Legendary actress “Shashikala” was one of the most versatile and beautiful actresses who was known for films like Sujata (1959), Aarti (1962), Gumrah (1963), Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964), Himalaya Ki God Mein (1965), Waqt (1965), Anupama (1966), Phool Aur Patthar (1966), Neel Kamal (1968), Khubsoorat (1980), and many more.
Early Life
Shashikala was born as Shashikala Jawalkar on August 4, 1932, in Solapur, Maharashtra. Her father, a cloth merchant, faced bankruptcy during her childhood, plunging the family into financial distress. One of six siblings, Shashikala showed early talent in performing arts. By age five, she danced, sang, and acted in stage shows across Solapur district. Her father’s illness and financial ruin prompted the family’s move to Bombay (now Mumbai) when she was in her pre-teens. They relied on friends for shelter, struggling to survive.
Shashikala’s film career began out of necessity. In Bombay, she wandered from studio to studio seeking work, taking small jobs to support her family. At age 13, she worked as a house-help and performed minor roles. She played small role in films like Chand (1944), Jugnu (1947), and Doli (1947). Her breakthrough came with Pugree(1948), produced by Prem Narayan Arora
Shashikala In Films
Her initial days were very difficult, which included her wandering from studio to studio and working as a house-help. One of these visits brings her face to face with Superstar of the Day, NoorJehan, who gave her a small part in a qawwali sequence in her movie Zeenat (1945). Noor Jehan goes out of her way and gives her another bigger part in the movie Jugnu (1947), starring herself and Dilip Kumar, directed by her husband Shaukat Hussain Rizvi.
Next she does films like Pugree (1948), Bholi (1949), Aakhri Paigham (1949), Thes (1949), Raj Rani (1950), Arzoo (1950), Sarkar (1951), Ajeeb Ladki (1952), Teen Batti Char Raasta (1953), Jeewan Jyoti (1953), Surang (1953), Parichay (1954), Shart (1954), Sangam (1954), Abe-Hayat (1955), Patrani (1956), Nau Do Gyarah (1957), 12 O’Clock (1958) and many more.
Due to her family condition, Shashikala does whatever work comes towards her, often in multiple shifts and never cares for the quality of the film or the length of her role. Most of her lead roles came in smaller films. In bigger films, she usually gets the role of a vamp or a bad girl. Shashikala never complained and gave her best in all his films.
The Quintessential Suppor Actor
Shashikala, known for her roles as Hindi cinema’s quintessential antagonist, portrayed glamorous and morally ambiguous characters. She frequently played foil to the virtuous heroines, embodying jealousy and bitterness with flamboyant flair. Throughout her six-decade career, she embraced unsympathetic roles with gusto, infusing them with campy charm and an in-your-face attitude. Her characters, whether ideological opposites or romantic rivals, were marked by exaggerated mannerisms and extravagant costumes, making her a memorable figure in Bollywood’s pantheon of villains and vamps.
One of her most famous and beautiful roles comes in Bimal Roy‘s 1959 classic “Sujata,” where she played the role of Rama, the soul sister of Sujata (Nutan), a Dalit girl. The role earned her widespread praise. In Junglee (1961), she again portrayed a carefree girl with a golden heart, the opposite of her brother, played by Shammi Kapoor.
Hariyali Aur Rasta (1962) saw her playing her usual bad girl. in Anpadh (1962), she plays Basanti, a helper and friend of Mala Sinha who gave her life a purpose.
She acted in Phani Majumdar’s Aarti, starring Meena Kumari, Ashok Kumar, and Pradeep Kumar and produced by Tarachand Barjatya. Shashikala’s negative role as a shrewed housewifw won her a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. She followed it by Gumrah (1963), where she was seen in the role of a blackmailing secretary. She continues to impress the audience in films like Godaan (1963), Punar Milan (1964), Jahan Ara (1964), Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964), Waqt (1965), Neela Aakash (1965), Phool Aur Patthar (1966), Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare (1966), Neel Kamal (1968), Aabroo (1968), and others.
Critical Acclaim
She plays the ever-cheerful Annie in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s “Anupama (1966),” which otherwise was a very serious and sad film starring Sharmila Tagore, Dharmendra, and Deven Verama. The songs “Kyun Mujhe Itni Khushi ” and “Bheegi Bheegi Faza” were picturized on her. She acted alongside the same cast in the social drama “Devar (1966),” where Deven Verma played a rare cunning scheming man, which was unlike his loveable image.
Shashikala was nominated for Filmfare Best Supporting Actress ward 8 times – Sujata (1959), Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1965), Himalaya Ki God Mein (1966), Phool Aur Patthar (1967), Anupama (1967), and Neel Kamal (1969). She won the award for Aarti (1963) and Gumrah (1964).
Later Career
In the later stages of her career, Shashikala was often reduced to the caricaturish, stock roles of conniving mothers-in-law, authoritative queen mothers, and brothel madams. However, Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s film “Khubsoorat” (1980) presented her with a memorable character as the elder daughter-in-law, or “Badi Bhabhi,” in a household governed by strict rules and discipline, overseen by the authoritative Dina Pathak.
A few other notable films of hers in the 80s are Phir Wohi Raat (1980), Souten, Sargam (1979), Souten (1983), Tawaif (1985), Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani (1988) and others.
She was featured in Farooq Sheikh’s iconic talk show, “Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai.” She also did a few serials like Dil Deke Dekho and Son Pari. A few of her last roles were in films like “Mother 98,” “Pardesi Babu,” “Baadshah,” “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham,” “Mujhse Shaadi Karog,” “Chori Chori,” “Rakht” and “Padmashree Laloo Prasad Yadav.”
Personal Life
Shashikala married Om Prakash Saigal when in her early 20s. They had two daughters, Rekha and Shailaja. Rekha died of cancer in 1993, and Shailaja lives abroad. Her marriage faced turmoil which led her separation in the early 1960s. She lived in Calcutta, working with Mother Teresa for nine years. She later reconciled with her family and resumed acting.
In the late 80s, she started to cut off her work and shifted her focus to philanthropic work with Missionaries of Charity. In her later years, she lived in Mumbai with her granddaughter Soniya and great-granddaughter Shanaya. The 2020 pandemic restricted her church visits, impacting her health. She died on April 4, 2021, at age 88, in Mumbai, likely from age-related causes. Her cremation took place at a Colaba church.
Shashikala on IMDB
