Suchitra Sen

Suchitra Sen: The Mahanayika of Bengali Cinema Suchitra Sen, born Roma Dasgupta (April 6, 1931 - January 17, 2014), remains an iconic figure in Indian cinema, particularly renowned for her contributions to Bengali and Hindi film. Her pairing with Uttam Kumar yielded several classics that continue to hold significance in Bengali cinema's history. Sen's career trajectory was significantly propelled by her role as Vishnupriya in Devaki Kumar Bose's Bhagaban Shree Krishna Chaitanya (1953). A pioneering figure, she became the first Indian actress to win an international accolade, receiving the Silver Prize for Best Actress at the 1963 Moscow International Film Festival for her performance in Saat Pake Bandha. Her achievements extend to receiving the Padma Shri in 1972, India's fourth-highest civilian award. However, her dedication to privacy led her to a self-imposed seclusion from public life from 1979 onwards, a decision that earned her comparisons to Greta Garbo. In keeping with her preference for anonymity, she declined the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2005, India's highest film honour. She was later conferred the Banga Bibhushan, West Bengal's highest honour, in 2012. Her debut film was Saat Number Kayedi (1953), directed by Sukumar Dasgupta. Sen's legacy rests not only on her exceptional talent but also on her unwavering commitment to maintaining her privacy.