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Mala Sinha a Nepali Christian, began her career with 'Roshanana',a bengali film in 1952. The family shifted to Bombay when Mala signed 'Badshah' in 1954. Her career was in danger of being lost in a maze of mythologicals and secondary roles, till Kidar Sharma's 'Rangeen Raatien' in 1956, opposite Shammi Kapoor, came her way. During this period she underwent a transformation and by the following year, she was the epitome of glamor in 'Pyaasa' in 1957.
Guru Dutt's 'Pyassa' turned Mala into a star and soon she was working with her childhood idol, Raj Kapoor. But it was 'Dhool Ka Phool' in 1959, 'Hariyali Aur Raasta' and 'Anpadh' in 1962 that won her lasting fame. And with 'Gumraah' and 'Bahurani',she made it to the top. Her films 'Himalay Ki God Mein' in 1965 and 'Aasra' in 1966 and 'Do Kaliyan' in 1968 were major hits.
Films like 'Aankhen' and 'Maryada', where the adaptable Mala revealed a svelte figure in form-fitting gowns and short dresses gave another dimension to this actress' career. The role with negative shades, of a married woman crossing the Laxman Rekha in B R Chopra's 'Gumrah', showed another, daring side to Mala Sinha. However, after her marriage to Nepali actor C.P. Lohani in 1968 and the birth of her daughter Pratibha, Mala's career began to fade. Her husband, who lived in Kathmandu could not provide the support she needed and Mala turned to religion.
Today, Mala is often mocked as being the queen of melodrama. But what is forgotten is that she did not care a damn for major heroes and willingly worked with lesser known actors as long as she was the central figure.
She honestly says, "I was not particulary good-looking like Madhubala .All I had going for me was my talent."
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