Rakhee Gulzar

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Rakhee Gulzar
Rakhee Gulzar.jpg
Rakhee Gulzar in 2012
Born
Rakhee Majumdar

(1947-08-15) 15 August 1947 (age 76)
OccupationActor
Years active1967–2019
Spouse(s)
Ajay Biswas
(
m. 1963; div. 1965)
(
m. 1973)
ChildrenMeghna Gulzar
Awards
HonorsPadma Shri

Raakhee Gulzar (born Raakhee Majumdar on 15 August 1947) professionally known as Raakhee, is an Indian actress who has appeared in Hindi and Bengali films. In her four decades of acting, she has worked in more than 100 films. Raakhee has won several awards including two National Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards. In 2003, she received Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award.[1]

Raakhee made her film debut with the Bengali film Badhu Bharan (1967). She had her first Hindi film with Jeevan Mrityu (1970). Raakhee's career marked a turning point with Aankhon Aankhon Mein (1972), Daag: A Poem of Love (1973), for which she won her first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress, and 27 Down (1974). She won her first and only Filmfare Award for Best Actress for Tapasya (1976). She went on to establish herself as one of the leading actresses of Hindi cinema with films like - Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Doosra Aadmi (1977), Trishna (1978), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Jurmana (1979), Shakti (1982), Ram Lakhan (1989), for which she won her second Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress, Baazigar (1993), Karan Arjun (1995), Border (1997), Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love (2001) and Shubho Mahurat (2003). For the last of these, she won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Raakhee married poet, lyricist and author Gulzar in 1973 with whom she has a daughter, writer and director Meghna Gulzar. In 2022, she was placed in Outlook India's 75 Best Bollywood Actresses list.[2]

Early life[edit]

Raakhee was born in a Bengali family at Ranaghat in the Nadia district of West Bengal in the early hours of 15 August 1947, just hours after the independence of India.[3][4] She received her early education in a local girls' school. Her father had a flourishing shoe business in his native village of Kushtia located in Meherpur, East Bengal which was then a part of Nadia district of undivided India (modern-day Bangladesh), before the partition of India, and thereafter he settled in West Bengal. Whilst still a teenager, Raakhee had an arranged marriage to Bengali journalist/film director Ajay Biswas, which ended shortly afterwards.

At the start of her film career, she dropped her surname and was mentioned in film credits only as "Raakhee", by which name she attained stardom, but upon marrying lyricist-director, Sampooran Singh Kalra professionally known as Gulzar, she took his pen name as her surname and is credited thereafter as Raakhee Gulzar.

Career[edit]

In 1967, the 20-year-old Raakhee acted in her first Bengali film Bodhu Boron and Baghini, after which she was offered the lead role in Rajshri Productions' crime thriller Jeevan Mrityu (1970) opposite Dharmendra.[5][6]

In 1971, Raakhee played a double role opposite Shashi Kapoor in the musical romance Sharmeelee, and also starred in the dramas Lal Patthar and Paras; all three films emerged as commercial successes and she established herself as a leading actress of Hindi Cinema. Shehzada (1972) opposite Rajesh Khanna and Aankhon Aankhon Mein (1972) opposite a relative newcomer Rakesh Roshan showcased her comic abilities, though their box office returns was unsatisfactory.[7] She continued to display versatility even in relatively small roles in the romances Heera Panna (1973) and Daag: A Poem of Love (1973), with her strong performances, earning her first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for the latter.[8] The phenomenal success of Rajshri Productions' Tapasya (1976), a heroine-dominated film where she played the sacrificing sister opposite Parikshit Sahni. established her as a box-office name to reckon with, and earned Raakhee her first and only Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She regards her performances in Blackmail (1973), Tapasya and Aanchal (1980) as her best.[9]

Raakhee starred with Dev Anand in Heera Panna, Banarasi Babu (1973), Joshila (1973) and Lootmaar (1980). She starred opposite Shashi Kapoor in 10 released films: Sharmeelee, Jaanwar Aur Insaan (1972), Kabhie Kabhie (1976), Doosra Aadmi (1977), the critically acclaimed Trishna (1978), Baseraa (1981),[10] Bandhan Kuchchey Dhaagon Ka (1983), Zameen Aasmaan (1984), and Pighalta Aasman (1985) and the unreleased Ek Do Teen Chaar.[11] Her exemplary chemistry with Amitabh Bachchan was showcased in eight films: Kabhie Kabhie, Muqaddar Ka Sikander (1978), Kasme Vaade (1978), Trishul (1978), Kaala Patthar (1979), Jurmana (1979), Barsaat Ki Ek Raat (1981), and Bemisal (1982). In some films such as Jurmana, her name is even credited ahead of the hero. She also formed a popular pair with Sanjeev Kumar in films like Hamare Tumhare (1979) and Shriman Shrimati (1982).[12][13]

