Aruna Irani (born 18 August 1952) is an Indian actress, who has acted in over 500 films throughout Hindi, Kannada, Punjabi, Marathi and Gujarati cinema, playing mostly supporting and character roles. She received two Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actress for Pet Pyaar Aur Paap (1984) and Beta (1992), and holds the record for the most nominations in the category (10). In January 2012, Irani received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award at the 57th Filmfare Awards.
Early life
Aruna was born in Mumbai, India to an Irani father and a Hindu mother. Her father, Faredun Irani, ran a drama troupe, and her mother, Saguna, was an actress. She is the eldest of eight siblings.
She aspired to become a doctor, but had to discontinue her studies after the sixth standard due to financial constraints.
She later stated that she learned dancing while working in films, as she could not afford formal training.
Her brothers Indra Kumar, Adi Irani and Firoz Irani are associated with the film industry. Actresses Sarita Joshi and Bindu are her cousins.
Career Aruna Irani made her debut as a child artist in the film Ganga Jumna (1961) playing Azra's childhood character. She then acted in the film Anpadh (1962) as Mala Sinha's childhood character. She next did several small roles in films such as Jahanara (1964), Farz (1967), Upkar (1967) and Aaya Sawan Jhoomke (1969). She later acted with comedian Mehmood in films such as Aulad (1968), Humjoli (1970), Devi (1970) and Naya Zamana (1971).
In 1971, she starred in Caravan, as a knife-thrower, earning her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. She later starred in Mehmood Ali's Bombay To Goa (1972), Garam Masala (1972) and Do Phool (1973). Her films have included Farz (1967), Bobby (1973), Fakira (1976), Sargam (1979), Red Rose (1980), Love Story (1981), and Rocky (1981), earning nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Bobby and Rocky. She also starred in Do Jhoot (1975) and Khoon Pasina (1977) which earned her two more nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
After having lost the award five time, she won her first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Pet Pyaar Aur Paap (1984).
In the late 1980s and 1990s, Irani switched to playing motherly roles, notably in Beta (1992), for which she won her second Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. She earned two more nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performances in Suhaag (1994) and Kartavya (1995). She acted in the Kannada remake of the same film with the same role. Some of her Marathi films are Aandhla Marto Dola, Bhingari, Changu Mangu, Lapwa Chapvi, Ek Gadi Baki Anadi, Mitwaa and Bol Baby Bol.
She earned her record-setting tenth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Ghulam-E-Mustafa (1997).
In her later career, Irani also switched to television, performing character roles in various serials. She also took up direction and production of tele-serials such as Mehndi Tere Naam Ki, Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand, Rabba Ishq Na Hove, Vaidehi and more.
On 19 February 2012, she was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.
Personal life She married Bollywood film director Kuku Kohli in 1990. He died of heart attack on 25 August 2026.
Filmography Year Film Role Notes 1958 Shikwa Unreleased 1960 Sarhad Child Artist1961 Gunga Jumna Young Kamla as Child artist Gungi Ladki 1962 Tarzan The Storm Anpadh Young Lajwanti as Child artist 1963 Zingaro Satyavan Savitri Parasmani Bijli Nartaki Lakshmi's Colleague1964 Jahanara Ganga Ki Lahren 1966 Kalapi Spy in Goa Lilli1967 Farz Patthar Ke Sanam Upkar1968 Anokhi Raat Aulad1969 Tumse Achha Kaun Hai Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke Anjaan Hai Koi Oos Raat Ke Baad Samay Bada Balwan1970 Humjoli Aan Milo Sajna Safar The Train1971 Naya Zamana Man Mandir Ek Paheli Johar Mehmood in Hong Kong Ek Naari Ek Brahmchari Caravan Nisha Buddha Mil GayaParvati Andaz Sanjog1972 Garam Masala Bombay to Goa1973 Bobby Do Phool1974 Prem Nagar Roti Kapda Aur Makaan Har Har Mahadev1975 Deewaar Special appearance in the song Uncredited Mili Do Jasoos