Mumbai, March 24: In an era dominated by male actors, the film industry was a challenging landscape for women. While many leading actresses preferred to work only with established heroes, one actress used her star power to uplift struggling talents like Shashi Kapoor and Rajesh Khanna, turning them into superstars. This remarkable figure was none other than Nanda Karnataki.
Born on January 8, 1939, Nanda came from a prominent family. Her father, Vinayak Damodar Karnataki (Master Vinayak), was a legendary actor and director in Marathi and Hindi cinema. Her uncle was the renowned filmmaker V. Shantaram.
Despite a home filled with art and music, fate had other plans. When Nanda was just 7 or 8 years old, her father passed away. Following his death, unknown creditors surrounded the family, forcing her mother to sell their luxurious home and all their possessions.
Nanda never aspired to be an actress. In her youth, she dreamed of joining the Azad Hind Fauj, but circumstances led her to face the camera. She began her career as a child artist, earning the nickname ‘Baby Nanda.’
As she transitioned from childhood to adolescence, V. Shantaram offered her a role in “Toofan Aur Diya” (1956). However, it was her performance in the 1959 film “Choti Bahen” that truly captivated audiences. Portraying the blind and orphaned sister of Balraj Sahni, Nanda brought tears to the eyes of viewers across the nation. The film was a blockbuster, establishing her as the ideal younger sister in the hearts of many.
Despite her success, Nanda found herself typecast. Producers pigeonholed her into roles of sorrowful, sacrificing women, with critics even dubbing her the “poor man’s Meena Kumari.”
By the 1960s, Nanda had become one of the highest-paid actresses in the industry, alongside stars like Nutan, Waheeda Rehman, and Sadhana. She had risen to prominence, acting alongside legends like Dev Anand and Ashok Kumar.
Amidst this, a lean, handsome young man was struggling to make his mark in the industry. Nanda signed several films with him. Although their initial projects, “Chaar Diwari” and “Mehndi Lagi Mere Haath,” flopped, she remained supportive. Eventually, in 1965, the film “Jab Jab Phool Khile” was released, and that young man became the heartbeat of the nation—Shashi Kapoor. He often credited Nanda for his success, stating that without her support, reaching such heights would have been impossible.
Throughout the 1960s, Nanda and Shashi Kapoor starred in several films, including “Rootha Na Karo,” “Raja Saab,” “Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare,” “Mohabbat Isko Kehte Hain,” and “Juari.”
In 1969, Nanda took on a daring role in Yash Chopra’s experimental thriller “Ittefaq,” playing a cunning and deceitful killer that sent chills down the audience’s spine. She wielded her own “innocence” as a weapon on screen. Following this, she portrayed a drug addict in “Naya Nasha.”
In 1970, while the film “The Train” was in production, Nanda persuaded the producers to cast a completely unknown young man in the lead role. She also supported him in “Ittefaq.” This young man would later be known as India’s first superstar, Rajesh Khanna.
The film “Shor,” released in 1972, marked Nanda’s last hit. In this film, she played the role of Manoj Kumar’s wife.
Despite portraying numerous relationships on screen, Nanda never married. She passed away at the age of 75 on March 25, 2014.
Leave a Comment