– Milan (F) 1967. Lata Mangeshkar & Mukesh(S), Anand bakshi (L), Laxmikant Pyarelal (MD). On screen with Sunil Dutt.
https://youtu.be/xOF7JWJqHEc?si=InnVrNurd-mrv6I8
13 Tan Mein Agni, Man Mein Chubhan– Laat Saab (F) 1968. Asha Bhosle & Mohd Rafi(S), Hasrat jaipuri (L), Shankar Jaikishan (MD). On screen with Shammi Kapoor.
https://youtu.be/iyuMncy6Vs8?si=sgggkNHvMtZcpPF-
14 Main To Bhool Chali Babul Ka Desh– Saraswatichandra (F) 1970. Lata Mangeshkar (S), Indeevar (L), Kalyanji Anandji (MD)
https://youtu.be/9EYRkJsMXAc?si=sfTZ-0_0CKjFdpmv
15 Har Kadam Apna Jiyenge, Ae Watan Tere Liye– Karma (F) 1986. Kavita Krishnamurthy & Mohd Aziz (S), Anand Bakshi(L), Laxmikant Pyarelal (MD)
https://youtu.be/mVn5EbBPoYg?si=4NW0bXjwmbUeEDmb
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
3rd April 2026