Rakhee Gulzar | |
|---|---|
Rakhee Gulzar in 2024 | |
| Born | Rakhee Majumdar (1947-08-15)15 August 1947 (age 78) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Meghna Gulzar (daughter) |
| Honors | Padma Shri |
Raakhee Gulzar (Bengali pronunciation:[rakʰi];néeMajumdar; born 15 August 1947), professionally known asRaakhee, is an Indian actress who primarily works inHindi andBengali films. One of the leading and most popular actresses of the 1970s and early 1980s,[1][2] Raakhee is a recipient of several awards including twoNational Film Awards and threeFilmfare Awards. In 2003, she receivedPadma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award.[3]
Raakhee made her film debut with the Bengali filmBadhu Bharan (1967). She had her first Hindi film withJeevan Mrityu (1970). Raakhee's career marked a turning point withAankhon Aankhon Mein (1972),Daag: A Poem of Love (1973), for which she won her firstFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress, and27 Down (1974). She won her first and onlyFilmfare Award for Best Actress forTapasya (1976).
Raakhee went on to establish herself as one of the leading actresses of Hindi cinema with films like -Blackmail (1973),Kabhi Kabhie (1976),Doosra Aadmi (1977),Trishna,Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (both 1978),Kaala Patthar,Jurmana (both 1979),Barsaat Ki Ek Raat (1981),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) andShubho Mahurat (2003). For the last of these, she won theNational Film Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Raakhee married poet, lyricist and authorGulzar in 1973 with whom she has a daughter, writer and directorMeghna Gulzar.
Raakhee was born in aBengali family atRanaghat in theNadia district ofWest Bengal on 15 August 1947. of India.[4][5] She received her early education in a local girls' school. Her father had a flourishing shoe business in his native village located in Meherpur,East Bengal which was then a part of Nadia district of undivided India (modern-dayBangladesh), before thepartition of India, and thereafter he settled in West Bengal.
In 1967, the 20-year-old Raakhee acted in her first Bengali filmBodhu Boron andBaghini, after which she was offered the lead role inRajshri Productions' successful crime thrillerJeevan Mrityu (1970) oppositeDharmendra.[6][7]
Raakhee played a triple role oppositeShashi Kapoor in the musical romanceSharmeelee, and also starred in the dramasLal Patthar andParas; all three films emerged as commercial successes and she quickly established herself as a leading actress ofHindi Cinema.Shehzada (1972) opposite Rajesh Khanna andAankhon Aankhon Mein (1972) opposite a relative newcomerRakesh Roshan showcased her comic abilities, though their box office returns was unsatisfactory.[8] In 1973, she continued to display versatility even in relatively small roles in the romancesHeera Panna andDaag: A Poem of Love, with her strong performances, earning her firstFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for the latter.[9] In 1974, Raakhee won a Special Souvenir prize at theNational Film Awards for27 Down.The Telegraph commended her "nuanced take on an independent working woman who has more steel in her than the film’s flawed protagonist – truly a break from the synthetic women in films of the era".[10]
