247:("Bangles", 1939), which introduced Chitnis playing the lead role as the adopted daughter of a Hindu priest in love with the son of a local landlord who opposes the relationship and threatens the holy man. Her love, however, stands up to his father's prejudices, an unusual theme for the time, but one that appealed to the public imagination enough to ensure it success at the box office.
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292:("Swing", 1941) that broadly deal with societal issues.. Ashok Kumar was so impressed by her acting abilities that he admitted to having learnt how to speak with his eyes from her. In 1941 Chitnis, at the height of her popularity and glamour, created history of sorts by becoming the first Indian film star to endorse the popular
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At the age of 15 or 16, she married Dr. Gajanan
Yeshwant Chitnis, a gentleman of her own community who was somewhat older than her, in a match arranged by their parents in the usual Indian way. Dr. Chitnis was a qualified medical doctor. The couple were quickly had four children, all boys. They
309:, often playing an ailing mother or a mother going through hardships and struggling to bring up her offspring. In fact she created the archetype of the Hindi Film mother, which was continued by later actresses. Leela's maternal histrionics were portrayed in a range of films such as
173:. Her father was an English literature professor. She was one of the first educated film actresses. After graduation she joined Natyamanwantar, a progressive theater group that produced plays in her native Marathi language. The group's works were greatly influenced by
149:, active from the 1930s to the 1980s. In her early years she starred as a romantic lead, but she is best remembered for her later roles playing a virtuous and upright mother to leading stars.
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By the mid-1940s her career went downhill as the new leading ladies came in. Leela accepted the reality and in 1948 entered the next, and perhaps most renowned, phase of her career in
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Specialising in controversial films that challenged accepted societal norms, especially those regarding marriage and the invidious caste system,
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212:("Gentleman Thief") in 1937, Chitnis played a polished crook dressed in male apparel and was publicised in the
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Gender, Culture, and
Performance: Marathi Theatre and Cinema before Independence
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in United States, until her death. She had three grandchildren then.
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was having limited luck at the box office. But it bounced back with
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brand, a concession then only granted to top
Hollywood heroines.
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145:; 9 September 1909 – 14 July 2003) was an Indian actress in the
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success, Leela replaced Bombay
Talkies' ravishing leading lady
1431:"Leela Chitnis, 93, an Actress in Scores of Bombay Movies"
1336:"Leela Chitnis, 91, an Actress In Scores of Bombay Movies"
335:, based on the award-winning novel of the same name by
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Leela also briefly dabbled in movie-making, producing
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358:("Don't Tell Anybody", 1942) and directing
329:, 1961) and, in 1965, the runaway success
232:before going on to be the leading lady in
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20:
762:(1959) - Ramu's Mother (as Leela Chitnes)
738:(1958) - Mrs. Gangadevi (as Lila Chitnis)
266:for a series of box-office hits such as
216:as the first graduate society-lady from
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980:(1964) - Uma & Vijay Kumar's mother
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968:(1963) - Nanny / Yusuf's foster mother
390:caste. However, her father adhered to
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1240:(1987) - Mrs. Sahni (final film role)
7:
1218:(1980) - Ganga & Pritam's Mother
1193:Satyam Shivam Sundaram: Love Sublime
1018:(1964) - Mrs. Singh (Balam's Mother)
746:(1958) - Sohni's Mother (uncredited)
670:(1952) - Bhanu's & Raju's mother
1410:from the original on 21 August 2017
201:(1934) and with her own film group
14:
1467:from the original on 17 July 2015
374:and published her autobiography,
1441:from the original on 2 June 2016
1429:Martin, Douglas (17 July 2003).
1334:Martin, Douglas (17 July 2003).
876:(1961) - Mrs. Nihalchand Khanna
808:(1960) - Mrs. Leela Rai Bahadur
1306:. 16 July 2003. Archived from
1:
1596:Film producers from Karnataka
1591:Film directors from Karnataka
1541:20th-century Indian actresses
1362:Meera Kosambi (5 July 2017).
1026:(1964) - Mrs. Dinanath Chopra
1606:Businesswomen from Karnataka
1561:Actresses in Kannada theatre
1551:People from Dharwad district
1463:. India Today. 15 May 1994.
