Laxmi Chhaya

2021-09-29T15:38:17Z

2405:204:A405:A768:0:0:765:D8AC: /* Death */

{{short description|Indian actress (1948–2004)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Laxmi Chhaya
| image = Laxmi Chhaya in Teesri Manzil.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Chhaya in ''[[Teesri Manzil]]'' (1966)
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1948|01|7}}
| birth_place = [[Mumbai]], [[India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2004|05|09|1948|01|07}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai, India]]
| nationality =
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|dancer|teacher}}
| years_active = 1958–1986
}}
'''Laxmi Chhaya''' (7 January 1948 – 9 May 2004) was an Indian actress, dancer and teacher. She was known for her distinctive [[character roles]] and guest appearances in [[Bollywood|Hindi cinema]]. Her performance in the film ''[[Gumnaam]]'' (1965) where she appeared as a dancer in the track "[[Jaan Pehechan Ho]]" shot her to international recognition. She went on to star in over 100 films, which include ''[[Teesri Manzil]]'' (1966), [[Duniya (1968 film)|''Duniya'']] (1968), ''[[Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke]]'' (1969), ''[[Mera Gaon Mera Desh]]'' (1971), and ''[[Raaste Kaa Patthar]]'' (1972); she was active from 1958 to 1987. In 2004, she died from cancer at the age of 56.

== Career ==
[[File:Laxmi Chayya in " Kailashpati" 1962.jpg|thumb|Chayya in ''Kailash Pati'' (1962)]]
Chhaya began acting with an uncredited appearance as one of the school girls in [[Talaq (1958 film)|''Talaq'']] (1958). In 1962, Chhaya starred in the film [[Naughty Boy (film)|''Naughty Boy'']] as Bela, her first role that wasn't a cameo.

In 1965, she appeared as a masked dancer in ''[[Gumnaam]]'', performing in the song [[Jaan Pehechan Ho]]. Her performance gained a [[cult following]] across India and America; it has been regarded as her signature work.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=A 60s Mohammed Rafi Song That You've Never Heard, But Has A Cult Following in the West|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/a-60s-mohammed-rafi-song-that-you-ve-never-heard-but-has-a-cult-following-in-the-west-336262.html|date=2017-12-24|website=indiatimes.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-07|archive-date=13 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413204545/https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/a-60s-mohammed-rafi-song-that-you-ve-never-heard-but-has-a-cult-following-in-the-west-336262.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[IndiaTimes Group]] states: "The enthusiastic dance by Laxmi Chhaya and Herman Benjamin is not something today’s actors will be able to pull off with the same ease and grace."<ref name=":0" />

In 1966, Chhaya starred as Meena in the film ''[[Teesri Manzil]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uiowa.edu/indiancinema/teesri-manzil|title=Teesri Manzil {{!}} Indian Cinema|website=uiowa.edu|access-date=2020-03-25|archive-date=4 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704203233/https://uiowa.edu/indiancinema/teesri-manzil|url-status=live}}</ref> Starring alongside [[Shammi Kapoor]] and [[Asha Parekh]], the film was praised for its songs, as well as its story and ensemble.<ref>{{Cite web|title=India Times Top 25 Must-See Bollywood Films on Lists of Bests|url=http://www.listsofbests.com/list/47574-india-times-top-25-must-see-bollywood-films|date=2012-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905052152/http://www.listsofbests.com/list/47574-india-times-top-25-must-see-bollywood-films|access-date=2020-05-07|archive-date=5 September 2012}}</ref> In 1967, Chhaya had made guest appearances in many critically acclaimed films, particularly ''[[Ram Aur Shyam]]'', ''[[Baharon Ke Sapne]]'', ''[[Upkar]]'', and ''[[Raat Aur Din]]''. In 1968, she starred in [[Duniya (1968 film)|''Duniya'']] as Laxmi, a role named after her.

In 1969, Chhaya next starred as Rita in the film ''[[Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke]]'' (1969), where she starred in a supporting role once again with Asha Parekh. The movie was a commercial success.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Worth Their Weight in Gold! - Box Office India : India's premier film trade magazine|url=http://boxofficeindia.co.in/worth-their-weight-in-gold|date=2017-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915183938/http://boxofficeindia.co.in/worth-their-weight-in-gold|access-date=2020-05-07|archive-date=15 September 2017}}</ref> In the same year, she also starred in the film ''[[Pyar Ka Mausam]]'' (1969).

