>Missvain at 21:06, 7 May 2021

2021-05-07T21:06:02Z

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{{Short description|Indian actress}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name =Anita Guha
| image=Anita_guha.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1932|01|17|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2007|06|20|1932|01|17|df=yes}}
| spouse = [[Manik Dutt]]
| years_active = 1953–1989
}}
'''Anita Guha''' was an [[India]]n Bengali actress who usually played mythological characters in films. She became known for playing the title role in ''[[Jai Santoshi Maa]]'' (1975). Previously, she had played [[Sita]] in other mythological films; ''[[Sampoorna Ramayana]]'' (1961), ''Shree Ram Bharat Milap'' (1965) and ''Tulsi Vivah'' (1971). Besides this, she also played notable roles in films such as ''[[Goonj Uthi Shehnai]]'' (1959), ''Purnima'' (1965), ''Pyar Ki Rahen ''(1959), ''Gateway of India'' (1957), ''Dekh Kabira Roya'' (1957) and ''Sanjog'' (1961).

==Career==
She came to [[Mumbai]] in the 1950s as a beauty pageant contestant when she was 15 years old.<ref name=toi>{{cite news |title=Santoshi Maa Anita Guha dead|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-06-20/news-interviews/27952627_1_films-role-actress |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126094712/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-06-20/news-interviews/27952627_1_films-role-actress |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 January 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]]|date=20 Jun 2007 }}</ref> She became an actress there and made her film debut in ''[[Tonga-wali]]'' (1955). She moved on to hit films such as ''[[Dekh Kabira Roya]]'' (1957), ''[[Sharada (1957 film)|Sharada]]'' (1957),<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117967653.html?categoryId=25&cs=1 | work=Variety | title=Anita Guha, 70s, actress - Entertainment News, Obituary, Media - Variety | access-date=20 April 2020 | archive-date=9 July 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709172816/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117967653.html?categoryid=25&cs=1 | url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[Goonj Uthi Shehnai]]'', for which she earned nomination in [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress#List of winners|Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress]] category, the only nomination of her career.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://deep750.googlepages.com/FilmfareAwards.pdf |title=1st Filmfare Awards 1953 |access-date=13 December 2007 |archive-date=12 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612065210/http://deep750.googlepages.com/FilmfareAwards.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1961, she appeared as Sita, in [[Babubhai Mistry]]'s ''[[Sampoorna Ramayana]]'', which made her a household name.<ref>{{cite news |title=Anita Guha dead |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200706201550.htm |work=The Hindu |date=20 June 2007 |location=Chennai, India |access-date=14 December 2012 }}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

But it was her title role in ''[[Jai Santoshi Maa]]'' (1975) that brought her the most fame.<ref name=Cinestaan>{{cite web|last1=Kahlon|first1=Sukhpreet|title=Anita Guha, a different 'Maa' in Indian cinema – Death anniversary special|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2018/jun/20/13918/anita-guha-a-different-lsquo-maa-in-indian-cinema-ndash-death-anniversary-special|website=Cinestaan.com|access-date=20 Jun 2018|ref=Anita Guha|archive-date=25 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625161139/https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2018/jun/20/13918/anita-guha-a-different-lsquo-maa-in-indian-cinema-ndash-death-anniversary-special|url-status=live}}</ref> She had never even heard of goddess [[Santoshi]] until she was offered the role, as this was a little-known goddess. It was only a guest appearance, and her scenes were shot in 10–12 days. She fasted during the shooting.<ref>[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060609/asp/etc/story_6303377.asp The Telegraph - Calcutta : etc] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629025539/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060609/asp/etc/story_6303377.asp |date=29 June 2007 }} [[The Telegraph (Kolkata)]]</ref> The low-budget pic was a surprise hit, and broke box office records while becoming a cultural phenomenon. The goddess Santoshi now became a famous goddess, and women all over India worshipped her. People treated the movie theatres showing ''Jai Santoshi Maa'' as a temple, bringing offerings of food, leaving slippers at the door. Guha claimed that people came to her asking her to bless them, as they perceived her to be a real goddess. However, she never became a devotee of the goddess herself, claiming that she was a devotee of the goddess [[Kali]].<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/jun/02guha.htm On playing Santoshi Ma] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819184745/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/jun/02guha.htm |date=19 August 2007 }} [[Rediff.com]].</ref>