In 1981, a 23-year-old aspiring director Anil Sharma asked her to star in an out-and-out female oriented role in his debut film Shradhanjali. After the success of the film, Raakhee was flooded by strong heroine-dominated roles. At the peak of her career as a popular heroine, she surprised everyone by accepting strong character roles as sister-in-law to Rajesh Khanna in Aanchal, Shashi Kapoor and Amitabh in Shaan (1980), Mithun Chakraborty in Dhuan (1981), and mother to Amitabh in Shakti and Rishi Kapoor in Yeh Vaada Raha (1982). She also starred in several Bengali films at the time, with Paroma (1984) earning her the Bengal Film Journalists' Association Award for Best Actress (Hindi).[14]

Towards the late 1980s, 1990s and 2000's, she played strong character roles as the elderly mother or a woman of principles in commercially successful films such as Ram Lakhan (1989),[15] Anari (1993), Khalnayak (1993), Baazigar (1993), Karan Arjun (1995), Border (1997), Soldier (1998), Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love (2001) and Dil Ka Rishta (2002).[16][17] In 2003, she appeared in Rituparno Ghosh's mystery thriller Shubho Mahurat, which earned her the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress.[18][19] In a 2012 interview, she said that her favourite heroes were Rajesh Khanna and Shashi Kapoor.[20]

In 2019, Kolkata International Film Festival the film Nirbon directed by Goutam Halder was premiered, where Raakhee portrayed the role of Bijolibala, a 70 year old lady with a strong conviction. "Doing films is not on my agenda right now, but the story fascinated me" said Raakhee said about the adaptation of Moti Nandi's novel Bijolibalar Mukti.

Raakhee has a range of diverse experiences in various activities she has been associated with in the film industry. On several occasions, she extended her contributions beyond acting and delved into various other field of activities, some of which include costume designing (Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha (1998)) and dress assistance (Dil Kya Kare (1999)). In 1982, she lent her voice for the film Taaqat in the song "Teri Nindiya Ko Lag Jaaye Aag Re" sung alongside with Kishore Kumar.[21]

Personal life[edit]

In her second marriage, Raakhee married film director, poet and lyricist Gulzar. The couple have a daughter, Meghna Gulzar. When their daughter was only one year old, they separated.[22] After completing her graduation in films from New York University, Meghna went on to become a director of films including Filhaal... (2002), Just Married (2007) and Dus Kahaniyaan (2007),[23] and authored a biography of her father in 2004.[24][25]

At one point, Raakhee stayed in her bungalow, "Muktangan" (bought from the Marathi playwright P. L. Deshpande), on Sarojini Road in Khar, Mumbai. Later, she sold the property and moved to an apartment two buildings away, though the new highrise is still called by the same name, as she had wished. "My mother has lived her professional and personal life with tremendous dignity and grace", said Meghna Gulzar, daughter of Raakhee, in an interview.[26] Presently, she lives in recluse in her farmhouse at Panvel on the outskirts of Mumbai, spending time in tending to a huge flock of animals, growing vegetables and reading books.[27][28][29][30]

Filmography[edit]

Accloades[edit]

Civilian Award[edit]

Year Award Category Result Ref.
2003 Padma Shri Contribution in the field of Arts Template:Honoured [31]

Film Awards[edit]

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
1972 Filmfare Awards Best Actress Aankhon Aankhon Mein Nominated [32]
1973 Best Supporting Actress Daag: A Poem of Love Won
1976 Best Actress Kabhi Kabhie Nominated
Tapasya Won
1977 Doosra Aadmi Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Nominated
1978 Best Actress Trishna Nominated [33]
1979 Jurmana Nominated
1981 Baseraa Nominated [34]
1983 Shakti Nominated [35]
1985 Best Supporting Actress Saaheb Nominated [36]
1989 Ram Lakhan Won [37]
1994 Anari Nominated [38]
1996 Karan Arjun Nominated [39]
1998 Border Nominated [40]
1999 Soldier Nominated [41]
1974 National Film Awards Special Souvenir 27 Down Won [42]
2003 Best Supporting Actress Shubho Mahurat Won [43]
1973 Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards Best Supporting Actress (Hindi) Daag Won [44]
1984 Best Actress (Hindi) Paroma Won

References[edit]

