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Nirupa Roy

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Nirupa Roy
Roy in 1956 film Taksaal
Born
Kokila Kishorechandra Bulsara

(1931-01-04)4 January 1931
Bulsar, Bombay Presidency, British India
(present-day Valsad, Gujarat, India)
Died13 October 2004(2004-10-13) (aged 73)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Other nameQueen of Misery
OccupationActress
Years active1946–1999
Spouse
Kamal Roy
​
(m. 1946)​
Children2
AwardsFilmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Munimji (1956)
Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Chhaya (1962)
Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Shehnai (1965)
Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (2004)

Nirupa Roy (born Kokila Kishorechandra Bulsara; 4 January 1931 – 13 October 2004)[1] was an Indian actress who primarily worked in Hindi films. She was mainly known for playing motherly roles and was dubbed the "Queen of Misery" in Hindi film circles due to her portrayals of tragedy and sorrow.[2][3] Roy was active from 1946 to 1999, appeared in over 250 films, and won three Filmfare Awards throughout her career, and was nominated a total of 4 times. In 2004, Roy received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.

Early life

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Not much is known about Roy's early life and childhood, because she rarely mentioned it. Roy was born as Kokila Kishorechandra Bulsara in the village of Kalwada, Bulsar District (now Valsad, Gujarat). As a child, her family would call her 'Chibi.' She married Kamal Roy at the age of 15 and moved to Mumbai. Soon after, she entered the film industry using her married name, Nirupa Roy.[citation needed]

Career

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This section needs expansion. You can help by adding missing information. (November 2019)

In 1946, Roy and her husband responded to an advertisement in a Gujarati paper looking for actors. She was selected and started her acting career with the Gujarati film Ranakdevi (1946). She then acted in her first Hindi film, Amar Raj (1946), in the same year.[4]

Her most popular films include Do Bigha Zamin (1953), Deewar (1975), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), and Amar Akbar Anthony (1979).[5][6] She initially rose to fame by playing characters in historical and mythological films of the 1940s and 50s. Her film Har Har Mahadev in 1950 became a blockbuster hit, where she played the role of Parvati Devi opposite Trilok Kapoor who played the role of Shiva. Her image of a goddess was so strong that people would visit her home and seek her blessings.

She frequently co-starred with actors such as Trilok Kapoor (with whom she played in eighteen movies), Bharat Bhushan, Balraj Sahni, and Ashok Kumar.[7]

In the 1970s, her role as mother to the characters played by Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor made her name synonymous to the impoverished, suffering mother. Her role in Deewaar (1975), especially the iconic dialogue "Mere paas maa hai," became a cultural touchstone and is still cited today.[4]

Personal life

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She had two children with her husband, Kamal, named Yogesh and Kiran Roy.[8] In the years following her death, they engaged into a dispute over Roy's property and belongings, which has received much attention in the news and media.[9][10]

Death

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On 13 October 2004, Roy suffered a cardiac arrest in Mumbai, and died at the age of 73.[11]

Several tributes and articles have been made in Roy's memory.[12] Her dialogues from the film Deewaar became iconic,[13] and her acting in the film along with her other notable films, is considered to be a landmark in Hindi cinema.[14]

