Dulari (actress)


Dulari was an Indian actress, who worked as character actors in Hindi cinema, appearing in 135 films, most notably Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, Mujhe Jeene Do, Teesri Kasam, Padosan and Deewaar.

Early life

Dulari was born on 18 April 1928 in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Her real name was Ambika Gautam. She was a Kanyakubja Brahmin from the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh. She was nick-named Rajdulari and later on only Dulari remained by which she was known.

Career

Forced to look for work after her father's illness, Dulari made her film debut with Bahen, Hamari Baat, produced by Bombay Talkies, and went to appear as a character actor in over 135 films in the following six decades. Her last screen appearance was in Ziddi directed by Guddu Dhanoa.
Her most notable role was in Jeevan Jyoti. Her other important roles were in Pati Seva, Rangeen Kahani and some Gujarati films, Chundi ane Chokha, Gunsundari, Mangal Fera.
Her other films are Karyavar, Aankh ka Taara, Akhri Daku, Darinda, Ahuti, Naastik, Dillagi and Darwaza.
She regularly played the loving but conservative mother figure in the late 1960s through the late 1970s. Prominent roles of that time include films like Padosan, Johny Mera Naam, and Deewaar, among others.

Personal life

She married sound recordist J. B. Jagtap in 1952, and took a break from acting for nine years. There are limited details available about her family and personal relationships. It is known that Dulari's career did not overshadow her commitment to her family, and she maintained a balance between her professional and personal responsibilities. She retired from acting in the 1980s and lived a quiet life thereafter.

Death

She died in an old age home in Pune, Maharashtra, aged 84. She had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and was bedridden for over two years. Through the last years of her life Cine & TV Artistes Association had started providing her financial assistance after veteran actress Waheeda Rehman brought up her case.

Selected filmography

YearName of the movieRoleNotes
1941Bahenas nurse in hospital
1941Apna Paraya
1943Hamari Baat
1947Bhookh
1048GunsundariKusumGujarati film
1949MangalferaChandrikaGujarati film, parallel lead
1951AlbelaMalti, Pyarelal's sister
1953Jeewan Jyoti
1955DevdasStreet Singer
1957Johnny WalkerShobha
1957Paying GuestUma
1961Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai
1961PassportBenny Dayal's Wife
1963Mujhe Jeene Do
1966Dil Diya Dard Liya
1966AnupamaSarla
1966Aaye Din Bahar Ke
1966Teesri KasamHiraman's sister-in-law
1968SaraswatichandraSaraswati Chandra's step-mother
1968PadosanBhola's aunt
1969Pyar Ka Mausam
1969Intaquam
1969Chirag
1969Aya Sawan Jhoom KeJugal Kishore's Wife
1969AradhanaDoctor
1970GanwaarGopal's Mother
1970Johny Mera Naam
1970Holi Ayee Re
1971Maryada
1971Aan Milo Sajna
1971Lal Patthar
1971Mera Gaon Mera Desh
1971Caravan
1971Elaan
1972Ek Nazar
1972Annadata
1972Zameen Aasmaan
1972Bombay to Goa
1973Barkha BaharGanga's Mother
19765Do JasoosSarita Devi Verma
1975DeewaarChander's Mother
1976Sankoch
1976Jeevan JyotiRatna Chaurasia
1976BajrangbaliDevi Ma Shabri
1978Ankh Ka Tara
1978Do MusafirBholi, Shambhu's Wife
1978Aakhri Daku
1978Dillagi
1980Aasha
1980Hum Paanch
1981Biwi-O-BiwiChander's Mother
1984John Jani JanardhanFatima Bi
1984Gangvaa
1984KarishmaaRadha's Mother
1985HaqeeqatAmar's Mother
1986Dilwaala
1989Suryaa: An AwakeningRamu's Mother
1990AmbaNani Maa
1997Ziddi