Mala Sinha

Mala Sinha
Mala Sinha in 2013
Born
Alda Sinha

(1936-11-11) 11 November 1936 (age 87)
Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (present-day Kolkata, West Bengal, India)
NationalityIndian
OccupationActress
Years active1946–2000
WorksFull list
Spouse
Chidambaram Prasad Lohani
​
​
(m. 1966; died 2024)​
ChildrenPratibha Sinha

Alda Sinha (born 11 November 1936), better known by her stage name Mala Sinha, is a former Indian actress who has worked in Hindi, Bengali and Nepali films. Initially starting her career with regional cinema, she went on to become a top leading actress in Hindi Cinema in the late 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s. In a career spanning four decades, Mala Sinha rose to prominence with films like Guru Dutt's Pyaasa (1957) and Yash Chopra's Dhool Ka Phool (1959). Later, she starred in over hundred film productions including Phir Subah Hogi (1958), Hariyali Aur Rasta, Anpadh (both 1962), Dil Tera Deewana (1962), Gumrah, Bahurani (both 1963), Himalay Ki God Mein (1965), Aasra (1966), Ankhen, Do Kaliyan (both 1968), Maryada (1971).[1] She was known as the "daring diva" and "torch bearer of women's cinema" for essaying strong female centric and unconventional roles in a range of movies considered ahead of their times. Having received multiple awards and nominations, she was given the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.[2][3]

Mala Sinha was constantly paired in roles opposite Uttam Kumar, Kishore Kumar, Dev Anand, Dharmendra, Raaj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Biswajeet, Manoj Kumar, Rajesh Khanna. She was the highest-paid actress from 1958 to 1965 with Vyjayanthimala, second with Vyjayanthimala from 1966 to 1967, then shared the second spot with Sharmila Tagore from 1968 to 1971, third position with Sadhana and Nanda in 1972–73.[4]

  1. ^ "Trip down the memory lane with Mala Sinha". Screen. Bollywood Hungama. 13 March 2001. Archived from the original on 31 October 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  2. ^ "Bollywood celebs: Then and now". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 25 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Guru Dutt's 'Pyaasa' completes 58 years: Mala Sinha's character in this classic was ahead of her time". 19 February 2016. Archived from the original on 23 July 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  4. ^ "Star of the week - MALA SINHA | Bollywood Buzz - MAG THE WEEKLY". Archived from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.