One of the most beautiful actresses of the 1970s, Yogeeta Bali had it all: beauty, charm, and acting talent. Although she does not stay in the industry for very long, she is still remembered for her films like “Parwana,” Zameen Aasmaan,” “Yauwan,” “Ajanabee,” “Khwab,” “Beshaque,” and others.
Yogeeta Bali, born on August 13, 1952, is a name that resonates with the golden era of Bollywood. Yogeeta is the niece of the legendary actress Geeta Bali. She was born to Syed Irshad Hussain, a character actor, and Hardarshan Kaur.
Yogeeta started her acting career with a small role in the 1967 film “Chhoti Si Mulaqat.” She was still a teenager when she was noticed by filmmaker “Lekh Tondon,” who decided to cast her in his next film. But before that, she was signed for five years by filmmaker “B. Ananthaswami,” who previously launched Hema Malini. Ananthaswami planned to launch her as his next big find but it never materialised.
Instead, Yogeeta made her debut in 1971 with “Parde Ke Peechhey,” with Vinod Mehra. The same year, she appeared in “Parwana” with Navin Nischol and Amitabh Bachchan, followed by “Ganga Tera Pani Amrit,” “Memsaab,” and “Mere Apne.” With her lovely complexion and compliance with most who worked with her, Yogeeta became known affectionately in the industry by her father’s nickname for her, Pinky.
With her beauty, charm, and considerable acting talent, Yogeeta quickly became one of the most sought-after actresses of the 1970s with films like Zameen Aasmaan (1972), Buniyaad (1972), Sazaa (1972), Nirdosh (1973), Jheel Ke Us Paar (1973), Banarasi Babu (1973), Ek Mutthi Aasmaan (1973), Gaddar (1973), Nafrat (1973), Samjhauta (1973), and Yauwan (1973).
She worked with many top names of the era, such as Rajesh Khanna, Vinod Mehra, Jeetendra, Shatrughan Sinha, and Sanjeev Kumar, in a number of projects like Ajanabee (1974), Apradhi (1974), Sauda (1974), Charitraheen (1974), Chowkidar (1974), Mehbooba (1976), Khaan Dost (1976), Nagin (1976), Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun (1976), Raees (1976), Chacha Bhatija (1976), Jaani Dushman (1979), Janata Havaldar (1979), Khwab (1980), Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai (1981), Biwi-O-Biwi (1981), Be-shaque (1981) and many more.
Yogeeta Bali’s personal life often overshadowed her cinematic contributions. She was first married to the iconic singer Kishore Kumar in 1976, but the marriage was short-lived, ending in divorce by 1978. Subsequently, she found love with actor Mithun Chakraborty, whom she married in 1979, ultimately bidding adieu to the silver screen to embrace family life. The couple has four children: Mahaakshay (Mimoh), Ushmey, Namashi, and a daughter, Dishani.