In 1976, Raakhee's career peaked after starring in two movies that garnered her widespread acclaim. The first wasYash Chopra'sKabhi Kabhie, for which she earned her secondFilmfare Award for Best Actress nomination.[11] The film had been written with Raakhee in mind, and she had agreed to do it during the making ofDaag. Citing her as having "one of the most gorgeous faces to have been seen on the Hindi screen",Filmfare magazine retrospectively called it "a perfect ode to her exquisiteness: Her wine eyes, a prism of myriad emotions. Her poignant voice holding back the surging sadness. She played the beautiful muse, whose parting leaves poetAmitabh Bachchan devastated. [The film] threw open a second innings for the actress who then went on to star in blockbusters that left critics overwhelmed and art house actors envious. From initially being compared to actressNimmi, given her hazel eyes, and later toMeena Kumari, given her proclivity towards the tragic, Raakhee cut through it all to stand apart".[12]
The phenomenal success ofRajshri Productions'Tapasya (1976), a heroine-dominated drama, established Raakhee as a box-office name to reckon with. Starring oppositeAsrani andParikshit Sahni, her portrayal of a family breadwinner who sacrifices her dreams and ambitions for the future of her younger siblings, earned Raakhee her first and onlyFilmfare Award for Best Actress.The Hindu acknowledged her role as a "calculated risk", which required her to be shown in a "mature, somewhat middle aged role", and praised her "amazing restraint and conviction" in it.[13] She later described the film as "one of the most important films of my career" and regards her performances inBlackmail (1973),Tapasya andAanchal (1980) as her best.[14][15]
Raakhee starred withDev Anand inHeera Panna,Banarasi Babu (1973),Joshila (1973) andLootmaar (1980). She starred opposite Shashi Kapoor in 10 released films:Sharmeelee,Jaanwar Aur Insaan (1972),Kabhie Kabhie (1976),Doosra Aadmi (1977), the critically acclaimedTrishna (1978),Baseraa (1981),[16]Bandhan Kuchchey Dhaagon Ka (1983),Zameen Aasmaan (1984), andPighalta Aasman (1985) and the unreleasedEk Do Teen Chaar.[17] Her exemplary chemistry withAmitabh 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), andBemisal (1982). In some films such asJurmana, her name is even credited ahead of the hero. She also formed a popular pair withSanjeev Kumar in films likeHamare Tumhare (1979) andShriman Shrimati (1982).[18][19]
In 1981, a 23-year-old aspiring directorAnil Sharma asked her to star in an out-and-out female oriented role in his debut filmShradhanjali. 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 inAanchal, Shashi Kapoor and Amitabh inShaan (1980), Mithun Chakraborty inDhuan (1981), and mother to Amitabh inShakti and Rishi Kapoor inYeh Vaada Raha (1982). She also starred in severalBengali films at the time, withParoma (1984) earning her theBengal Film Journalists' Association Award for Best Actress (Hindi).[20]
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 asRam Lakhan (1989),[21]Anari (1993),Khalnayak (1993),Baazigar (1993),Karan Arjun (1995),Border (1997),Soldier (1998),Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love (2001) andDil Ka Rishta (2002).[22][23] In 2003, she appeared in Rituparno Ghosh's mystery thrillerShubho Mahurat, which earned her theNational Film Award for Best Supporting Actress.[24][25] In a 2012 interview, she said that her favourite heroes were Rajesh Khanna and Shashi Kapoor. In 2019, Kolkata International Film Festival the filmNirbon 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 novelBijolibalar Mukti.[26]
Apart from her acting career, Raakhee delved into various other field, some of which include costume designing (forPyaar To Hona Hi Tha (1998)) and dress assistance (forDil Kya Kare (1999)). In 1982, she lent her voice for the filmTaaqat in the song "Teri Nindiya Ko Lag Jaaye Aag Re" sung alongsideKishore Kumar.[27]
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 asGulzar, she took his pen name as her surname and is credited thereafter as Raakhee Gulzar. The couple has a daughter,Meghna Gulzar. When their daughter was only one year old, they separated.[28]
