Ratna Bhushan
Ratna Bhushan was an Indian actress who appeared mainly in both Hindi cinema and Marathi cinema for over three decades. While she is celebrated for her roles in iconic Hindi musicals like Barsaat Ki Raat, she was also a leading lady in the Marathi film industry during its formative years in the 1960s.
Career
Early work and breakthrough (1950s–1960)
Ratna began her career in the mid-1950s, appearing in supporting roles during the height of the 'Golden Age of Hindi Cinema'. Her breakout role came in the 1960 musical blockbuster Barsaat Ki Raat, directed by P. L. Santoshi. Portraying the character "Shabab," she played the vibrant sister of Shama and a close companion to the character Shabnam,. The film's massive success, particularly its qawwali sequences, brought Ratna significant national visibility.Stardom in Marathi Cinema
Throughout the 1960s, while continuing her work in Mumbai, Ratna established herself as a notable lead actress in Marathi cinema. She was frequently cast in social dramas and family entertainers that are now considered classics. Notable among these were Putra Vhava Aisa, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi, and the comedy Javai Maza Bhala.Her ability to move between the linguistic nuances of Hindi and Marathi made her a versatile asset to filmmakers in Western India.
Later years and character roles
As she transitioned into the later stages of her career in the 1970s and 1980s, Ratna moved into character roles, often playing maternal figures or elegant matriarchs. She appeared in popular commercial films such as Pyar Jhukta Nahin alongside Mithun Chakraborty and Padmini Kolhapure. In the same year, she played a major role as Mrs. Bennet in the cult Doordarshan series Trishna..Her final credited roles appeared in the late 1980s, marking a career that spanned nearly 35 years in the industry.Personal life
In 1967, Ratna married the legendary actor and producer Bharat Bhushan. The two had shared the screen in several films, most notably Barsaat Ki Raat. This was the second marriage for Bharat Bhushan, whose first wife, Sarla, had passed away in 1960 following complications from childbirth.Ratna's marriage to Bharat Bhushan took place during a period when the actor was facing severe financial decline due to the failure of his production ventures and a shift in audience tastes. Ratna was widely noted in film circles for her steadfast loyalty, staying by his side as they moved from a luxurious bungalow to a small tenement in Malad. She remained married to him until his death in 1992. She was notably devoted to her family during their later years. She remained a steadfast support for Bharat Bhushan as he faced severe financial decline, moving with him from their once-luxurious bungalows to a small tenement in Malad. Her stepdaughter, Aparajita Bhushan, later became a well-known actress herself, famously portraying Mandodari in the landmark television series Ramayan. Ratna's step-granddaughter is the film actress Anuradha Patel.