Amrita Singh
Amrita Singh (born 9 February 1958) is an Indian actress. Through her films such as Betaab and Mard, she gained popularity and became a well-known and popular actress in the 1980s. She took a break from acting in the early 1990s for a decade and returned to acting in 2002, occasionally playing supporting roles. She also made her debut on television in 2005. Singh keeps a low public profile and gives seldom interviews, only on occasional basis.
Amrita Singh | |
|---|---|
Singh in 2017 | |
| Born | 9 February 1958 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1983 - 1993 2002 - 2022 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Sara Ali Khan Ibrahim Ali Khan |
| Parents |
|
Early life
Amrita Singh was born on 9 February 1958[1] to Rukhsana Sultana[2] and an army officer Shivinder Singh Virk.[3][4] Her mother was a political associate of Sanjay Gandhi during the Indian Emergency in the 1970s, who became known for leading Sanjay Gandhi's sterilisation campaign in Muslim areas of Old Delhi.[5][6][7][8][9] Through her paternal grandmother Mohinder Kaur, Amrita is the great-granddaughter of Sobha Singh, one of the builders of New Delhi, the grandniece of the late novelist Khushwant Singh, and great-grandniece of politician Ujjal Singh. The actress Begum Para is her great-aunt and her husband was Nasir Khan, who is the brother of Dilip Kumar. Actor Ayub Khan is her uncle (second cousin once removed).[2] Singh was a childhood friend of Shah Rukh Khan. Their mothers often worked together in the Old Delhi area and Singh attended the same school as Khan's sister, Shahnaz.[10]
Singh attended Modern School in New Delhi and is fluent in English, Punjabi and Hindi.[11]
Career
1983–1993
Singh made her Bollywood debut in 1983 with Betaab, an highly successful romantic drama in which she was paired with Sunny Deol. This was quickly followed by a succession of hits, such as Sunny (1984), Mard (which was the biggest hit of 1985) and Saaheb (also 1985), Chameli Ki Shaadi and Naam (both 1986), Khudgarz (1987), and Waaris (1988). Singh made a successful pair in several films, not only with Sunny Deol, Sanjay Dutt, and Raj Babbar, but also with Jeetendra, Vinod Khanna, Anil Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan, some of the leading actors of the 1980s.[12] As well as playing leading roles, she also played supporting negative roles in films such as Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman (1992), Suryavanshi (1992) and Aaina (1993), winning the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for the lattermost.[citation needed] Her comic timings in films such as Saaheb and Chameli Ki Shaadi are still remembered. She decided to retire into family life and quit acting after her appearance in Rang (1993).
2002–present
Singh returned to acting in 2002 with 23rd March 1931: Shaheed, in which she played the mother of Bhagat Singh (played by Bobby Deol). She joined the television industry with Ekta Kapoor's family drama Kavyanjali, which aired on Star Plus in 2005. In the show, Singh was seen in a negative role that soon gained immense popularity.[13] Later that year, she won acclaim for her performance in yet another negative role for the film Kalyug. In 2007, Singh played the role of gangster Maya Dolas' mother, Ratnaprabha Dolas, in the Sanjay Gupta film Shootout at Lokhandwala, directed by Apoorva Lakhia - Vivek Oberoi played the role of Maya Dolas. Later on, she appeared in the anthology film Dus Kahaniyaan, where she appeared in the short story Poornmasi.
Continuing her acting journey, Singh was seen in Kajraare (2010), and also appeared in Aurangzeb (2012) under the Yash Raj Films banner, where she was paired with Jackie Shroff after almost two decades, after having paired together in Aaina.[14] In 2014, she was seen in 2 States, produced by Dharma Productions, portraying the role of co-actor Arjun Kapoor's mother. The film was released on 18 April 2014, and was a critical and commercial success, and also earned Singh a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.[15] In 2016, she appeared in Flying Jat playing Tiger Shroff's mother. In 2017, she appeared in the comedy-drama Hindi Medium as a school principal. In 2019, she appeared in Sujoy Ghosh's Badla, reuniting with Amitabh Bachchan after 18 years. Badla met with highly positive reviews, and Singh's performance received high critical acclaim. The film proved to be a commercial success, and Singh's performance earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.[16]
Personal life
Singh married actor Saif Ali Khan in January 1991. Singh, who was raised as a Sikh, converted to Islam before marriage and the couple had an Islamic wedding.[17] 12 years younger, Khan is the son of former Indian test cricket captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the ninth Nawab of Pataudi and actress Sharmila Tagore and is a member of the royal family of the erstwhile Bhopal State and Pataudi State. Despite controversies, they remained married.[18] She gave up acting after her marriage to Khan. After thirteen years of marriage, the couple divorced in 2004.[19] Their daughter Sara Ali Khan Pataudi was born on 12 August 1995.[20] and son Ibrahim Ali Khan Pataudi on 5 March 2001. Sara graduated from Columbia University and their son, Ibrahim Ali Khan is studying in England.
