Nanda Karnataki (8 January 1939 – 25 March 2014), known mononymously as Nanda, was an Indian actress who appeared in Hindi and Marathi films. As one of the most popular actresses in Hindi cinema, her career spans over 30 years and she is best known for her performances in Chhoti Bahen, Dhool Ka Phool, Bhabhi, Kala Bazar, Kanoon, Hum Dono, Jab Jab Phool Khile, Gumnaam, Ittefaq, The Train and Prem Rog.
Early life
Nanda was born in a Maharashtrian show-business family to Vinayak Damodar Karnataki (Master Vinayak), a successful Marathi actor-producer-director. Master Vinayak was related to many personalities in the Indian film industry. His brother Vasudev Karnataki was a cinematographer while noted film personalities Baburao Pendharkar (1896–1967) and Bhalji Pendharkar (1897–1994) were his half-brothers. He was also a maternal cousin of legendary film director V. Shantaram. Master Vinayak was a good friend of the Mangeshkar family and introduced Lata Mangeshkar to the film industry in his movie Pahilee Mangalagaur.
Her father died in 1947, aged 41 when Nanda was seven years old. The family faced hard times. She became a child actress, helping her family by working in films in the early 1950s. As a result of her involvement in movies, her studies suffered, and she was coached at home by renowned school teacher and Bombay Scouts commissioner, Gokuldas V. Makhi. By taking up a career in films, she supported and educated her six siblings. One of her brothers is Marathi film director Jaiprakash Karnataki who is married to actress Jayshree T.
Career
Child actress and Supporting roles
Nanda made her debut with Mandir in 1948. On the silver screen, she was first recognized as "Baby Nanda". In films like Mandir, Jaggu and Angaarey, She was a child actor from 1948 to 1956. Nanda's paternal uncle, the renowned film producer-director V. Shantaram gave Nanda a big break by casting her in a successful brother-sister saga; Toofan Aur Diya (1956). It was the saga of an orphaned brother and sister that are buffeted by a series of tragic setbacks, including the girl losing her sight. She received her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Bhabhi (1957), she claimed that the reason she did not win was that there was lobbying involved. She played supporting roles to stars such as Dev Anand in Kala Bazar (1960), and played the second lead in Dhool Ka Phool (1959). Earlier in her career, she acted in many Marathi films. These include Kuldaivat, Shevgyachyaa Shenga directed by Shantaram Athavale, Deoghar directed by Raja Paranjpe, Zalegele Visrun Jaa directed by Yashwant Patekar, and Aai wina baal with Hansa Wadkar. Nanda was honored by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for her sister's role in Shevgyachyaa shenga.
Leading Lady
She played the title role in L.V. Prasad's Chhoti Bahen (1959). The film was a big hit, making her a star. In this commercially successful 1959 film, Nanda played the blind younger sister looked after by two elder brothers, played by Balraj Sahni and Rehman. She then played lead roles, such as one of Dev Anand's heroines in Hum Dono (1961) and Teen Deviyan. Both films were acclaimed as hits. She was the heroine in B.R. Chopra's Kanoon (1960), a film with no songs, which was then rare.
She won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Aanchal (1960), her first and only win at the Filmfare Awards. She was paired with Raj Kapoor in Aashiq (1962) and she worked with Rajendra Kumar in three films – Toofan Aur Diya (1956), Dhool Ka Phool (1961) and Kanoon (1960). She had quoted in one of her interviews: "Many of my great performances were in films that failed or did average business, like Usne Kaha Tha, Char Diwari, Nartaki, and Aaj Aur Kal."