Shashikala
Shashikala Saigal, better known by her first name, was an Indian film and television actress, who played supporting roles in hundreds of Bollywood films beginning in the 1940s.
Early years
Shashikala Jawalkar was one of six children born in Solapur, Maharashtra to a Hindu Bhavsar Shimpi caste Marathi speaking family. By age 5, she had already been dancing, singing and acting on stage in many towns in Solapur district. When Shashikala was in her pre-teens, through ill luck, her father became bankrupt, and he brought his family to Bombay, where they thought that Shashikala, the best-looking and most-talented among his children, could find work in movies. For some time, the family lived with friends and barely survived, while Shashikala wandered from one studio to another looking for work. She earned in bits and pieces till she met Noor Jehan, the reigning screen queen.Noor Jehan's husband Shaukat Hussain Rizvi, was making the movie Zeenat then, and included Shashikala in a Qawwali scene. Rizvi gave her a supporting role alongside Noorjehan and Dilip Kumar in the 1947 film Jugnu. She acted with Dilip Kumar again in the 1950 film Arzoo.
She worked with Shammi Kapoor in film Daku. She struggled on and got small roles in movies made by P. N. Arora, Amiya Chakravarti, and a few other producers. She first rose to fame with her role in Hindi film Pugdi produced by Prem Narayan Arora. She got roles in V. Shantaram's Teen Batti Char Raasta and a few other movies. While in her early twenties, Shashikala met and married Om Prakash Saigal, who belonged to the Kundan Lal Saigal family, and has two daughters.
Acclaimed supporting roles
In 1959, she appeared in Bimal Roy's film [Sujata (1959 film)|Sujata]. In Tarachand Barjatya's [Aarti (film)|Aarti], starring Meena Kumari, Ashok Kumar, and Pradeep Kumar, Shashikala portrayed a negative role, which received positive reviews, and earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Soon after, offers began to pour in to her for supporting roles. She appeared in [Gumrah (1963 film)|Gumrah] which won her a second Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress, Ayee Milan Ki Bela, Godaan, Himalay Ki God Mein, [Waqt (1965 film)|Waqt], [Anupama (1966 film)|Anupama], Phool Aur Patthar, Neel Kamal, and Khubsoorat. She played a negative character in [Chhote Sarkar (1974 film)|Chhote Sarkar] starring Shammi Kapoor and Sadhana. While her female lead co-stars usually played roles of good-natured, modest, or pious women, Shashikala usually played either flighty and feisty bubbly women or vamps who plotted the downfall of others. Later in her acting career, she would typically play the role of a sister or mother-in-law. In 80s her acclaimed performances came in films like Phir Wahi Raat, Souten, Sargam. She performed in supporting roles in more than 100 films.Recent acting roles
In the past years, she has performed in a few television serials, including Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai for Sony, Apnaapan for Zee TV, Dil Deke Dekho for Sab TV and Son Pari for Star Plus. She had roles in Mother 98, Pardesi Babu, Baadshah, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and Chori Chori.Awards
;Civilian AwardList of [Padma Shri award recipients (2000–2009)|2007] – Padma Shri – India's fourth highest civilian honour from the Government of India.;Film Awards
Selected filmography