  1. "Rakhee Gulzar is Unrecognizable as She Makes a Rare Public Appearance". News18. Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  2. "75 Bollywood Actresses Who Ruled The Silver Screen With Grace, Beauty And Talent". Outlook India. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  3. Saran, Renu (25 February 2014). Encyclopedia of Bollywood–Film Actresses. Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-93-5083-691-0.
  4. "Raakhee". Film World. T.M. Ramachandran. February 1972. p. 11. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  5. "Baghini (1968) Cast - Actor, Actress, Director, Producer, Music Director". Cinestaan. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  6. Phani Sarma (1978). অসমীয়া কথাছবি.
  7. "Aankhon Aankhon Mein (1972) - The Hindu". The Hindu.
  8. "Daag, Yash Chopra's debut as producer, broke the mould with its shades of bigamy". The Print. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  9. Shubhra Gupta (7 July 2012). "Silences of the heart". The Indian Express. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  10. "Three's company". Pune Mirror. 16 September 2012. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  11. "The only memory". Pune Mirror. 29 May 2011. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  12. "Retrospect: Vijetha (1985)". Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  13. Mir, Raza (2014). The Taste of Words: An Introduction to Urdu Poetry. Penguin Books. p. 210. ISBN 978-93-5118-725-7.
  14. "1978 Bangla Cinema Chameli Memsaheb". Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  15. Dhawan, M. L. (27 October 2002). "On the sands of time: 1989 | Year of spell-binding films". The Sunday Tribune. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  16. "Bollywood Movie Karan Arjun Shooting Location". bollylocations.com. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  17. "J P Dutta: Making BORDER was like fighting a war". 13 November 2004. Archived from the original on 13 November 2004. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  18. "BBC - Films - review - Ek Rishtaa (Bond of Love)". BBC.
  19. "'Shubho Mahurat' - Rituparno Ghosh and his memorable National Award-winning films". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  20. Lalwani, Vickey (18 September 2012). "Today's hits are 7-day wonders: Rakhee". Mumbai Mirror. Archived from the original on 9 July 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  21. "Rakhee Gulzar interview: 'My reward is when people come up to me even now and say they recognise me'". 7 November 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  22. "Raakhee and Gulzar's love story". The Times of India. 16 September 2013. Archived from the original on 30 December 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  23. "Women directors scale Bollywood". BBC News. 21 February 2002. Archived from the original on 6 June 2004. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  24. "On the Shelf". The Indian Express. 11 January 2004.
  25. "Life beyond Filhaal". The Times of India. 6 September 2006. Archived from the original on 28 October 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  26. Mukherjee, Shreya (30 July 2018). "Meghna Gulzar on parents Rakhee and Gulzar: I learned dignity from my mother and simplicity from my father". Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  27. "Bipasha to rebuild home to suit her 'energy'". Sify. 2 July 2008. Archived from the original on 24 April 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  28. Dasgupta, Priyanka (24 February 2009). "Rakhee-Meghna delight on Gulzar's win". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  29. Megna Gulzar (2004). Because He is. Rupa & Co. p. 67.
  30. De, Hemchhaya (28 October 2018). "The life and times of Rakhee Gulzar". Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  31. "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  32. "Check out all the Filmfare Awards Winners from 1953 to 2020". Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  33. Dhirad, Sandeep (2006). "Filmfare Nominees and Winners" (PDF). Filmfare Awards. pp. 61–63. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  34. "Filmfare Nominees and Winner [sic]" (PDF). The Times Group. Retrieved 20 February 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  35. Gahlot, Deepa. "Some things never change at the awards...Thank the lord". Filmfare (April 2002). Archived from the original on 3 July 2007. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  36. Dhirad, Sandeep (2006). "Filmfare Nominees and Winner" (PDF). deep750.googlepages.com. p. 69.
  37. "FILMFARE NOMINEES AND WINNER" (PDF). The Times Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  38. "Juhi Chawla, Shah Rukh bag Filmfare Awards". The Indian Express - Indian Express Limited. Bombay, India. 14 February 1994. p. 9.
  39. "The day we were". Filmfare - The Times Group. January 1997. Archived from the original on 4 February 1997. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  40. "43rd Filmfare Awards 1998". The Times of India. 31 January 1998. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  41. Bhatt, SC; Bhargava, Gopal K. (2006). Land and People of Indian States and Union Territories (in 36 Volumes). Vol. 16. Kalpaz Publications. p. 685. ISBN 81-7835-372-5.
  42. "21st National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  43. "50th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  44. "37th Annual BFJA Awards". BFJA Awards. Archived from the original on 22 April 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2011.

External links[edit]


Template:FilmfareBestActressAward Template:FilmfareBestSupportingActressAward