It’s September 23rd, and a true screen legend, Tanuja, turns 82 today. Her career wasn’t just about starring in great films; her life story itself feels like a compelling movie. She graced both Bollywood and Bengali cinema, leaving her mark with powerful performances. More than just her professional wins, Tanuja’s personal journey has been full of twists and turns.
Tanuja’s roots run deep in the film world. Her father, Kumarsen Samarth, was a filmmaker, and her mother, Shobhana Samarth, was a well-known actress. It was no surprise then that Tanuja, along with her elder sister Nutan, found their calling in acting. When Tanuja was just six years old, she first faced the camera. She debuted as a child artist in the 1950 film ‘Hamari Beti.’ Her mother produced the film, and her sister Nutan also appeared in it.
Years later, as a young woman, Tanuja took on a role in ‘Chhabili’ in 1960. Again, her mother, Shobhana, directed this film, and Nutan played the main character. One of Tanuja’s early standout performances came in 1966 with ‘Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi.’ This film truly highlighted her acting prowess.
Tanuja wasn’t just known for supporting roles, though she excelled in them. She also played lead roles alongside big stars like Dharmendra. In 1967, her work in ‘Jewel Thief’ earned her a Filmfare Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. The following year, she teamed up with Dharmendra for the film ‘Izzat.’ She later won a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in ‘Paisa Ya Pyar’ in 1969. One of her biggest hits was ‘Haathi Mere Saathi’ in 1971.
But Tanuja’s talent wasn’t limited to Hindi cinema. She ventured into Bengali films during the 1960s. Her first Bengali movie was ‘Deya Neya’ in 1963, followed by ‘Anthony Firingee’ in 1967. She shared a wonderful on-screen chemistry with actor Soumitra Chatterjee. They starred together in memorable films like ‘Bhubaner Pare’ and ‘Pratham Kadam Phool.’ Impressively, Tanuja spoke all her lines in Bengali herself for these films.
Tanuja’s childhood saw her parents divorce by mutual consent. Later, her mother, Shobhana, was linked with actor Motilal. In 1973, Tanuja married filmmaker Shomu Mukherjee. They had two daughters, Kajol and Tanishaa, both of whom followed in their mother’s footsteps to become actresses. Kajol is married to actor Ajay Devgn, extending the family’s legacy in cinema. Sadly, Shomu Mukherjee passed away at 64 on April 10, 2008.
After her marriage ended, Tanuja took a break from films for many years. When she returned, she often found herself in impactful supporting roles. She played Amitabh Bachchan’s sister-in-law in the 1982 film ‘Khuddar.’ That same year, she also took on a supporting role in Raj Kapoor’s ‘Prem Rog.’ Her reach even extended beyond India. In 1986, she received an invitation from Sri Lanka to play the lead role in the Sinhala film ‘Peralikarayo.’
