Tanuja Samarth is an Indian movie actress popularly known as "Tanuja". She was born into a Marathi family and is the mother of Indian actresses Kajol and Tanisha and the former wife of Shomu Mukherjee. She is most remembered for her roles in Hindi films like "Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi" (1966), "Jewel Thief", "Haathi Mere Saathi" (1971) and "Anubhav" (1971). She also appeared in many Marathi, Bengali and Gujarati films.

Career of Tanuja Samarth
Tanuja entered films as a child actress and continued to work until 1973. She met director Shomu Mukherjee, the youngest son of producer Sashadhar Mukherjee on the set of “Ek Baar Muskara Do” (1972). Tanuja started her film career with her older sister Nutan in the film “Hamari Beti” (1950) as baby Tanuja. As an adult actress, she debuted in the film “Chhabili” (1960) that was directed by her mother. Her other films includes “Baharein Phir Bhi Aayengi”. Her film career was on the climax through the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. After the success of "Haathi Mere Saathi" (1971), she acted in films like "Mere Jeevan Saathi", "Do Chor and Ek Baar Muskara Do" (1972), "Pavitra Paapi", "Anubhav", "Jeene Ki Raah", "Bhoot Bangla" and others.

During the mid 60`s Tanuja was a popular actress in Bengali movies too. She started with the film "Deya Neya" (1963) where she was paired opposite the stalwart of Bengali cinema, Uttam Kumar. She acted in many more memorable hit films like "Anthony Firingee" (1967) and "Rajkumari" (1970). Tanuja had fantastic on-screen chemistry with the then hero Soumitra Chatterjee with whom she made box office hits like "Teen Bhuvaner Parey" (1969), "Prothom Kadam Phool" and others. Tanuja spoke her own script in these Bengali films.

In 2008, Tanuja came on small screen as a judge along with Kajol and Ajay Devgan on Zee TV"s family dance series "Rock and Roll Family".

Achievements of Tanuja Samarth
Tanuja received Filmfare nomination as Best Supporting Actress for Jewel Thief in 1967 and Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Paisa Ya Pyar in 1969. Eventually, Tanuja retired from films for a number of years, but came back into films after she got divorced.

Filmography of Tanuja Samarth
Following are some of the filmography of Tanuja Samarth:


•Hamari Beti (1950)

•Amber (1952)

•Chhabili (1960)

•Bhoot Bungla, Chand Aur Suraj, Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal (1965)

•Wahan Ke Log, Jewel Thief, Nai Roshni (1967)

•Hum Shakal, Humrahi, Imtihaan, Amir Garib (1974)

•Door Ka Rahi, Ek Paheli, Ek Thi Reeta, Haathi Mere Saathi, Preet Ki Dori,Purani Pehchan, Pyar Ki Kahani, Anubhav (1971)

•Boxer, Kunwari Bahu, Mati Maange Khoon, Nadaniyan, Pet Pyar Aur Paap, Sohni Mahiwal (1984)

•Lover Boy, Zabardast, Ghar Dwaar (1985)

•Jaal, Love 86, Mohabbat Ki Kasam, Nasihat, Suhaagan, Adhikar, Anokha Rishta, Ek Aur Sikander (1986)

•Swami Vivekanand, Taaqatwar, Gawaahi, Gharana, Meri Zabaan, Parayaa Ghar (1989)

•I Love You, Bekhudi, Abhi Abhi, Ek Ladka Ek Ladki, Aag (1992)

•Deewaar, Rules (Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula) (2003)

•Toonpur Ka Superhero (2010)

•Aarambh (2017)

Personal Life of Tanuja Samarth
Tanuja was born on September 23, 1943 in Mumbai to Kumarsen Samarth and Shobhna Samarth. She had four siblings. Her father Kumarsen Samarth was a poet and film director and his wife Shobhna Samarth was a famous actress during the 1930s and 1940s. Her parents got separated, when she was very young. Tanuja got married to director Shomu Mukherjee in the year 1973 but later they got divorced. In the year 2008, on 10th April Shomu Mukherjee died of cardiac attack.