Karodpati Chand Zeenat as Qawalli singer Jugnu Doli Pugree Girls' School Bombay Bholi Aakhri Paigham Thes Rupaiya Raj Rani Patthe Bapurao Arzoo as KamlaSarkar Chamkee Ajeeb Ladki Teen Batti Char Raasta as Lalita Madmust Jeewan Jyoti as LeelaChacha Chowdhury Surang as PagliParichay Shart as TotoSangam Samaj Sitara Sakhi Lutera Sabse Bada Rupaiya Hoor-E-Arab Daku Bahu Abe-Hayat as ShehzadiTaj Aur Talwar Patrani as NamunjalaKar Bhala Diwali Ki Raat Bhagam Bhag as ShashiBandhan as ShantaArab Ka Saudagar Jahazi Lutera Beti Nau Do Gyarah as NeetaLal Batti Captain Kishore Chandu Chalta Purza 12 O'Clock as NeenaSun To Le Hasina Jung Bahadur Madam XYZ Khoobsurat Dhokha Sujata as Rama ChowdhuryRangeela Raja Kanoon as Murder's Girl Friend Teer Aur Talwar Singapore as ShobhaJo Huwa So Bhool Jao Do Aadmi Flight to Assam Junglee as Mala Krorepati as RoopaBatwara as KalaHariyali Aur Rasta as RitaNaag Devata Anpadh as BasantiAarti as JaswantiGumrah as Leela/Miss RobertsCommercial Pilot Officer Yeh Rastey Hain Pyar Ke as AshaSatyavan Savitri Hamrahi as Hemalata 'Hema'Godaan Punar Milan as Shobhna BakshiMera Qasoor Kya Hai as ShashiJahan Ara as KarunaAyee Milan Ki Bela as RoopaApne Huye Paraye as LataAap Ki Parchhaiyan as RekhaHimalay Ki God Mein as Dr. Neeta Verma Waqt as Rani sahibaTeesra Kaun as LilyNeela Aakash as RitaBheegi Raat as Vinita / VinnieBedaag as LataSunehre Qadam Anupama as Anita Bakshi 'Annie'Phool Aur Patthar as RitaToofan Men Pyar Kahan Pyar Mohabbat as MohiniPati Patni as LaliNeend Hamari Khwab Tumhare as Ms. PaulDo Dilon Ki Dastaan Devar as Shanta M. Singh / Shanta S. RaiDaadi Maa as GangaMehrban as DevkiChhoti Si Mulaqat as SoniaNeel Kamal as ChanchalAabroo as ShantaTeen Bahuraniyan as Sheela DeviTamanna Shatranj as SuzieRahgir Paisa Ya Pyar as LakshmiSaas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi as Maya M. ChaudharyHumjoli as Shyama RaiGhar Ghar Ki Kahani as JamunaChhoti Bahu as ParoWoh Din Yaad Karo as Rajkumari / SarojJawan Muhabat as Mala Das Narad Leela Naag Panchami as Mahadevi MansaDastaan E Kashmir Chhote Sarkar as SeemaAmaanat as SoniaBabruvahana Swami as Ghanshyam's step-motherDuniyadari as Malti deviDulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaaye as Ms. Saxena Dildaar as Lata's mom Hamara Sansar as Pratap's MotherBin Baap Ka Beta Sargam as Savitri PradhanZulm Ki Pukar Khubsoorat as Mrs. GuptaKashish as Seema's MotherPhir Wohi Raat as AuntyYeh Kaisa Insaf? as Shanta NathSwayamvar as JwalaSaajan Mere Main Saajan Ki Kranti as Charumati Rocky as SophiaBiwi O Biwi as NirmalaAhista Ahista as SubbalaxmiJyothi as Sunanda Dial 100 as ShantiTeri Maang Sitaron Se Bhar Doon as Anand's MotherYeh To Kamaal Ho Gaya Samraat as Ranbir's momAnokha Bandhan as Annapurna's momLog Kya Kahenge Souten as Renu Prannath Pasha Dard-E-Dil as Shola BeghumRam Tera Desh as Kanta SaxenaLek Chalali Sasarla as AaisahebTawaif as Bilquis Bai Arjun as Mrs. Rukhmini MalvankarMahananda Amma as Jiji- Preeti (1986 film)Khamosh Nigahen Dhakti Soon as Ujwala's patronDadagiri as Shanti B. SinghBesahara as Rakesh's MotherMera Karam Mera Dharam as Mrs. TaraknathGhar Ghar Ki Kahani as Mrs. DhanrajMain Tere Liye as Anjana SaxenaSach as Mrs. ChinoySalma Pe Dil Aa Gaya as Dai MaaLahoo Ke Do Rang as ChachiMain Solah Baras Ki Maharaja as Ranbir's momPardesi Babu as Mai Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge! as Mrs. MalhotraBaadshah as Raj's MotherMother as Mrs. ChaudharyAgniputra Uljhan as Varun's grandmaKabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham as Ashfaque's grandmotherJhankaar Beats as Shanti's motherChori Chori as ChachiMujhse Shaadi Karogi as Grandma MalhotraRakht as Dhristi's GrandmotherPadmashree Laloo Prasad Yadav as South African Witness