Filmography

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  • All films in this list are Hindi unless otherwise indicated
  • This is a partial list
Year[15] Film Role Notes Ref.
1946 Ranakdevi Ranak Gujarati film; debut
Amar Raj Bakula Hindi film debut
1947 Meerabai Meerabai Gujarati film
1948Jivan Palto Gujarati film
1949Udhaar
Mangalfera Shobha Gujarati film
1950 Gadano Bel Gujarati film
1951Ram Janma
1953Do Bigha ZaminParvati (Paro) Maheto
Naulakha Haar Lakha
Dharm Patni Neeru
1954Chakradhari
Durga Puja
1955Garam CoatGeeta
MunimjiMalti Won—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
Tonga-waliRajjo
1956Bhai-BhaiLaxmi
Amar Singh Rathore
1957MohiniThe Queen
MusafirBhanu's Sister-In-Law
Janam Janam Ke Phere Annapurna [16]
Do Roti Malti [17]
Ek Gaoon Ki Kahani Maya
1958Chaal Baaz
DulhanSharda
Karigar Parvati
1959 Kavi Kalidas Princess Vidyotma
Kangan Karuna S. Das
1960AanchalJanki
Superman Shanti/Superman [18][19]
Ghar Ki Laaj Ranjana
1961ChhayaManorama/Aayah Won—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
Jai Chitod [20]
1962BezubaanAchla
1963Kaun Apna Kaun ParayaMangala
Mujhe Jeene DoChampa
GrahastiMaya Khanna
1964BenazirNawab's wife
ShehnaiShobha Won—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
Phoolon Ki SejJanki Verma
1965ShaheedDurga Bhabi
1966 Aasra Maya
Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare Begum Khan Bhadur
1967Ram Aur ShyamSulakshana
JaalSundar's mother
1968AabrooTilottama
Ek Kali MuskaiHostel Principal
Raja Aur RunkShanta
Jyot Jale Sandhya
1969Aansoo Ban Gaye PhoolDr. Sumitra
Pyar Ka MausamJamuna
Rahgir
Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke Maya
1970AbhinetriShekhar's Mother
Maa Aur MamtaPolly
Ghar Ghar Ki KahaniPadma
MaharajaRadha
Aan Milo SajnaSavitri Choudhary
Purab Aur PaschimKaushalya
1971Ganga Tera Pani AmritShobha
Sansar Shobha
Nadaan Ranimaa a.k.a Ranjana
Chhoti Bahu Sita
1972Jawani DiwaniMadhu Anand
1973Kuchhe DhaageThakurain
Pyaar Ka Rishta Radha
1975DeewaarSumitra Verma Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
1976MaaVijay's Mother
1977Amar Akbar AnthonyBharati
AnurodhRadha Mathur
1978Ankh Ka TaraParvati
Muqaddar Ka Sikandar Fatima
1979SuhaagDurga Kapoor
1981Aas PaasArun's mother
Professor Pyarelal Shanti
1982Badle Ki AagDurga
Teesri AankhMalti K. Nath
1983BetaabSumitra Kapoor
1985SarfaroshJwala's Mother
GeraftaarDurga Khanna
MardRani Durga
1986AngaarayMrs. Verma
1988Gangaa Jamunaa SaraswatiBharati Devi
InteqamBirju’s mother
1990 Kaarnama Savitri
1991 Pyar Ka Devta Parvati Kumar
PratikarParvati Prasad
1992 Mere Sajana Saath Nibhana Kanhaiya's Mother
Humshakal Vinod's Mother
1996 Namak Shanti Kedarnath Sharma
1999 Jahan Tum Le Chalo Akash's Grandmother
Lal Baadshah Malati Singh Final film

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
1956 Filmfare Awards Best Supporting Actress Munimji Won
1962 Chhaya Won
1965 Shehnai Won
1976 Deewaar Nominated
2004 Lifetime Achievement Award —N/a Won

References

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  1. ↑ "Nirupa Roy: The iconic on-screen mother who faced tragedy in real life". The Times of India. 5 January 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  2. ↑ "Remembering Nirupa Roy, the Iconic 'Mother' of Bollywood". The Quint. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  3. ↑ "Mothers Day Special: Bollywood's Most Iconic Screen Mothers". filmfare.com. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  4. 1 2 Desk, Sentinel Digital (1 June 2018). "Nirupa Roy: A FLASHBACK (ICONIC ACTRESS)". The Sentinel - of this Land, for its People. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  5. ↑ "Nirupa Roy". Upperstall.com. 15 October 2004. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  6. ↑ "Zee Bollywood pays an ode to veteran actress Nirupa Roy on Classic Legends Season 5 on 5th Jan". 5 January 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  7. ↑ Rishi, Tilak (2012). Bless You Bollywood!: A Tribute to Hindi Cinema on Completing 100 Years. Trafford. p. 100. ISBN 9781466939639.
  8. ↑ "Nirupa Roy". The Independent. 2 November 2004. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  9. ↑ Sayed, Nazia (10 January 2018). "Battle between Nirupa Roy's sons gets uglier". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  10. ↑ "Deewar's Maa Nirupa Roy's Sons Fight Over Her Property". NDTV.com. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  11. ↑ "Javed Akhtar on Nirupa Roy 87th birth anniversary: She looked like Goddess in mother roles". India Today. Indo-Asian News Service. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  12. ↑ "Tribute to legendary actress Nirupa Roy". The Siasat Daily - Archive. 5 January 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  13. ↑ "Mother's Day 2019: Entertain your Maa with 13 famous Bollywood 'Mom Dialogues'". Latest Indian news, Top Breaking headlines, Today Headlines, Top Stories at Free Press Journal. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  14. ↑ Arora, Sakshi (4 January 2019). "Remembering Nirupa Roy, Indian cinema's 'Goddess' who became its most popular mother". ThePrint. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  15. ↑ "Nirupa Roy". IMDb. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  16. ↑ Nazir, Asjad. "Manmohan Desai: Magician of the Bollywood masala entertainer | EasternEye". www.easterneye.biz. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  17. ↑ "Screen 'mother' Nirupa Roy no more". The Times of India. 14 October 2004. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  18. ↑ "When 'Bollywood's Majbur Maa' Nirupa Roy played India's first superman in 1960". MensXP. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  19. ↑ Keshri, Shweta (4 November 2025). "Nirupa Roy, mother of all heroes, once played Bollywood's 1st flying superhero". India Today. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  20. ↑ "Padmavati trailer out: The other Padmavatis you need to know about before the film". India Today. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
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