Nutan

Nutan Bahl (Nutan Samarth, June 4, 1936 - February 21, 1991), better known as Nutan, was an Indian film actress. In a career that lasted nearly four decades, the actress appeared in more than 70 Hindi films, many of them in leading roles. Acknowledged as one of the best actresses in the history of Indian film industry, she excelled for playing unconventional roles and their performances were often targets of praise and recognition.

Nutan holds the record for five victories in the category of best actress in the Filmfare Awards, which belonged to her for more than 30 years until she was matched by her niece Kajol in 2011. In 1974 she was awarded the Padma Shri award given by the Government of India.

Biography: Nutan was born into a Marathi family on June 4, 1936 as the eldest of four children of the director and poet Kumarsen Samarth and his wife, actress Shobhna. In her childhood she had to suffer the insults of some of her classmates, who considered her ugly and too thin. Her parents separated before the birth of her little brother, Jaideep. Nutan received her education at the Convent of St. Joseph before moving to Switzerland to complete her studies in 1953. She was sent there at the urging of her mother after her films did not work well. She described last year in the European country as the happiest of her life.

Daughter of the actress Shobhna Samarth, Nutan began her career when she was just fourteen years old in the 1950 film Hamari Beti, directed by her mother. From then on her presence became popular in Indian cinema, appearing in two films in 1951, Nagina and Humlog. Her role in the film Seema (1955) earned her wide recognition and her obtaining a Filmfare Award in the category of best actress. She continued playing leading roles until the end of the 1970s and won the same award four other times for her performance in the feature films Sujata (1959), Bandini(1963), Milan (1967) and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978). Other of her appearances in this period include Anari (1959), Chhalia (1960), Tere Ghar Ke Saamne (1963), Saraswatichandra (1968), Anuraag (1972) and Saudagar (1973).

In the 1980s, Nutan continued to work until shortly before her death. During this time she mainly played maternal roles in films such as Saajan Ki Saheli (1981), Meri Jung (1985) and Naam (1986). Her performance in Meri Jung won her sixth Filmfare award, this time in the category of best supporting actress.

Death: The actress was diagnosed with breast cancer and began to be treated in 1990. In February 1991 she was admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital in Bombay after a relapse. At that time she was filming the Garajna and Insaniyat films simultaneously. Died on 21 February 1991. Her husband Rajnish Bahl died in a fire in his apartment in 2004.