Known as one of the greatest and most beloved screen mothers of Hindi cinema, Sulochana Latkar was a legend who worked in the industry for more than five decades.
Early Life and Career
Sulochana Latkar was born as Rangu Diwan on July 30, 1928, in Khadaklat village, Belagavi district, Karnataka, into a family with a modest background. Her birth name was Rangu Diwan. Her parents died from the plague during her childhood leaving her and her elder brother with a widowed aunt. They moved to Chikodi to live with her father’s lawyer friend, Binadekar. Financial struggles defined her early years.
Sulochana studied up to class five at a primary school in Khadaklat. Her parents’ death forced her to discontinue formal education. She focused on supporting her family, taking up work in the film industry.
Sulochana Latkar In Marathi Films
Sulochana entered the film industry in 1943 as a junior artist. She worked at Prafulla Pictures in Kolhapur, owned by Master Vinayak, earning Rs. 30 monthly. Her initial roles were minor, including an extra in Chimukla Sansar (1943) and a Tamil film, Valmiki (1946).
In 1947, she joined Jayaprabha Studio under Bhalji Pendharkar, who named her “Sulochana” after the Sanskrit term for “beautiful eyes,” inspired by silent film actress Ruby Myers. Her first lead role came in the Marathi film Sasurvas (1946), marking her rise as a leading actress. Sulochana continued to star as a lead actress in Marathi cinema for more than a decade.
Sulochana starred as a lead actress in Marathi cinema from 1946 to 1961. Some of her early films include Bhalji Pendharkar’s Meeth Bhakar (1949), Chhatrapati Shivaji (1952), Datta Dharmadhikari’s Bala Jo Jo Re (1950), Chimani Pakhre (1951), Stree Janma Hi Tuzhi Kahani (1952), and Shantaram Athavale’s Vahininchya Bangdya (1953), Rajan Kumar’s Bhaubheej (1955), and Raja Bargir’s Sukhache Sobti (1958).
One of her most memorable Marathi films was Anant Mane’s Sangtye Aika (1959) starring Jayshree Gadkar, Hansa Wadkar, Dada Salvi, Suryakant and Chandrakant. Some of her other notable Marathi films include Molkarin (1963), Maratha Tituka Melvava (1964), Vavtal (1965), Laxmi Ali Ghara (1965), Sadhi Manse (1965), Sant Gora Kumbhar (1967), Gharchi Rani (1968), Manaacha Mujra (1969), and many more.
Sulochana Latkar In Hindi Films
She made her Hindi film debut with M. Sadiq’s Jag Biti (1946) with Suraiya and Sadiq Ali. She followed it with films like S.K. Ojha’s Nai Reet (1948) with Geeta Bali and Anant Thakur’s Paras (1951) with Kamini Kaushal, Madhubala and Rehman. She followed it with films like Saltanat (1954), Shart (1954), Gawaiya (1954), Bindiya (1956), Parivar (1956), Aadhi Roti (1957), Ab Dilli Dur Nahin (1957), Dil Deke Dekho (1959), and many more.
In this period she acted in many mythological films like Sati Ansuya (1956), Sudarshan Chakra (1956), Raj Rani Meera (1957), Shesh Naag (1957), Jai Ambe (1957), Bhakt Dhruv (1957), Shyam Ki Jogan (1957), Ram Lakshman (1957), Neel Mani (1957), Gauri Shankar (1958), Harishchandra (1958), Sati Vaishalini (1959), Sampoorna Ramayana (1961), Shankar Sita Ansuya (1965), and many more. She frequently acted with Shahu Modak, Trilok Kapoor, and Manher Desai in these films.
In Sujata (1959), directed by Bimal Roy, Sulochana played Shshikala and Nutan’s mother. Initially hesitant at age 30, she accepted after advice from Durga Khote and Lalita Pawar. Her lullaby scene, Nanhi Kali Sone Chali, became iconic. In the late 50s she started doing mothers roles and made her special place among the great filmic mothers. She played mother to almost all big stars like Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Sunil Dutt and others.
The Mother of All Big Heroes
She is especially recognized as Sunil Dutt‘s mother in films like Heera (1973), Jhoola (1962), Ek Phool Char Kante (1962), Sujatha (1959), Mehrbaan (1967), Chirag (1969), Bhai Bahen (1969), Reshma Aur Shera (1971), Muqabla (1979), Jaani Dushman (1979) and Badle Ki Aag (1982). One of their most memorable films was In Reshma Aur Shera (1971), directed by Sunil Dutt; she played Dutt and Amitabh’s mother. Her emotional scenes were lauded, contributing to the film’s critical success.
In 1968 she played Dilip Kumar‘s mother in Sunghursh. Sulochana was Dev Anand’s mother in Johny Mera Naam (1970), directed by Vijay Anand. Her warm portrayal enhanced the film’s family dynamics. She worked with Dev Anand in other films like Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai (1961), Pyar Mohabbat (1966), Duniya (1968), Joshila (1973), Amir Garib (1974), Warrant (1975), and many more.
Some of her memorable films with Dharmendra include Shaadi (1962), Bandini (1963), Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964), Neela Akash (1965), Aaye Din Bahar Ke (1966), Devar (1966), Mere Hamdam Mere Dost (1968), Pyar Hi Pyar (1969), Tum Haseen Main Jawan (1970), Kahani Kismat Ki (1973), Azaad (1978), Badle Ki Aag (1982), Baazi (1984), and Ghulami (1986), among others.
Sulochana portrayed Rajesh Khanna’s mother in Shakti Samanta’s Kati Patang (1970). Her nurturing role complemented the film’s emotional narrative. They worked together again in films including Bahraon Ke Sapne, Doli, Mere Jeevan Saathi, and Aashiq Hoon Baharaon Ka.
Some of her other memorable films include Nai Roshni (1967), Saraswatichandra (1968), Aadmi (1968), Kati Patang (1970), Main Sunder Hoon (1970), Kora Kagaz (1974), Majboor (1974), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Aasha (1980), Himmatwala (1983), and Khoon Bhari Maang (1988).
Personal Life
Sulochana Latkar gets many awards and accolades in her long career. She gets the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. She also recieved the Maharashtra Bhushan Award (2009), the Chitrabhushan Award (2003), four Hridaynath Mangeshkar Awards, and the Saraswatibai Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award (2019).
Sulochana married Aabasaheb Chavan, from a landlord family, at age 14 in 1943. They had one daughter, Kanchan Ghanekar, who married Marathi stage actor Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar. Kashinath died in 1986 at age 56. Sulochana’s granddaughter is Rashmi Ghanekar. In her later years, Sulochana lived in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, enjoying visits from industry colleagues like Amitabh Bachchan and Jackie Shroff.
Sulochana Latkar had arthritis and spent time watching films. She passed away on June 4, 2023, at Shushrusha Hospital, Dadar, Mumbai, from respiratory failure due to age-related ailments. She was 94. Her funeral, held with state honors at Shivaji Park Crematorium, drew tributes from leaders like Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis.
Sulochana Latkar on IMDB