1581:Indian women film producers
1566:Indian women film directors
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1571:20th-century Indian people
1368:. Routledge. p. 366.
1132:(1969) - Mrs. Shanti Singh
860:(1960) - Lajwanti Malhotra
832:(1960) - Raghuvir's Mother
770:(1959) - Mrs. Rajni Khanna
16:Indian actress (1909–2003)
1536:Actresses in Hindi cinema
1196:(1978) - Bade Babu's Wife
1112:(1967) - Nirmala's mother
1062:Mohabbat Isko Kahete Hain
916:(1961) - Suhagan / Suhagi
724:(1957) - Shankar's Mother
445:(1937) - Princess Jayanti
111:Film actor, theatre actor
30:
1546:Actresses from Karnataka
1180:(1973) - Rajesh's mother
1096:(1967) - Kishan's Mother
960:(1962) - Mrs. Amar Singh
800:(1960) - Kalidash's Wife
646:(1951) - Leela Raghunath
386:Chitnis belonged to the
127:Gajanan Yashwant Chitnis
1487:"Bhakta Prahlad (1946)"
1164:(1970) - Ashok's Mother
1010:(1964) - Sonal's mother
996:(1964) - Beena's mother
910:(1961) - Sunil's mother
896:(1961) - Anand's Mother
868:(1961) - Meena's mother
848:(1960) - Laxmi's Mother
778:(1959) - Hiralal's wife
732:(1958) - Mohan's Mother
716:(1956) - Mrs. Bhatnagar
710:(1956) - Gopal's mother
620:(1948) - Mrs. Dwarkadas
1586:Kannada film producers
1576:Kannada film directors
1556:Indian stage actresses
1156:(1970) - Mrs. Dinanath
1088:(1967) - Parvati's Mom
1072:(1965) - Mrs. Choudhry
1042:(1965) - Pandit's Wife
1034:(1965) - Raju's Mother
952:(1962) - Renu's mother
888:(1961) - Raju's Mother
792:(1960) - Raju's Mother
1601:Indian film actresses
1185:Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein
1080:(1966) - Blind Beggar
1055:Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal
840:(1960) - Savitri Nath
816:(1960) - Mrs. Nivaran
786:(1959) - Mrs. Haridas
1461:"The star next door"
1298:"Leela Chitnis dead"
1050:(1965) - Mrs. Mittal
1039:Johar-Mehmood in Goa
1004:(1964) - Grandmother
858:Apna Haath Jagannath
767:Main Nashe Mein Hoon
654:(1951) - Rani Sahiba
147:Indian film industry
1310:on 23 February 2004
1140:(1969) - Mrs. Mehra
988:(1964) - Mrs. Gupta
662:(1952) - Dhaayi Maa
604:Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani
587:(1946) - Shobharani
1435:The New York Times
1406:. 3 October 2013.
1230:Ramu To Diwana Hai
1223:Bin Maa Ke Bachche
1023:Aap Ki Parchhaiyan
930:(1962) - Bhagwanti
754:(1959) - Gangu Dai
531:(1940) - Arundhati
509:(1940) - Arundhati
489:(1939) - Ratnavali
157:She was born in a
1122:Rambhakta Hunuman
1109:Dulhan Ek Raat Ki
1077:Phool Aur Patthar
972:Pahu Re Kiti Vaat
942:Prem Andhala Asta
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904:(1961) - Govindi
612:(1947) - Sushila
610:Andhon Ki Duniya
477:(1938) as Kanwal
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1469:. Retrieved
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1443:. Retrieved
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1412:. Retrieved
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1379:. Retrieved
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1347:20 September
1345:. Retrieved
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1312:. Retrieved
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578:Char Aankhen
576:
570:
564:
556:
548:
540:
534:
528:
520:
512:
506:Ghar Ki Rani
504:
498:
492:
486:
480:
472:
466:
460:
454:
448:
442:
436:
430:
424:
404:
396:
392:Brahmo Samaj
385:
375:
371:Sacred Flame
369:
359:
353:
351:
340:
337:R.K. Narayan
330:
326:
320:
317:The Vagabond
316:
310:
300:
298:
287:
286:, 1940) and
283:
277:
273:
267:
251:
249:
244:
238:
209:
207:
202:
198:
196:
183:Stanislavsky
156:
142:
137:
133:
132:
87:(2003-07-14)
85:14 July 2003
18:
1531:2003 deaths
1526:1909 births
1445:19 February
1268:Aaj ki Baat
1253:Aaj ki Baat
1116:The Killers
1093:Majhli Didi
1008:Punar Milan
920:Naag Devata
908:Char Diwari
901:Gunga Jumna
695:Aaj Ki Baat
413:Filmography
407:Connecticut
378:, in 1981.
