Ila Arun is an Indian actress, TV personality and Rajasthani folk-pop singer known for her works in Hindi cinema, and Indian pop. She has appeared in many prominent Bollywood films such as Lamhe, Jodhaa Akbar, Shaadi Ke Side Effects and Begum Jaan.
Personal life Arun was born on 15 March 1954 in a Kanyakubja Brahmin family of Jodhpur in Rajasthan. She hails from Jaipur . She is the sister of Piyush Pandey and Prasoon Pandey. Her mother was Bhagwati Pandey. She is married to Arun Bajpayi. Ila Arun is the mother of Ishitta Arun.
Playback singing Arun has sung numerous film songs in Hindi and quite a few other Indian languages such as Tamil and Telugu. Her most famous film song to date has been "Choli Ke Peeche" sung along with Alka Yagnik for the film Khalnayak starring Madhuri Dixit, for which they won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer. The song created controversy due to the inappropriate lyrics and Arun was told by certain people not to sing the song at her public performances. Another song which she is famous for is "Ghup Chup" from the film Karan Arjun. She also is well known for her song "Morni Baaga Ma Bole" accompanied with Lata Mangeshkar, in the movie Lamhe, starring Sridevi. She has lent her voice to the Tamil song "Muthu Muthu Mazhai", for the film Mr. Romeo, composed by A. R. Rahman. Her last noteworthy song was also with Rahman composed for the internationally acclaimed film Slumdog Millionaire, called "Ringa Ringa".
Singles/Albums She has produced several successful singles such as "Vote for Ghagra". She also sang the promotional hit song Halla Bol for the Rajasthan Royals team in the Indian Premier League She hails from Rajasthan and sings Rajasthani songs in her albums and movies.
Acting Arun was first seen acting in Lifeline (Jeevanrekha) a Hindi TV serial on life of doctors, along with Tanvi Azmi on Doordarshan. She delivered an electrifying performance in the 2008 hit Jodhaa Akbar as Maham Anga, Akbar's shrewd wet nurse and political advisor. She has also acted in supporting roles in films such as China Gate, Chingari, Well Done Abba, Welcome to Sajjanpur, West is West and Ghatak. In Shaadi Ke Side Effects and Begum Jaan, she played a governess and a brothel member, respectively. In "Raat Akeli Hai", which is a Netflix movie and released on 31 July 2020, she has played the role of mother of the Hero "Nawazuddin Siddiqui" and correctly delivered the dialogues in local dialect.
Arun has been a part of the early years of Indian television Industry, acting in the 1980s Bharat Ek Khoj and Yatra. She also took on the role of Hansa Mehta, an independence activist who was part of the advisory committee of the constituent assembly, in Samvidhaan which is a TV mini-series based on the making of the Constitution of India.
Discography
Album(s) Notes Vote for Ghagra Nigodi Kaisi Jawani Hai Main Ho Gayi Sawa Lakh Ki Banjaran Bombay Girl The Very Best of Ila Compilation Khichdi Haule Haule Mela Ila Arun Pop Hits Compilation Chhappan Chhuri Mare Hiwda Ma Nimri Nimoli MTV Coke Studio (single)
Filmography
As actress YearFilmRoleDirectorNotes1983Ardh SatyaSneha BajpaiGovind NihalaniMandiKamliShyam Benegal1985TrikalCookShyam Benegal1986JaalTaraUmesh Mehra1990Police PublicLaxmiEsmayeel Shroff1991LamheFolk dancer in the song Yash ChopraAlso singer1992Suraj Ka Satvan GhodaLily's motherShyam Benegal1994Droh KaalZeenatGovind Nihalani1996GhatakMrs. Malti SachdevRajkumar Santoshi1997AuzaarHerself Sohail KhanIn the song "Apni To Ek Hi Life"1998China GateMrs. GopinathRajkumar Santoshi2005Bose - The Forgotten HeroRanuShyam Benegal2006ChingaariPadmavatiKalpana Lajmi2008Jodhaa AkbarMaham AngaAshutosh