Reena Roy (born Saira Ali; 7 January 1957), is an Indian actress. At the age of 15, she made her film debut with the drama Zaroorat (1972), but gained wider public recognition with her roles in the romantic comedy Jaise Ko Taisa (1973) and the romance-action film Zakhmee (1975). By 1976, Roy became one of the higher-paid actresses of Bollywood after starring in two of the year's biggest box-office successes, the action thriller Kalicharan and the horror film Nagin.
Roy won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the drama Apnapan (1977), but declined it due to categorical issues. Her success nevertheless continued throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s when she featured in several notable films including the horror film Jaani Dushman (1979), the dramas Aasha (1980), Arpan (1983) and Asha Jyoti (1984), the multi genre Naseeb (1981) and the romantic comedy Sanam Teri Kasam (1982). In 1983, Roy married cricketer Mohsin Khan and announced a sabbatical. She subsequently shifted to Pakistan with her husband and gave birth to their daughter, Jannat, better known as Sanam Khan.
Roy returned to India in 1992 after divorcing Khan and made a comeback in Hindi cinema with the drama Aadmi Khilona Hai (1993). She further acted in supporting roles notably in the romance-action films Ajay (1996) and Gair (1999), and the romantic drama Refugee (2000). Since the early 2000s, she has primarily focused on raising her daughter, but has made occasional appearances on television, most recently on Indian Idol. Along with her sister Barkha, Roy also runs an acting school.
Personal life and background
Roy was born Saira Ali, the third daughter of Sadiq Ali, a small-time actor and Sharda Rai, who acted in film Bawre Nain and later produced the film Gunehgar Kaun. She has three siblings who all disowned their father after the parents divorced. Her mother renamed all the four children after the divorce. Roy was initially renamed Roopa Rai, which was changed to "Reena Roy" by the producer of her first film, Zaroorat. Roy started acting in films in her teens. She disputed reports that her decision to enter films was to financially support her mother and siblings.
Roy has two sisters, Barkha and Anju and a brother, Raja. Following a highly-publicised love affair with Shatrughan Sinha, in 1983, Roy decided to quit the film industry to marry Pakistani cricketer Mohsin Khan. The couple later divorced in the 1990s; Roy found it difficult to adjust with Khan's flamboyant lifestyle. Roy initially lost custody of her daughter Sanam, but after her ex-husband remarried, Roy regained custody.
Career
Debut and breakthrough (1970–76) In 1971, Roy was cast by director B. R. Ishara in Nayi Duniya Naye Log opposite Danny Denzongpa, but the film was shelved and would not be released until 1973. Undeterred by the problems, Ishara offered Roy the leading role in his another directorial venture, Zaroorat. Roy was initially reluctant to select the project due to its risque subject and potentially controversial scenes, but agreed later. Zaroorat was theatrically released in 1972, failing at the box office, but Roy's sensual performance was noted by contrast. Roy's subsequent roles too focused on her sex appeal, such as in Jaise Ko Taisa (1973), which became known for the track "Ab Ke Sawan Mein Jee Dare" in which Roy and Jeetendra dance together in heavy rain. The film was a box-office hit, and along with another successful release, Zakhmee (1975), where she had a supporting role, prompted filmmakers to approach Roy with more significant films.
Subhash Ghai's action thriller Kalicharan (1976) made her more popular among directors and audiences.Initially, there was low expectations with Kalicharan, since Subhash Ghai, a failed actor, was making his directorial debut, and Shatrugan Sinha, an actor known for his villainous roles, was making his first mark as the lead hero. But the film defied everyone's expectations and became a surprise hit, and Reena as Shatrugan's love interest got attention from audiences. They became a off-screen pair as well. She also starred in another hit family drama Udhar Ka Sindur alongside Jeetendra in that year.