Other mythological films she acted in include ''Kavi Kalidas'' (1959), ''Jai Dwarkadesh'' (1977) and ''Krishna Krishna'' (1986). She wasn't happy that she became typecast as a mythological actress, because acting offers eventually stopped coming her way. Her earlier credits include period films such as ''[[Sangeet Samrat Tansen]]'' (1962), ''Kan Kan Mein Bhagwan'' (1963) and ''Veer Bhimsen'' (1964). She played [[Rajesh Khanna]]'s adoptive mother in the huge hit ''[[Aradhana (1969 film)|Aradhana]]'' (1969).

==Personal life==
She was married to actor [[Manik Dutt]]; they had no biological children. They adopted a girl child later . After her husband's death, she lived alone in [[Mumbai]] where she died of [[cardiac failure]] on 20 June 2007.
Anita Guha is the maternal aunt of actor [[Prema Narayan]]. Prema is the daughter of her sister Anuradha Guha.

==Filmography==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
|[[Bollywood films of 1953|1953]]
|''Bansher Kella''
|
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Bollywood films of 1955|1955]]
|''[[Tonga-wali]]''
|
|Debut
|-
|''Duniya Gol Hai''
|Devi Diya Kumari
|
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Bollywood films of 1956|1956]]
|''Yahudi Ki Beti''
|
|
|-
|''Ankh Ka Nasha''
|Asha Devi
|
|-
|''Chirakumar Sabha''
|
|
|-
|''Chhoo Mantar''
|Ratnavali
|
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[Bollywood films of 1957|1957]]
|''Harjit''
|
|
|-
|''Ustad''
|Mrs Rosy
|
|-
|''[[Sharada (1957 film)|Sharada]]''
|Padma
|
|-
|''Pawan Putra Hanuman''
|
|
|-
|''[[Gateway of India (1957 film)|Gateway of India]]''
|Kishore's Girlfriend
|
|-
|''Ek Jhalak''
|
|
|-
|''[[Dekh Kabira Roya]]''
|Rekha
|
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[Bollywood films of 1958|1958]]
|''Kal Kya Hoga''
|
|
|-
|''Lukochuri''
|
|
|-
|'' Stand''
|
|
|-
|''[[Mayabazar]]''
|Surekha
|
|-
|''[[Farishta (film)|Farishta]]''
|Bagga's Daughter
|
|-
|''Bhala Aadmi''
|
|
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[Bollywood films of 1959|1959]]
|''Tipu Sultan''
|
|
|-
|''Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan''
|Karnataki
|Raj Nartaki
|-
|''Maharani Padmini''
|
|
|-
|''Pyar Ki Rahen''
|
|
|-
|''Kavi Kalidas''
|Pushpavali
|
|-
|''[[Goonj Uthi Shehnai]]''
|Ramkali
|Nominated for [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting #List of winners|Filmfare Award for Best Supporting ]]
|-
|''Chacha Zindabad''
|Renu
|
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Bollywood films of 1960|1960]]
|''Rikshawala''
|
|
|-
|''Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh''
|Anita Singh
|
|-
|''[[Angulimaal (film)|Angulimaal]]''
|Guru Mata
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Bollywood films of 1961|1961]]
|''Sanjog''
|Laali
|
|-
|''[[Sampoorna Ramayana]]''
|Seeta
|
|-
|[[Bollywood films of 1962|1962]]
|''[[Sangeet Samrat Tansen]]''
|Hansa
|Love interest of Tansen
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Bollywood films of 1963|1963]]
|''Naag Jyoti''
|
|
|-
|''Kan Kan Men Bhagwan''
|Roopa
|
|-
|''Dev Kanya''
|
|
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Bollywood films of 1964|1964]]
