Shashikala Saigal (née Jawalkar; 4 August 1932 – 4 April 2021), better known by her first name, was an Indian film and television actress, who played supporting roles in hundreds of Bollywood films beginning in the 1940s.
Early years Shashikala Jawalkar was one of six children born in Solapur, Maharashtra to a Hindu Bhavsar Shimpi caste Marathi speaking family. By age 5, she had already been dancing, singing and acting on stage in many towns in Solapur district. When Shashikala was in her pre-teens, through ill luck, her father became bankrupt, and he brought his family to Bombay (now Mumbai), where they thought that Shashikala, the best-looking and most-talented among his children, could find work in movies. For some time, the family lived with friends and barely survived, while Shashikala wandered from one studio to another looking for work. She earned in bits and pieces till she met Noor Jehan, the reigning screen queen.
Noor Jehan's husband Shaukat Hussain Rizvi, was making the movie Zeenat then, and included Shashikala in a Qawwali scene. Rizvi gave her a supporting role alongside Noorjehan and Dilip Kumar in the 1947 film Jugnu. She acted with Dilip Kumar again in the 1950 film Arzoo.
She worked with Shammi Kapoor in film Daku (1955). She struggled on and got small roles in movies made by P. N. Arora, Amiya Chakravarti, and a few other producers. She first rose to fame with her role in Hindi film Pugdi (1948) produced by Prem Narayan Arora. She got roles in V. Shantaram's Teen Batti Char Raasta (1953) and a few other movies. While in her early twenties, Shashikala met and married Om Prakash Saigal, who belonged to the Kundan Lal Saigal family, and has two daughters.
Acclaimed supporting roles In 1959, she appeared in Bimal Roy's film Sujata. In Tarachand Barjatya's Aarti (1962), starring Meena Kumari, Ashok Kumar, and Pradeep Kumar, Shashikala portrayed a negative role, which received positive reviews, and earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Soon after, offers began to pour in to her for supporting roles. She appeared in Gumrah (1963) which won her a second Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress, Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964), Godaan (1964), Himalay Ki God Mein (1965), Waqt (1965), Anupama (1966), Phool Aur Patthar (1966), Neel Kamal (1968), and Khubsoorat (1980). She played a negative character in Chhote Sarkar (1974) starring Shammi Kapoor and Sadhana. While her female lead co-stars usually played roles of good-natured, modest, or pious women, Shashikala usually played either flighty and feisty bubbly women or vamps who plotted the downfall of others. Later in her acting career, she would typically play the role of a sister or mother-in-law. In 80s her acclaimed performances came in films like Phir Wahi Raat, Souten, Sargam. She performed in supporting roles in more than 100 films.
Recent acting roles In the past years, she has performed in a few television serials, including Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai for Sony, Apnaapan for Zee TV, Dil Deke Dekho for Sab TV and Son Pari for Star Plus. She had roles in Mother 98, Pardesi Babu, Baadshah, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and Chori Chori.
Awards
Civilian Award 2007 – Padma Shri – India's fourth highest civilian honour from the Government of India.
Film Awards YearAwardFilmCategoryResultRef.1962Bengal Film Journalists' Association AwardsAartiBest Supporting Actress (Hindi)1963Gumrah1969Rahgir1960Filmfare AwardsSujataBest Supporting Actress1963Aarti1964Gumrah1965Ayee Milan Ki Bela1966Himalay Ki God Mein1967Phool Aur PattharAnupama1969Neel Kamal
Selected filmography
Karodpati (1936) Chand (1944) Zeenat (1945) as Qawalli singer (one of the females) Jugnu (1947) Doli (1947) (as Sashikala) Pugree (1948) Girls' School (1949) Bombay (1949) Bholi (1949) Aakhri Paigham (1949) Thes (1949) Rupaiya (1950) Raj Rani (1950) Patthe Bapurao (1950) Arzoo (1950) as Kamla Sarkar (1951) Chamkee (1952) Ajeeb Ladki (1952) Teen Batti Char Raasta (1953) as Lalita (Maratha wife) Madmust (1953) Jeewan Jyoti (1953) as Leela Chacha Chowdhury (1953) Surang (1953) as Pagli Parichay (1954) Shart (1954) as Toto Sangam (1954) Samaj (1954) (as Sashikala) Sitara (1955) Sakhi Lutera (1955) Sabse Bada Rupaiya (1955) Hoor-E-Arab (1955) Daku (1955) Bahu (1955) Abe-Hayat (1955) as Shehzadi Taj Aur Talwar (1956) Patrani (1956) as Namunjala Kar Bhala (1956) Diwali Ki Raat (1956) Bhagam Bhag (1956) as Shashi Bandhan (1956) as Shanta Arab Ka Saudagar (1956) Jahazi Lutera (1957) Beti (1957) Nau Do Gyarah (1957) as Neeta Lal Batti (1957) Captain Kishore (1957) Chandu (1958) Chalta Purza (1958) 12 O'Clock (1958) as Neena Sun To Le Hasina (1958) Jung Bahadur (1958) Madam XYZ (1959) Khoobsurat Dhokha (1959) Sujata (1959) as Rama Chowdhury Rangeela Raja (1960) Kanoon (1960) as Murder's Girl Friend Teer Aur Talwar (1960) Singapore (1960) as Shobha Jo Huwa So Bhool Jao (1960) Do Aadmi (1960) Flight to Assam (1961) Junglee (1961) as Mala (as Shashi Kala) Krorepati (1961) as Roopa Batwara (1961) as Kala Hariyali Aur Rasta (1962) as Rita Naag Devata (1962) Anpadh (1962) as Basanti Aarti (1962) as Jaswanti Gumrah (1963) as Leela/Miss Roberts Commercial Pilot Officer (1963) Yeh Rastey Hain Pyar Ke (1963) as Asha Satyavan Savitri (1963) Hamrahi (1963) as Hemalata 'Hema' Godaan (1963) Punar Milan (1964) as Shobhna Bakshi Mera Qasoor Kya Hai (1964) as Shashi Jahan Ara (1964) as Karuna Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964) as Roopa Apne Huye Paraye (1964) as Lata Aap Ki Parchhaiyan (1964) as Rekha Himalay Ki God Mein (1965) as Dr. Neeta Verma (as Shashi Kala) Waqt (1965) as Rani sahiba Teesra Kaun (1965) as Lily Neela Aakash (1965) as Rita Bheegi Raat (1965) as Vinita / Vinnie Bedaag (1965) as Lata Sunehre Qadam (1966) Anupama (1966) as Anita Bakshi 'Annie' Phool Aur Patthar (1966) as Rita Toofan Men Pyar Kahan (1966) Pyar Mohabbat (1966) as Mohini Pati Patni (1966) as Lali Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare (1966) as Ms. Paul Do Dilon Ki Dastaan (1966) Devar (1966) as Shanta M. Singh / Shanta S. Rai Daadi Maa (1966) as Ganga Mehrban (1967) as Devki Chhoti Si Mulaqat (1967) as Sonia Neel Kamal (1968) as Chanchal Aabroo (1968) as Shanta Teen Bahuraniyan (1968) as Sheela Devi Tamanna (1969) Shatranj (1969) as Suzie Rahgir (1969) Paisa Ya Pyar (1969) as Lakshmi Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (1970) as Maya M. Chaudhary Humjoli (1970) as Shyama Rai Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani (1970) as Jamuna Chhoti Bahu (1971) as Paro Woh Din Yaad Karo (1971) as Rajkumari / Saroj Jawan Muhabat (1971) as Mala Das (as Shashi Kala) Narad Leela (1972) Naag Panchami (1972) as Mahadevi Mansa Dastaan E Kashmir (1973) Chhote Sarkar (1974) as Seema Amaanat (1977) as Sonia Babruvahana (1977) Swami (1977) as Ghanshyam's step-mother Duniyadari (1977) as Malti devi Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaaye (1977) as Ms. Saxena (as Sashikala) Dildaar (1977) as Lata's mom (as Shashi Kala) Hamara Sansar (1978) as Pratap's Mother Bin Baap Ka Beta (1979) Sargam (1979) as Savitri Pradhan Zulm Ki Pukar (1979) Khubsoorat (1980) as Mrs. Gupta Kashish (1980) as Seema's Mother Phir Wohi Raat (1980) as Aunty Yeh Kaisa Insaf? (1980) as Shanta Nath Swayamvar (1980) as Jwala Saajan Mere Main Saajan Ki (1980) Kranti (1981) as Charumati (Shakti's Adopted Mother) Rocky (1981) as Sophia Biwi O Biwi (1981) as Nirmala Ahista Ahista (1981) as Subbalaxmi Jyothi (1981) as Sunanda (Niranjan's mom) Dial 100 (1982) as Shanti Teri Maang Sitaron Se Bhar Doon (1982) as Anand's Mother Yeh To Kamaal Ho Gaya (1982) Samraat (1982) as Ranbir's mom Anokha Bandhan (1982) as Annapurna's mom Log Kya Kahenge (1982) Souten (1983) as Renu Prannath Pasha (as Shashi Kala) Dard-E-Dil (1983) as Shola Beghum Ram Tera Desh (1984) as Kanta Saxena Lek Chalali Sasarla (1984) as Aaisaheb Tawaif (1985) as Bilquis Bai (as Shashi Kala) Arjun (1985) as Mrs. Rukhmini Malvankar Mahananda (1985) Amma (1986) as Jiji Preeti (1986 film) Khamosh Nigahen (1986) Dhakti Soon (1986) as Ujwala's patron Dadagiri (1987) as Shanti B. Singh Besahara (1987) as Rakesh's Mother Mera Karam Mera Dharam (1987) as Mrs. Taraknath Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani (1988) as Mrs. Dhanraj Main Tere Liye (1988) as Anjana Saxena Sach (1989) as Mrs. Chinoy Salma Pe Dil Aa Gaya (1997) as Dai Maa Lahoo Ke Do Rang (1997) as Chachi Main Solah Baras Ki (1998) Maharaja (1998) as Ranbir's mom Pardesi Babu (1998) as Mai (landlady) Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge! (1998) as Mrs. Malhotra Baadshah (1999) as Raj(Baadshah)'s Mother Mother (1999) as Mrs. Chaudhary Agniputra (2000) Uljhan (2001) as Varun's grandma Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) as Ashfaque's grandmother Jhankaar Beats (2003) as Shanti's mother Chori Chori (2003) as Chachi Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004) as Grandma Malhotra Rakht (2004) as Dhristi's Grandmother Padmashree Laloo Prasad Yadav (2005) as South African Witness
References
External links