In 1971, Chhaya starred as Munnibai, a young girl who works undercover for a dacoit, in ''[[Mera Gaon Mera Desh]]'', her first role as part of the main cast.<ref>{{Cite web|title=When Dharmendra saved a village from dacoits before 'Sholay'|url=https://scroll.in/reel/892145/when-dharmendra-saved-a-village-from-dacoits-before-sholay|author=Scroll Staff|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-07|archive-date=1 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901134306/https://scroll.in/reel/892145/when-dharmendra-saved-a-village-from-dacoits-before-sholay|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was a major and critical success at the time, and is considered to be one of Chhaya's best performances.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=5 unforgettable songs filmed on Laxmi Chhaya|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2019/may/9/20549|last=Pandya|first=Sonal|website=Cinestaan|access-date=2019-09-01|archive-date=1 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901134305/https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2019/may/9/20549|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1972, she starred with [[Amitabh Bachchan]] in ''[[Raaste Kaa Patthar]]'', where she was part of the main cast, and received praise for her dancing in the song "Main Sharaab Bechti Hoon".<ref name=":1" /> She starred in the films ''[[Do Chor]]'' and ''[[Bindiya Aur Bandook]]'' in the same year.

Following these roles, Chhaya made more guest appearances in films such as ''[[Do Phool]]'' (1973), ''[[Sharafat Chod Di Maine]]'' (1976), ''[[Haiwan]]'' (1977), and she also had a guest role in ''[[Dhoti Lota Aur Chowpatty]]'' (1975), which was known for its extensive cast list. She had a starring role in ''Paijjecha Vida'' (1979), which was a box-office flop.

After a series of commercially unsuccessful films, in 1987, she retired the film industry after a guest appearance in the film ''Parakh''. In the years prior to her death, Chhaya went on to open her own dance school, where she taught dancing to indigent children.

== Death ==
On 9 May 2004, Chhaya died of [[cancer]] in [[Mumbai]] at the age of 56.<ref name="bulletin22">Listener's Bulletin No. 125, September 2004, p 4.</ref><ref name="screen india22">[http://syndication.screenindia.com/news/tatas-finally-pull-plug-on-bangla-projects/8277/ Laxmi Chhaya & Dilawar Khan] ScreenIndia.com 4 June 2004 {{dead link|date=June 2013}}</ref> Tributes have been published and created in recognition of Chhaya's work in the film industry.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=My ten favorite Laxmi Chhaya songs|url=https://memsaabstory.com/2009/04/29/my-ten-favorite-laxmi-chhaya-songs/|date=2009-04-29|website=MemsaabStory|language=en|access-date=2019-09-26|archive-date=30 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430032234/https://memsaabstory.com/2009/04/29/my-ten-favorite-laxmi-chhaya-songs/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Selected filmography ==

*''[[Talaq (1958 film)|Talaq]]'' (1958)
*''Bada Aadmi'' (1961)
*''[[Naughty Boy (film)|Naughty Boy]]'' (1962)
*''Royal Mail'' (1963)
*''[[Bluff Master (1963 film)|Bluff Master]]'' (1963)
*''[[Gumnaam]]'' (1965)
*''[[Teesri Manzil]]'' (1966)
*''[[Ram Aur Shyam]]'' (1967)
*''[[Raaz (1967 film)|Raaz]]'' (1967)
*''[[Baharon Ke Sapne]]'' (1967)
*''[[Raat Aur Din]]'' (1967)
*''[[Upkar]]'' (1967)
*''[[Izzat (1968 film)|Izzat]]'' (1968)
*''[[Duniya (1968 film)|Duniya]]'' (1968)
*''[[Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke]]'' (1969)
*''[[Pyar Ka Mausam]]'' (1969)
*''[[Mere Humsafar]]'' (1970)
*''[[Mera Gaon Mera Desh]]'' (1971)
*''[[Raaste Kaa Patthar]]'' (1972)
*''[[Do Chor]]'' (1972)
*''[[Bindiya Aur Bandook]]'' (1973)
*''[[Do Phool]]'' (1973)
*''[[Dhoti Lota Aur Chowpatty]]'' (1975)
*''[[Sharafat Chod Di Maine]]'' (1976)
*''[[Haiwan]]'' (1977)
*''Paijjecha Vida'' (1979)
*''Bijli'' (1986)
*''Parakh'' (1987)
==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0156857}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chhaya, Laxmi}}
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Indian female dancers]]
[[Category:Actresses in Marathi cinema]]
[[Category:Dancers from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Women artists from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Actresses from Mumbai]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]

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Laxmi Chhaya