Remembering Usha Kiran, one of the finest actresses in Hindi and Marathi cinema, on her 89th birth anniversary.
Usha Kiran (22 April 1929–9 March 2000) was a Hindi and Marathi film actress. In a career spanning over four decades, she acted in over 50 Hindi and Marathi films, notably Daag (1952), Patita (1953), Baadbaan (1954), Chupke Chupke (1975), Mili (1975) and Bawarchi (1972). She was also the Sheriff of Mumbai during 1996–97.
She began her acting career on stage with M.G. Rangnekar’s Marathi play Ashirwad. She entered Hindi film industry with a small role in Uday Shankar’s dance-drama film, Kalpana (1948). She went on to act in numerous popular Hindi films are Nazrana (1961), Daag (1952), and Baadbaan (1954), for which she won the very first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1955 Kabuliwala (1961), Patita (1953), Mili, Bawarchi (1972) and Chupke Chupke (1975).
Daag 1952 (one of her most memorable performances)
Her famous Marathi films include Shikleli Bayko, Jasach Tase, Postatli Mulgi, Dudh Bhakar, Stree Janma Hi Tuzi Kahani, Kanyadaan (for which she received the Maharashtra Government’s award for best actress) Gariba Gharchi Lek, and Kanchanganga.
She starred opposite Hindi film actors like Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Ashok Kumar, Dilip Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan.
She died in Nashik at the age of 70.