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Betaab | Roma (Dingy) | |
| 1984 | Sunny | Amrita | |
| Duniya | Roma Verma | ||
| 1985 | Saaheb | Natasha 'Nikki' | |
| Mard | Ruby | ||
| 1986 | Mera Dharam | Durga Thakur | |
| Chameli Ki Shaadi | Chameli | ||
| Kala Dhanda Goray Log | Mrs. Ramola Gauri Shankar / Pooja | ||
| Karamdaata | Pinky | ||
| Naam | Rita | ||
| 1987 | Naam O Nishan | Vanisha | |
| Khudgarz | Mrs. Sinha | ||
| Thikana | Shaila | ||
| 1988 | Mulzim | Mala | |
| Kabzaa | Rita | ||
| Tamacha | Maria | ||
| Shukriyaa | Neema | ||
| Waaris | Shibo | ||
| Charnon Ki Saugandh | Kanchan Singh | ||
| Agnee | Tara | ||
| 1989 | Sachai Ki Taqat | Mrs. Ram Singh | |
| Hathyar | Suman | ||
| Galiyon Ka Badshah | Cameo | ||
| Ilaaka | Sub-Inspector Neha Singh | ||
| Batwara | Roopa | ||
| Toofan | Pickpocketer | ||
| Jaadugar | Mona | ||
| 1990 | Veeru Dada | Meena | |
| Karishma Kali Kaa | Parvati | ||
| Maut Ke Farishtey | |||
| Aag Ka Dariya | |||
| Kroadh | Matki | ||
| CID | Meghna Saxena | ||
| 1991 | Sadhu Sant | Meena Kapoor | |
| Paap Ki Aandhi | Reshma | ||
| Dharam Sankat | Madhu | ||
| Akayla | Sapna | ||
| Rupaye Dus Karod | Aarthi Saxena | ||
| Pyaar Ka Saaya | Maya Gangadhami | ||
| 1992 | Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman | Sapna L. Chhabria | |
| Suryavanshi | Princess Suryalekha | ||
| Kal Ki Awaaz | Principal Nahim Bilgrami | ||
| Dil Aashna Hai | Raj | ||
| 1993 | Aaina | Roma Mathur | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress[citation needed] |
| Rang | Indu | ||
| 2002 | 23rd March 1931: Shaheed | Vidya | |
| 2005 | Kalyug | Simi Roy | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role[citation needed] |
| 2007 | Shootout at Lokhandwala | Mom (Aai) | |
| Dus Kahaniyaan | Mala | Segment: Pooranmasi | |
| 2010 | Kajraare | Zohra Baano | |
| 2013 | Aurangzeb | Neena Wadhwa | |
| 2014 | 2 States | Kavita Malhotra | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress[citation needed] |
| 2016 | A Flying Jatt | Mrs. Dhillon | |
| 2017 | Hindi Medium | Principal Lodha | |
| 2019 | Badla | Rani Kaur | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress[citation needed] |
| 2022 | Heropanti 2 | Hema |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–2006 | Kkavyanjali | Nitya Nanda | StarPlus |
Awards and nominations
- Film
| Year | Award | Film | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Filmfare Awards | Aaina | Best Supporting Actress | Won |
| 2006 | Kalyug | Best Performance in a Negative Role | Nominated | |
| 2015 | 2 States | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | |
| 2020 | Badla | Nominated | ||
| 2006 | IIFA Awards | Kalyug | Best Performance in a Negative Role | Nominated |
| 2015 | 2 States | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | |
| 2021 | Badla | Nominated | ||
| 2019 | Screen Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
- Television
| Year | Award | Show | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Indian Telly Awards | Kkavyanjali | Best Actress in a Negative Role (Popular) | Nominated |
| Best Actress in a Negative Role (Jury) | Won |
References
- ^ Bhatia, Muskan (9 February 2021). "Amrita Singh won heart of her fans with her film and acting". News Track. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
- ^ a b Varma, Anuradha (14 June 2009). "In Bollywood, everyone's related!". The Times of India. from the original on 28 October 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- ^ "Ujjal Singh, Sardar". 19 December 2000.
- ^ "Rare Pictures & Interesting Facts about 80s B-town Sensation Amrita Singh". Dailybhaskar.com. 10 February 2016. from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- ^ Tarlo, Emma (2000). Das, Veena; et al. (eds.). Violence and subjectivity. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 266. ISBN 978-0-520-21608-2. from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- ^ Tarlo, Emma (2001). Unsettling memories : narratives of the emergency in Delhi. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 38–39, 143. ISBN 978-0-520-23122-1. from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
- ^ Gwatkin, Davidson R. "Political will and family planning: the implications of India's emergency experience." Population and Development Review (1979): 29-59.
- ^ French, Patrick (2011). India : a portrait (1st U.S. ed.). New York: Alfred A. Knopf. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-307-27243-0. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
rukhsana sultana .
- ^ (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
- ^ Chopra, Anupama (2007). King of Bollywood: Shah Rukh Khan and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema (1st ed.). Grand Central Publishing.
- ^ rafflesia. "Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh". from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 6 May 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- ^ . Press Trust of India. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- ^ "2 States: Amrita Singh to play Arjun Kapoor's punjabi mother with an expert polish the role seemed totally typical or original in tone. On the other hand, Revati of south-indian films, as Alia's mother gave a skilled acting performance that was a pleasure for viewers.Also, the unmatched relation with Ronit Roy's character was a strong feeling scene for viewers. Amrita was fabulous in 2 States". The Times of India. from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
- ^ "BEST ACTOR IN SUPPORTING ROLE (FEMALE) NOMINEE".
- ^ "No one changes their religion in order to get married: Saif Ali Khan speaks about 'love jihad'". The Express Tribune. 24 April 2015. from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- ^ "When Amrita Singh regretted not giving son Ibrahim as much attention as Sara Ali Khan: 'Because mama was out making a living'".
- ^ Iyer, Meena (3 November 2014). "Bollywood has a low divorce rate". The Times of India. from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- ^ "Sara Ali Khan belongs to the royal family of Nawabs of Pataudi - Sara Ali Khan: Interesting facts about the star kid". The Times of India. from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
External links
- Amrita Singh at IMDb
- Amrita Singh at Bollywood Hungama