GowarikerNominated—IIFA Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—Screen Award for Best Actor in a Negative RoleWelcome to SajjanpurRamsakhi PannawaliShyam BenegalNominated—Screen Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—Producers Guild Film Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role2010West Is WestBasheera KhanAndy DeEmmonyBritish filmWell Done AbbaSalma AliShyam BenegalMirchKesar baiVinay Shukla2011Aagaah: The WarningRamsharan's motherKaran Razdan2012Arjun: The Warrior PrinceKunti (voice role)Arnab ChaudhuriAnimated film2014Shaadi Ke Side EffectsAuntySaket Chaudhary2017Begum JaanAmmaSrijit Mukherji2018Thugs of HindostanJaitumbiVijay Krishna AcharyaMantoJaddanbaiNandita Das2020GhoomketuSanto BuaPushpendra Nath MishraZEE5 filmRaat Akeli HaiMrs. YadavHoney TrehanNetflix filmChhalaangUsha Gehlot Hansal MehtaAmazon Prime Video film2021SherniPawan's motherAmit V. MasurkarAafat-E-Ishq Bahuji Indrajit Nattoji ZEE5 Film2022Mister Mummy Kavita Shaad Ali2023Haddi Revathy Amma Akshat Ajay Sharma ZEE5 FilmAarya season 3 Nalini Sahiba Ram MadhvaniDisney+Hotstar series2024Kuch Khattaa Ho Jaay G. Ashok 2025Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal MurdersSarita KumariHoney TrehanNetflix film2026Do Deewane Seher MeinRavi Udyawar
As singer "Payal Utaar Dungi" Film: Mohabbat ki Arzoo 1994 Music Director : Laxmikant Pyarelal
YearFilmSong(s)Music directorNotes1985Aitbaar"Khali Peeli Pyar Se"Bappi Lahiri1986Jaal"Raina Bawari Bhai Re"Anu MalikAshiana"Jawani Re" "Yaad Kyon Teri Mujhe Sataye"Jagjit Singh 1989Batwara"Ye Ishq Dunk Bichhua Ka, Are Isse Raam Bachaye"Laxmikant-Pyarelal1991Rukmavati Ki HaveliHerselfLamhe"Chudiyan Khanak Gayee" "Megha Re Megha"Shiv-Hari1993Khalnayak"Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai (Female)"Laxmikant-Pyarelal Won—Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer"Nayak Nahi Khalnayak Hai Tu"Bedardi"Sun O Bedardi"Laxmikant-PyarelalDalaal"Gutur Gutur"Bappi Lahiri1994Amaanat"Din Mein Kehti Hai"Bappi LahiriNaaraaz"Aisa Tadpaya Mujhe Dil Bekarar Ne"Anu MalikMohabbat Ki Arzoo"Payal Utar Dungi" Laxmikant Pyarelal1995Diya Aur Toofan"Kundi Dheere Se Khatkana"Bappi LahiriZakhmi Sipahi"O Laila O Laila"Rais BhartiyaKaran Arjun"Gupchup Gupchup"Rajesh Roshan1996Aatank"Main Chhui Mui" "Meri Patli Kamar"Laxmikant–PyarelalSmuggler"Bin Barsaat Ke"Bappi LahiriMr. Romeo"Muthu Muthu Mazhai" (original version) "Paas Aaja Baalam" (Hindi version)A. R. RahmanTamil FilmBandish"Main Ho Gayi Athra"Anand-Milind1997Tarazu"Chal Ganne Ke Khet Mein"Rajesh RoshanJeevan Yudh"Kameez Meri Kaali"Nadeem–ShravanAuzaar"Masti Ka Aalam Aaya Hai"Anu Malik1998Kaadhal Kavithai"Thathom Thakathimi"IlaiyaraajaTamil film1999Bhopal Express"Udan Khatola"Shankar–Ehsaan–LoyJaanam Samjha Karo"I Was Made For Loving You"Anu Malik2000Snegithiye"Othayadi Padhayile"VidyasagarTamil Film2003Boom"Boom"Talvin Singh2004Paisa Vasool"Maine Saiyan Ki Demand"Bapi–Tutul2010Well Done Abba"Meri bano hoshiyar"Shantanu MoitraAlso lyricistMirch"Mora Saiyyan"Monty SharmaRaavan"Kata Kata"A. R. Rahman2012Arjun: The Warrior Prince"Kabhi Na Dekhe Hastinapur Mein"Vishal–Shekhar2013Deewana Main Deewana"Kala Doriya"Bappi Lahiri2024Crew"Ghagra" Bharg-Rohit"Choli" Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Akshay-IP2025Crazxy"Goli Maar Bheje Mein"Rap
As music director 1992 – Mujhse Dosti Karoge 1991 – Rukmavati Ki Haveli 1985 – Doongar Ro Bhed
Television appearances
Year Show(s) Role Notes 1986 Yatra Drama group member 1988 Bharat Ek Khoj Various characters 1991 Lifeline (Jeevanrekha) Doctor 2005 Fame Gurukul Head Mistress 2014 Samvidhaan Hansha Mehta 2015 Coke Studio Performer
References
External links