After completing her graduation in films from New York University, Meghna went on to become a director of films includingFilhaal... (2002),Just Married (2007) andDus Kahaniyaan (2007),[29] and authored a biography of her father in 2004.[30][31]
At one point, Raakhee stayed in her bungalow, "Muktangan" (bought from the Marathi playwrightP. L. Deshpande), on Sarojini Road inKhar,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.[32] Presently, she lives a reclusive life in her farmhouse atPanvel on the outskirts of Mumbai, spending time in tending to a huge flock of animals, growing vegetables and reading books.[33][34][35][36]
| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Badhu Bharan | – | Bengali | ||
| 1968 | Baghini | Bengali | [37] | ||
| 1970 | Aparajeya | Bina | Assamese | [7] | |
| Jeevan Mrityu | Deepa | Hindi | Hindi debut | ||
| 1971 | Sharmilee | Kanchan/Kamini | Hindi | ||
| Reshma Aur Shera | Gopal's Wife | Hindi | |||
| Paras | Barkha Singh | Hindi | |||
| Lal Patthar | Sumita | Hindi | |||
| 1972 | Anokhi Pehchan | Hindi | |||
| Aan Baan | Rekha | Hindi | |||
| Aankhon Aankhon Mein | Parvati | Hindi | Nominated –Filmfare Award for Best Actress | [38] | |
| Beimaan | Sapna | Hindi | |||
| Janwar Aur Insaan | Meena | Hindi | |||
| Shehzada | Chanda | Hindi | |||
| Shaadi Ke Baad | Shova | Hindi | |||
| Sub Ka Saathi | Rosie | Hindi | |||
| Wafaa | Saraswati | Hindi | |||
| Yaar Mera | Sarla | Hindi | |||
| 1973 | Heera Panna | Reema Singh | Hindi | Special appearance | |
| Daag: A Poem of Love | Chandni | Hindi | Won –Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress | [39] | |
| Blackmail | Asha Mehta | Hindi | |||
| Banarasi Babu | Neela | Hindi | |||
| Joshila | Sapna | Hindi | Special appearance | ||
| 1974 | Pagli | Gori | Hindi | ||
| 27 Down | Shalini | Hindi | Won –National Film Award, Special Souvenir | [40] | |
| 1975 | Mere Sajna | Kammo | Hindi | ||
| Angaarey | Shova | Hindi | |||
| 1976 | Tapasya | Indrani Sinha (Indu) | Hindi | Won – Filmfare Award for Best Actress | [41] |
| Kabhi Kabhie | Pooja Khanna | Hindi | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Actress | [42] | |
| 1977 | Doosra Aadmi | Nisha | Hindi | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Actress & for Best Supporting Actress | |
| 1978 | Chameli Memsaheb | Chameli | Bangla | [20] | |
| Trishna | Aarti Gupta | Hindi | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Actress | ||
| Kasme Vaade | Suman | Hindi | |||
| Trishul | Geeta | Hindi | |||
| Muqaddar Ka Sikandar | Kaamna | Hindi | |||
| 1979 | Hamare Tumhare | Maya | Hindi | ||
| Jurmana | Rama Sharma | Hindi | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Actress | ||
| Kaala Patthar | Dr. Sudha Sen | Hindi | |||
| Shyamla | Bengali | ||||
| 1980 | Lootmaar | Raksha Bhagat | Hindi | Special appearance | |
| Aanchal | Shanti | Hindi | |||
| Hum Kadam | Indu Gupta | Hindi | |||
| Shaan | Sheetal Kumar | Hindi | |||
| 1981 | Rocky | Parvati | Hindi | [43] | |
| Laawaris | Vidya | Hindi | Special appearance | ||
| Dhuaan | Rani Gayatri | Hindi | |||
| Barsaat Ki Ek Raat | Rajni | Bengali-Hindi bilingual | |||
| Anusandhan | Tamosha | Bengali-Hindi bilingual | |||
| Baseraa | Sharda Balraj Kohli | Hindi | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Actress | ||
| Shradhanjali | Bhabhi maa | Hindi | |||
| 1982 | Yeh Vaada Raha | Sharda Rai Bahadur | Hindi | ||
| Taaqat | Devi | Hindi | |||
| Shriman Shrimati | Parvati Devi | Hindi | |||
| Bemisal | Kavita | Hindi | |||
| Dil Aakhir Dil Hai | Kusum Desai | Hindi | |||
