Dulari worked as a character actor in around 135 movies in a career spanning six decades, most notably known for movies such as “Shehnai,” “Devdas,” “Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai,” “Mujhe Jeene Do,” “Teesri Kasam,” “Deewar,” and many more
In her later years, Dulari diagnosed for Alzheimer’s disease, and was living in an old age home. When, Waheeda Rahman got to know about her condition. She helped her and also brought up her case to the Cine & TV Artists Association (CINTAA), which started providing her financial assistance through the last few years.
A sad story of a great actress
She was born on April 18, 1928, as “Ambika Gautam” in the household of Vithalrao and Draupadi in Nagpur, Maharahstra, India. When her father, joined Faredoon Irani’s theatre company, the entire family shifted to Mumbai. Dulari also played a few roles in theatre. Sadly, Dulari was forced to take her job as an actor full time after her father’s illness.
Film Career
Dulari landed a small role as a young girl living in an ashram in “Jhoola (1941).” The following year, she got brief parts in “Roti (1941),” “Jawani (1942),” and “Apna Paraya (1942).” Dulari played a second lead opposite Mukesh in ‘”Adaab Arz (1943).” She also played Jairaj’s younger sister in “Humari Baat (1943),” followed by “Amanat (1943),” “Ghar (1945),” and “Kul Kalank (1945).”
In 1950, she was cast opposite Mumtaz Ali in “Shehnai,” famous song “
Ana Meri Jan Sunday ke Sunday” was picturised on her. She also worked with Raj Kapoor in Paapi (1953).
Dulari married Jagannath Bhikji Jagatap, a sound recordist, in 1952 and took a 10-year break. During this time, she only did few film like “Devdas’ (1955),” where two songs “Aan Milo Shyam Sanwre” and “Sajan Ki Ho Gayi Gori”, were filmed on her.
Dulari continued work in successful movies such as “Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai (1961),” “Sautela Bhai (1962),” “Mujhe Jeene Do (1963),'” “Teesri Kasam’ (1966),” “Saraswatichandra (1968),” “Padosan (1968),” where she played the Mami of Bhola, “Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke (1969),” “Aradhana (1969),” “Seeta Aur Geeta (1972),” “Deewar (1975),” “Aasha (1980),” and many more. The actress was highly praised for her role in Sunil Dutt’s “Reshma Aur Shera (1971).”
She retired from acting after an accident on the sets of 1989 film “Surya.” Her last film role was in “Ziddi (1997),” directed by Guddu Dhanoa. After retirement, she lived in Mumbai but moved to Indore in 2002, where her daughter was living at the time. After some time, her daughter Charulata Jagtap and grandsons moved to Australia.
In her later years, Dulari diagnosed for Alzheimer’s disease, she also had other age related ailments. After her daughter moved to Australia, she started living in an old age home in Pune, Maharashtra. It was the time when veteran actress Waheeda Rahman got to know about her condition. She helped her and also brought up her case to the Cine & TV Artists Association (CINTAA), which started providing her financial assistance through the last few years.
Dulari passed away at eighty-six on January 18, 2013, She was bedridden for over two years.
