Mala Sinha

Mala Sinha (born Alda Sinha; 11 November 1936) is a former Indian actress who mainly worked in Hindi and Bengali cinema. Renowned for her versatility and graceful screen presence, she is widely regarded as one of the most successful and finest actresses of Indian cinema. Initially starting her career with regional cinema, she went on to become one of the leading and highest-paid actresses of Hindi cinema in the late 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s. Sinha is also known as the "daring diva" and "torch bearer of women's cinema" for essaying strong female centric and unconventional roles in a range of movies considered ahead of their times. Sinha received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. In a career spanning four decades, Mala Sinha rose to prominence with films like Guru Dutt's Pyaasa (1957) and Yash Chopra's Dhool Ka Phool (1959). Later, she starred in over hundred film productions including Phir Subah Hogi (1958), Hariyali Aur Rasta, Anpadh (both 1962), Dil Tera Deewana (1962), Gumrah, Bahurani (both 1963), Himalay Ki God Mein (1965), Aasra (1966), Ankhen, Do Kaliyan (both 1968), Maryada (1971). Mala was paired multiple times opposite senior and near contemporary actors like Uttam Kumar, Kishore Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Pradeep Kumar (actor), Guru Dutt, Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor, Raaj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, as well as junior stars like Dharmendra, Manoj Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar, Biswajeet and Jeetendra. She also acted opposite then newcomers Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna . She was the highest-paid actress from 1958 to 1965 with Vyjayanthimala, second with Vyjayanthimala from 1966 to 1967, then shared the second spot with Sharmila Tagore from 1968 to 1971, third position with Sadhana and Nanda in 1972–73.