Mala Sinha was born on 11th November 1936. She is an Indian actress with great popularity in Bollywood films of the sixties and early seventies. Mala Sinha was born as Alda Sinha in Kashmir, India. She worked in the film industry thoroughly from 1952 to 1994. She was born to a Nepali Christian family couple and was thus named Alda. Her father`s name was Albert Sinha.

Film Career of Mala Sinha
Mala Sinha started her film career as child artist in Bengali Films Jai Vaishno Devi and then followed up with Shri Krishan Leela, Jog Biyog and Dhooli. Distinguished Bengali film director Ardhendu Bose noticed Mala Sinha`s acting in a school play and asked for permission from her father to cast her as a heroine in his film Roshanara (1952). This film was her cinematic debut. After acting in a couple of films in Kolkata, Mala Sinha travelled to Mumbai to shoot for a Bengali film. There she met Bollywood Actress Geeta Dutt, a renowned Bollywood playback singer. Geeta Dutt was enamoured by her beauty and introduced her to film director Kidar Sharma. He directed the film Rangeen Ratein and cast her as a heroine.

Mala Sinha was also a proficient singer and used to sing for All India Radio. In 1957, renowned Bollywood actor and film director Guru Dutt (husband of Geeta Dutt) took Mala Sinha in his film Pyaasa in the lead role. Mala Sinha offered an outstanding performance as the character of a woman who chooses to marry a rich man, played by character entertainer Rehman rather than a meagre, unsuccessful poet played by Guru Dutt himself. The film remains to this day an archetypal in the history of Indian cinema.

Mala Sinha was honoured with the Filmfare nominations as Best Actress for excellent films like Dhool Ka Phool (1959), Bahu Rani (1963), Jahan Ara (1964), and Himalay Ki God Mein (1965). Mala Sinha strangely was not even nominated for her major roles in strong women-oriented films, such as Hariyali Aur Raasta (1962), Anpadh (1962), Gumrah (1963), and Aankhen (1967). In spite of standing up with praiseworthy performances, she has never won the Filmfare award for any of her roles. In Bengali films Mala Sinha has acted with the film stalwart Uttam Kumar. Her last Bengali film was Kavita, which featured Ranjit Mullick and Kamal Hassan.

Mala Sinha married C.P.Lohani with the blessings of her parents. From the beginning of their marriage, they were compelled to stay at long distance due to professional necessities. Lohani was based in Kathmandu to look after his business and Mala Sinha in Mumbai with their daughter Pratibha. However, Mala continued acting in films after her marriage.

Awards and Honours of Mala Sinha

Mala Sinha was awarded the BFJA Award for Best Actress in 1965 for the movie Jahan Ara. She next won the BFJA Award for Best Actress in 1966 for Himalaya Ki God Mein. In 2007 she was honoured with the Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award.




Filmography of Mala Sinha