Dharamjeet Punjabi film; Dual role Khel Khel Mein Ranga Khush 1976 Santo Banto Santo / Banto (dual role Dual role; Punjabi film Sankoch Bhanwar Charas Sangram Fakira Zindagi Sudha N. Shukla Laila MajnuZarina Rangaa Aur Raja Apnapan Duniyadaari Do Chehere Khoon Pasina Jadu Tona1978 Shalimar Khoon Ki Pukaar1979 Gol Maal Jaani Dushman Kartavya Lachhi Surakshaa Ruby1980 Beqasoor Karz Kali Ghata Pinky Morcha Qurbani Judaai Miss Lily, dancer Phir Wohi Raat Shobha Hum Paanch Nishi Jwalamukhi1981 Kaaran Aas Paas Commander Rocky Jyoti Love Story Thee (Tamil film) Item dancer Yaarana Kudrat Ammakkorumma Lawaaris1982 Angoor Bemisal Brij Bhoomi 1983 Ek Din Bahu Ka Bade Dil Wala Thai Veedu (Tamil film) Jhutha Sach Mawali Hamar Bhauji Bhojpuri film1984 Pet Pyaar Aur Paap Ghar Ek Mandir 1985 PaththarNirmalaMasterji Patthar Dil Bhago Bhut Aaya Nirmala / Manorama Aaj Ka Daur Piya Ke Gaon Dikri Chaali Sasariye Lallu Ram Champa 1986 Naache Mayuri 1987 Insaniyat Ke Dushman1988 Dayavan Ek Gadi Baaki Anadi Janam Janam Mera Muqaddar Shanti Mere Baad Inteqam Bees Saal Baad Zulm Ko Jala Doonga Shahenshah 1989 ChaalBaazNa InsaafiSharda Khanna1990 Changu Mangu Marathi film Majboor Doodh Ka Karz Bilingual film Bandh Darwaza Mahua Daayan Kunka Jungle Love Bahurani Item dancer in the song "Katori Pe Katora" Special appearance 1991 Brahmarshi Vishwamitra Kalakoushukudu's wife Phool Aur Kaante Shanti Kranti1992Kisme Kitna Hai DumVijay Singh's wife Lambu Dada Beta Umar 55 Ki Dil Bachpan Ka Jeena Marna Tere Sang 1993 Annayya Nagamani Kannada film Hum Hain Kamaal Ke 1994 Anokha PremyudhFaujDurga Raja Babu Laadla Suhaag 1995 Bewafa Sanam1996 Indian Gulabo Hindi version only Chhote Sarkar 1997Hameshaa Dil To Pagal Hai 1998 Saaz Saazish Kudrat Doli Saja Ke Rakhna 1999 Anari No.1 Zulmi Haseena Maan Jaayegi Aarzoo 2002 Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam Laxmi 2010 Khatta Meetha Sheetaladevi Tichkule 2014 Bol Baby Bol Marathi film 2015 Mitwaa Rosie aunty 2019 Chaal Jeevi Laiye! Dr. Vadia (guest appearance) Gujarati film 2022 Kahani Rubberband Ki 2024 Ghudchadi Kalyani Devi2025Kesari VeerCharan JagdambaJalso - A Family Invitation (Gujarati film)2026 O'RomeoBrothel Owner
Television shows Year Show Character Notes 1995–1997 Zamana Badal Gaya Veena Lead 2001–2005 Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand Teji Also as a producer under AK Films 2000–2002 Mehndi Tere Naam Ki Sharada Jayant Malik 2003–2005 Tum Bin Jaaoon Kahaan Shalini Avinash Mathur 2005–2006 Zameen Se Aassman Tak Balraj's Mother 2005–2006 Rabba Ishq Na Hove Veera's Mother 2006 Vaidehi Sita 2006–2007 Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki Narayani Devi Balaji Telefilms2007 Maayka Durga Khurana 2007–2009 Babul Ki Bitiya Chali Doli Saja Ke Dadima Also as a producer under AK Films 2007–2009 Naaginn Maasa/ Triveni 2008 Saas v/s Bahu Judge 2009–2011 Jhansi Ki Rani Vahini Sahiba 2010–2011 Sanjog Se Bani Sangini Rajrani 2011–2012 Dekha Ek Khwaab Rajmata Mrinalini Devi Lead 2011–2012 Main Lakshmi Tere Aangan Ki Sharda Agnihotri 2012 Parichay — Nayee Zindagi Kay Sapno Ka Sulekha Diwan 2013–2014 Sanskaar - Dharohar Apno Ki Ansuya Vaishnav 2015–2016 Bhagyalakshmi Vasundhara Prajapati 2015 Uzalo Producer of AK Films Producer 2016 Saubhagyalakshmi Vasundhara Prajapati 2018 Porus The Oracle 2018–2019 Dastaan-E-Mohabbat Salim Anarkali Hamida Banu Begum (Mariam Makani) 2019 Dil Toh Happy Hai Ji Mrs Khosla 2019 Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai Herself
Awards and nominations
Film YearAwardFilmCategoryResultRef.1972Filmfare AwardsCaravanBest Supporting Actress1974Bobby1976Do Jhoot1978Khoon Pasina1982Rocky1985Pet Pyaar Aur Paap1993Beta1995Suhaag1996Kartavya1998Ghulam-E-Mustafa2012Lifetime Achievement Award1993Bengal Film Journalists' Association AwardsBetaBest Supporting Actress (Hindi)2020Maharashtra State Film AwardsRaj Kapoor Award
Television YearAwardShowCategoryResultRef.2003Indian Telly AwardsDes Mein Niklla Hoga ChandBest Weekly ShowBest Programme of the YearBest Director2004Best Actress in a Supporting Role2006Vaidehi2007MaaykaBest Actress in a Negative Role2008Gold AwardsNaaginnBest Actress in a Supporting Role
References
Footnotes
External links