Pratima Kazmi is one of the finest actresses of her time and is known for playing strong characters in films, TV, and theater. Some of his best-known roles came in films like “Fiza,” “Gadar,” “Raaz,” “Dabangg 3,” and serials like “Itihaas,” “Uttaran,” “Udaan,” and many more.
Early Life and Career
Pratima Kazmi was born on July 21, 1948, in Mumbai. Pratima started doing theater when she was in college. She talked about her acting debut in an interview. She had just completed her high school when she got to know about an opening for a role through a friend. The role required a young actor with a good singing voice. Pratima was always interested in singing, although she did not have any acting experience.
Her friend requested Pratima’s mother, who flatly refused. Pratima says that my friend thought that, being a Christian, my mother would easily give permission. After a lot of persuasion, her mother agreed. And Pratima went to meet the director, B. M. Shah, who took her test, which she aced. Seeing her talent, Shah greatly encouraged and groomed her. The success of her first play led to her joining the NSD repertory company.
While doing professional theatre, she appeared in the song “Maine Kitne Dil Liye” in the 1988 film “Vardi” as a dancer. In theater, Pratima honed her skills and developed a deep understanding of character portrayal.
Pratima Kazmi On Screen
Pratima made her television debut in 1996 with Ekta Kapoor’s iconic serial “Itihaas,” which opened the doors to a new realm of opportunities. It was one of the first serials produced by Balaji Telefilms and was praised for its engaging storyline and performances. In Itiahas, Pratima played the role of Khabri, a freelance investigator with a heart of gold.
She made her Hindi film debut with Tanuja Chandra’s Dushman (1998), starring Kajol, Sanjay Dutt, Tanvi Azmi, and Ashustosh Rana.
She followed it with Sturla Gunnarsson’s Such a Long Journey (1998), Vinay Shukla’s Godmother (1999), and E. Nivas’s Shool (1999). In 2000 she acted in Khalid Mohammed’s Fiza (2000), starring Jaya Bachchan, Karishma Kapoor, and Hritik Roshan. She did a small but memorable role in Anil Sharma’s blockbuster Gadar (2001). One of her other memorable roles was in Shad Ali’s Bunty Aur Babli (2005). It was only a scene, but it remains a fan favorite.
Other Work
Some of her other notable films include “Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar!! (2000),” “Raaz (2002),” “Pinjar (2003),” “Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II (2003),” “Ek Hasina Thi (2004),” “Jaago (2004),” “Black Friday (2004),” “Sehar (2005),” “Bunty Aur Babli (2005),” “Badlapur (2015),” “Dabangg 3 (2019),” and “Merry Christmas (2024).”
It was the role of ‘Sumitra Devi’ in the popular TV serial “Uttaran (2008)” that catapulted Kazmi to fame. Her performance was not only critically acclaimed but also loved by viewers for its authenticity and depth. This role became synonymous with Kazmi, showcasing her ability to bring complex characters to life.
She then appeared in several other shows, including “X Zone (1998),” “Kammal (2002),” “Saat Phere (2005),” “Jabb Love Hua (2006),” “Mere Angne Mein (2015),” “Ishq Ka Rang Safed (2015),” “Siya Ke Ram (2015),” “Kaala Teeka (2017),” “Udaan (2018),” “Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! (2020),” and “Nath (2021).” Each role she played added a new dimension to her acting portfolio, displaying her range as an actress.
Personal Life
Pratima is married to Kannan Arunachalam, an actor she met during her theater days. Together, they have one son. Pratima is also very active on social media, where she shares different aspects of her life, which include her hobbies of cooking and music.
Pratima Kazmi on IMDB
