Nanda Karnataki (8 January 1939 – 25 March 2014)[1] known mononymously as Nanda, was an Indian actress who appeared in Hindi and Marathi films. As one of the most popular actresses in Hindi cinema, her career spans over 30 years and she is best known for her performances in Chhoti Bahen, Dhool Ka Phool, Bhabhi, Kala Bazar, Kanoon, Hum Dono, Jab Jab Phool Khile, Gumnaam, Ittefaq, The Train and Prem Rog.Nanda was born in a Maharashtrian showbusiness family to Vinayak Damodar Karnataki (Master Vinayak), a successful Marathi actorproducerdirector. Master Vinayak was related to many personalities in the Indian film industry. His brother Vasudev Karnataki was a cinematographer while noted film personalities Baburao Pendharkar (1896–1967) and Bhalji Pendharkar (1897–1994) were his halfbrothers. He was also a maternal cousin of legendary film director V. Shantaram.[4] Master Vinayak was a good friend of the Mangeshkar family and introduced Lata Mangeshkar to the film industry[5] in his movie Pahilee Mangalagaur.]

Nanda made her debut with Mandir in 1948. On the silver screen she was first recognized as "Baby Nanda". In films like Mandir, Jaggu and Angaarey, She was a child actor from 1948 to 1956.[7] Nanda's paternal uncle, the renowned film producerdirector V. Shantaram gave Nanda a big break by casting her in a successful brothersister saga; Toofan Aur Diya (1956). It was the saga of an orphaned brother and sister that are buffeted by a series of tragic setbacks, including the girl losing her sight. She received her first Filmfare Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress for Bhabhi (1957), she claims that the reason she didn't win was because there was lobbying involved.[9] She played supporting roles to stars such as Dev Anand in Kala Bazar,[10] and played second lead in Dhool Ka Phool. Earlier in her career she acted in many Marathi films. These include Kuldaivat, Shevgyachyaa Shenga directed by Shantaram Athavale, Deoghar directed by Raja Paranjpe, Zalegele visrun jaa directed by Yashwant Patekar, and Aai wina baal with Hansa Wadkar. Nanda was honored by prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru for her sister's role in Shevgyachyaa shenga.eading Lady
She played the title role in L.V. Prasad's Chhoti Bahen (1959). The movie was a big hit, making her a star.[11] In this commercially successful 1959 film, Nanda played the blind younger sister looked after by two elder brothers, played by Balraj Sahni and Rehman.[12] She then played lead roles, such as one of Dev Anand's heroines in Hum Dono (1961) and Teen Deviyan. Both films were acclaimed as hits. She was the heroine in B.R. Chopra's Kanoon (1960), a film with no songs, which was then rare.

She won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Aanchal (1960). She was paired with Raj Kapoor in Aashiq (1962) and she worked with Rajendra Kumar in three films – Toofan Aur Diya (1956), Dhool Ka Phool (1961) and Kanoon (1960). She had quoted in one of her interviews: "Many of my great performances were in films that failed or did average business, like Usne Kaha Tha, Char Diwari, Nartaki, and Aaj Aur Kal."[13]

Nanda was known to encourage newcomers. She signed eight films with Shashi Kapoor at a time when he was yet to become successful in Hindi Cinema. Their first two films as a pair – the critically acclaimed romantic film Char Diwari (1961) and Mehndi Lagi Mere Haath (1962) – did not work, but the rest were successful at the box office.[14][failed verification] Shashi, though he had achieved success in English films in 1963 and in two Hindi films in 1965, had five flops as solo lead hero from his debut in 1961 till 1965 in Hindi films. In Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), Nanda played a westernised role for the first time and it helped her image.[15] Her favorite song that was famously picturized on her in the film was "Yeh samaa." Shashi would later declare that Nanda was his favorite heroine. Nanda, too, declared Kapoor as her favourite hero. In the period 1965 to 1970, the successful films of the pair ShashiNanda include Mohabbat Isko Kahete Hain (1965), Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare (1966), Raja Saab (1969) and Rootha Na Karo (1970). In the early 1970s, Nanda suggested Rajendra Kumar, coproducer of The Train, to take Rajesh Khanna as the main lead.[16]





























The Unmarried Actress Who Lived a Widow's Life After Her Lover's Death, Nanda, Manmohan Desai, Shashi Kapoor, Jab Jab phool Khile, Rajesh Khanna, Master Vinayak Karnataki, Nanda Karnataki, Shor, Manoj Kumar, awarded by Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru, Waheeda Rehmaan, Pardesiyo se na ankhiya milana