361:Aaj ki Baat
322:Ganga Jumna
307:Dilip Kumar
264:Ashok Kumar
260:Devika Rani
256:Devika Rani
218:Maharashtra
165:family, in
119:1930s-1980s
97:Connecticut
1520:Categories
1282:References
949:Asli-Naqli
865:Dharmputra
829:Kala Bazar
461:Master Man
431:Dhuwandhar
199:Usna Navra
161:-speaking
153:Early life
50:1909-09-09
1303:The Hindu
1169:Bhai-Bhai
1145:Badi Didi
935:Dr. Vidya
927:Man-Mauji
721:Naya Daur
674:Naya Ghar
636:Saudamini
591:Dev Kanya
319:, 1951),
276:, 1940),
187:repertory
171:Karnataka
70:Karnataka
1491:Archived
1465:Archived
1439:Archived
1408:Archived
1314:20 March
1261:Producer
1246:Director
1137:Intaquam
893:Hum Dono
880:Ram Lila
845:Ghunghat
821:Kohinoor
805:Bewaqoof
790:Maa Baap
702:Funtoosh
687:Baadbaan
585:Shatranj
565:Manorama
529:Ardhangi
294:Lux soap
252:Kangan's
143:Nagarkar
1471:29 July
1414:6 April
1177:Mehmaan
1001:Shehnai
993:Zindagi
978:Suhagan
914:Batwara
659:Sangdil
624:Namoona
617:Shaheed
535:Kanchan
514:Bandhan
418:Actress
400:M.N.Roy
388:Brahmin
347:Danbury
302:Shaheed
279:Bandhan
167:Dharwad
163:Brahmin
159:Marathi
93:Danbury
58:Dharwad
1381:5 July
1372:
1277:(1942)
1271:(1955)
1256:(1955)
1232:(1980)
1226:(1980)
1215:Takkar
1210:(1979)
1188:(1977)
1129:Prince
1124:(1969)
1118:(1969)
1104:(1967)
1069:Faraar
1058:(1965)
974:(1963)
957:Aashiq
944:(1962)
938:(1962)
922:(1962)
882:(1961)
854:(1960)
824:(1960)
813:Parakh
797:Kanoon
783:Barkha
729:Sadhna
704:(1956)
698:(1955)
690:(1954)
682:(1953)
676:(1953)
651:Saiyan
643:Awaara
638:(1950)
632:(1949)
626:(1949)
606:(1947)
593:(1946)
581:(1944)
573:(1944)
567:(1944)
561:(1943)
553:(1942)
542:Jhoola
537:(1941)
525:(1940)
501:(1939)
493:Kangan
483:(1938)
474:Jailor
469:(1938)
463:(1938)
457:(1937)
451:(1937)
449:Insaaf
437:Chhaya
433:(1935)
427:(1935)
312:Awaara
289:Jhoola
245:Kangan
193:Career
124:Spouse
1085:Aurat
1031:Guide
985:Dosti
759:Ujala
714:Aawaz
571:Kiran
558:Rekha
443:Wahan
332:Guide
250:With
175:Ibsen
74:India
1511:IMDb
1473:2015
1447:2017
1416:2016
1383:2017
1370:ISBN
1349:2015
1316:2019
1047:Waqt
522:Azad
284:Ties
274:Free
269:Azad
228:and
226:Pune
181:and
179:Shaw
101:U.S.
82:Died
40:Born
1509:at
667:Maa
368:'s
208:In
139:née
60:,
1522::
1489:.
1437:.
1433:.
1402:.
1391:^
1338:.
1324:^
1300:.
1289:^
236:.
224:,
189:.
177:,
169:,
99:,
95:,
72:,
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1475:.
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1385:.
1351:.
1318:.
325:(
315:(
282:(
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76:)
52:)
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