Remembering the graceful Nalini Jaywant

The circumstances in which Nalini Jaywant,the most beautiful leading star,passed away at the age of 84 are tragic.

The circumstances in which Nalini Jaywant,the most beautiful leading star,passed away at the age of 84 are tragic. She was practically away from the limelight for the last 45 years. As a heroine,she was in the spotlight for about 15 years and shared screen space with Ashok Kumar,Dilip Kumar,Dev Anand,Sunil Dutt,Ajit and others.

She was beauty personified with a lovely figure and bright eyes. When she was hardly 14 at Rammohan High School Girgaum,her acting and singing talents were recognised and rewarded with a gold medal by the then Chief Minister B.G.Kher.

She got her first opportunity as a leading lady in Raadhika which was well-received. Harish was her hero. Mehboob Khan offered her a role in Bahen and Sheikh Milkhtyar played her brothers role. Ankhmicholi was her next film.

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In 1949,she was in Anokha Pyar with Dilip Kumar and Nargis. It was a musical bonanza. She joined Bombay Talkies and later on Filmistan. She appeared in a bathing suit with Ashok Kumar in Bombay Talkies Sangram. In those days,it was definitely a bold and revolutionary step. For several years this topic was interestedly discussed.

A duet sung by Chilalkar (C.Ramachandra) and Lata Mangeshkar was picturised on them (Nalini and Ashok).

She was the first actress who shot in a foreign country,Egypt,with Ashok Kumar near Kahira (Piramids) for Naaz directed by S.K. Ojha. Samadhi directed by Ramesh Saigal for Filmistan hit the bulls eye. Her performance was applauded and the song picturised on her and Kuldeep Kaur got tremendous popularity.

Gore gore o bakhi chore,a popular number,was picturised on her. Senior citizens objected to the lyrics terming it as vulgar but it proved to be a storm in a tea cup.

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A.R.Kardar-made Jadoo,based on Loves Of Carman with Suresh as her hero,was a breezy musical creation. Premnath was her hero in Naujawan and the song picturised on her Thandi hawain lahera ka aye was well received.

She was Ashok Kumars heroine in nine films Samadhi,Sangram,Naobahar,Salooni,Jalpani,Kafila,Toofan Mein Pyaar Kaha,Naaz,Mr X And Sheroo.

As a heroine her last film was Amar Rahe Ye Pyaar before she married director Prabhu Dayal,who died some years back. She was leading a retired life in Chembur. I had an opportunity to interview her 40 years back.
– Manohar Govind Tamhankar,Nagpur