|''Veer Bhimsen''
|
|
|-
|''Roop Sundari''
|
|
|-
|''Mahasati Anusuya''
|
|
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[Bollywood films of 1965|1965]]
|''Shahi Raqasa''
|
|
|-
|''Sant Tukaram''
|
|
|-
|''Shree Ram Bharat Milan''
|Sita
|
|-
|''Shankar Sita Ansuya''
|Sita
|
|-
|''Sati Nari''
|Rajkumari Malavati
|
|-
|''[[Purnima (1965 film)|Purnima]]''
|Vandana Mehra
|
|-
|''Maharaja Vikram''
|
|
|-
|''Jahan Sati Wahan Bhagwan''
|Mandakini / Gandharv Kanya
|
|-
|[[Bollywood films of 1966|1966]]
|''Lab Kush''
|
|
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Bollywood films of 1969|1969]]
|''Hanuman Chalisa''
|
|
|-
|''[[Aradhana (1969 film)|Aradhana]]''
|Foster mother of Suraj
|Credited as Anita Dutt
|-
|''Sati Sulochana''
|Naagkumari Sulochana
|
|-
|[[Bollywood films of 1971|1971]]
|''[[Tulsi Vivah (film)|Tulsi Vivah]]''
|Goddess Lakshmi
|
|-
|[[Bollywood films of 1972|1972]]
|''[[Anuraag (1972 film)|Anuraag]]''
|Rajesh's mother
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Bollywood films of 1973|1973]]
|''Jhoom Utha Akash''
|
|
|-
|''Gharibi Hatao''
|
|
|-
|[[Bollywood films of 1974|1974]]
|''Jab Andhera Hota Hai''
|Mrs. Manorama Bhardwaj
|
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Bollywood films of 1975|1975]]
|''Mahapavan Teerth Yatra''
|
|
|-
|''[[Jai Santoshi Maa]]''
|Goddess Santoshi
|Popular & Memorable role
|-
|''Biwi Kiraya Ki''
|
|
|-
|''Badnaam''
|
|
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Bollywood films of 1976|1976]]
|''Ladki Bholi Bhali''
|Raju's Mother
|
|-
|''[[Nagin (1976 film)|Nagin]]''
|Sunita's Sister
|
|-
|''Jai Mahalaxmi Maa''
|
|
|-
|''[[Do Khiladi]]''
|Mamta Singh
|
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Bollywood films of 1977|1977]]
|''[[Anand Ashram]]''
|Chandramukhi
|
|-
|''Solah Shukrawar''
|Kaushalya
|
|-
|''Jai Dwarkadheesh''
|Revati
|
|-
|''Jai Ambe Maa''
|
|
|-
|[[Bollywood films of 1978|1978]]
|''[[Tumhare Liye]]''
|Sheela devi
|
|-
|[[Bollywood films of 1979|1979]]
|''Guru Ho Jaa Shuru''
|Sheela's mom
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Bollywood films of 1981|1981]]
|''Sampoorna Santoshi Maa Ki Mahima''
|
|
|-
|''[[Fiffty Fiffty]]''
|Ranimaa
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Bollywood films of 1983|1983]]
|''Navaratri''
|
|
|-
|''Sati Naag Kanya''
|Sati Anasuya
|
|-
|[[Bollywood films of 1984|1984]]
|''Prarthana''
|
|
|-
|[[Bollywood films of 1986|1986]]
|''[[Krishna-Krishna]]''
|Revati
|
|-
|[[Bollywood films of 1989|1989]]
|''Socha Na Tha''
|
|
|-
|[[Bollywood films of 1991|1991]]
|''Lakhpati''
|Rambha
|(final film role)
|}

==Awards and nominations==
* 1960: [[Filmfare Award]]
** [[Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award]]: ''[[Goonj Uthi Shehnai]]'': ''Nominated''

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0346616}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Guha, Anita}}
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses from Mumbai]]
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:Bengali actresses]]

Anita Guha - Revision history

>Missvain at 21:06, 7 May 2021