| Shakti | Sheetal | Hindi | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Actress | ||
| 1983 | Bandhan Kuchchey Dhaagon Ka | Bhavna | Hindi | [44] | |
| 1984 | Anand Aur Anand | Mrs. Arun Anand | Hindi | ||
| Bandh Honth | Hindi | ||||
| Parama | Parama | Bengali | |||
| Zindagi Jeene Ke Liye | Hindi | ||||
| Zameen Aasmaan | Kavita | Hindi | |||
| 1985 | Pighalta Aasman | Aarti | Hindi | ||
| Saaheb | Sujata Sharma | Hindi | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress | ||
| 1986 | Amma | Shanta | Hindi | ||
| Zindagani | Sumitra Devi | Hindi | |||
| 1987 | Muqaddar Ka Faisla | Laxmi | Hindi | ||
| Dacait | Devi Choudhrain | Hindi | |||
| 1988 | Gold Medal | Shobha/Dimple | Hindi | ||
| Mere Baad | Vidya | Hindi | |||
| Falak | Durga Verma | Hindi | |||
| Prateek | Sunanda | Bengali | |||
| Sagar Sangam | Ganga | Hindi | |||
| 1989 | Ram Lakhan | Sharda Pratap Singh | Hindi | Won – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress | [45] |
| Santosh | Rachna | Hindi | |||
| 1990 | Jeevan Ek Sangharsh | Dharam Verma | Hindi | ||
| 1991 | Saugandh | Ganga | Hindi | ||
| Pratikar | Saraswati Devi | Hindi | [46] | ||
| 1993 | Rudaali | Bhikni/Euli | Hindi | ||
| Pratimurti | Bengali | ||||
| Khal Nayak | Mrs. Aarti Prasad | Hindi | |||
| Kshatriya | Maheshwari Devi | Hindi | |||
| Dil Ki Baazi | Nirmala Devi | Hindi | |||
| Anari | Savitri | Hindi | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress | ||
| Baazigar | Mrs. Shobha Sharma | Hindi | |||
| 1994 | Phiriye Dao | Arjun's mother | Bengali | [47] | |
| Swami Vivekananda | Rajasthani tribal | Hindi | |||
| 1995 | Karan Arjun | Durga Singh | Hindi | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress | [48] |
| Kismat | Geeta | Hindi | |||
| 1996 | Durjan | Bengali | |||
| Jaan | Rukmini | Hindi | |||
| 1997 | Achena Atithi | Bengali | |||
| Border | Dharamvir's mother | Hindi | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress | [49] | |
| Jeevan Yudh | Mrs. Rai | Hindi | |||
| Ankhon Mein Tum Ho | Ranimaa (Mrs. Burman) | Hindi | |||
| 1998 | Sham Ghansham | Ganga Satyadev Singh | Hindi | ||
| Barood | Gayatri Sharma | Hindi | |||
| Soldier | Geeta Malhotra | Hindi | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress | ||
| 1999 | Baadshah | Chief Minister Gayatri | Hindi | ||
| 2001 | Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love | Pratima Kapoor | Hindi | [50] | |
| 2003 | Talaash: The Hunt Begins | Purnima | Hindi | ||
| Dil Ka Rishta | Mrs. Sharma | Hindi | [51] | ||
| Shubho Mahurat | Ranga Pishima | Bengali | National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress | [52] | |
| 2009 | Classmates | Hindi | |||
| 2019 | Nirbaan | Bijolibaba | Bengali | ||
| 2025 | Aamar Boss | Bengali |
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Padma Shri | Contribution in the field of Arts | Honoured | [53] |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Filmfare Awards | Best Actress | Aankhon Aankhon Mein | Nominated | [54] |
| 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 | [55] | |
| 1979 | Jurmana | Nominated | |||
| 1981 | Baseraa | Nominated | [56] | ||
| 1983 | Shakti | Nominated | [57] | ||
| 1985 | Best Supporting Actress | Saaheb | Nominated | [58] | |
| 1989 | Ram Lakhan | Won | [59] | ||
| 1994 | Anari | Nominated | [60] | ||
| 1996 | Karan Arjun | Nominated | [61] | ||
| 1998 | Border | Nominated | [62] | ||
| 1999 | Soldier | Nominated | [63] | ||
| 1974 | National Film Awards | Special Souvenir | 27 Down | Won | [64] |
| 2003 | Best Supporting Actress | Shubho Mahurat | Won | [65] | |
| 1973 | Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress (Hindi) | Daag | Won | [66] |
| 1984 | Best Actress (Hindi) | Paroma | Won |