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{{short description|Indian actress}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Leela Mishra
|image = Leela Mishra.jpg
|caption = Leela Mishra in ''[[Pyaasa]]'' (1957)
|birth_name =
|birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1908|01|01}}
|birth_place = [[Jais]], [[United Provinces of Agra and Oudh]], [[British Raj|British India]] (present-day [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]])
|death_date ={{Death date and age|df=yes|1988|01|17|1908|01|01}}
|death_place = [[Mumbai|Bombay]], [[Maharashtra]], India (present-day [[Mumbai]])
|spouse = Ram Prasad Misra
|other_names = Leela Misra
|known_for = ''Mausi'' in ''[[Sholay]]'' (1975)
|years_active= 1936–1986
|occupation = actress
}}

'''Leela Mishra''' (1 January 1908<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.kino-teatr.ru/kino/acter/w/asia/83368/bio/ | title=Лила Мишра }}</ref> – 17 January 1988) was an Indian actress. She worked as a [[character actor]] in over 200 [[Hindi film]]s for five decades, and is best remembered for playing [[stock character]]s such as [[aunt]]s (''Chachi'' or ''Mausi''). She is best known for her role of "mausi" in the blockbuster ''[[Sholay]]'' (1975), ''Dil Se Mile Dil'' (1978), ''[[Baton Baton Mein]]'' (1979), [[Rajesh Khanna]] films such as ''[[Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein]]'', [[Maa Ka Aanchal|''Aanchal'']], ''[[Mehbooba (1976 film)|Mehbooba]]'', ''[[Amar Prem]]'' and [[Rajshri Productions]] hits such as ''[[Geet Gaata Chal]]'' (1975), ''[[Nadiya Ke Paar (1982 film)|Nadiya Ke Paar]]'' (1982) and ''[[Abodh]]'' (1984).<ref>{{cite news |title=10 things we miss in Bollywood |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/10-things-we-miss-in-Bollywood/articleshow/5830876.cms?referral=PM |publisher=[[The Times of India]] |work=[[Mumbai Mirror]] |author=Vishwas Kulkarni |date=19 April 2010}} Retrieved 10 September 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2009-04-22/news/27660384_1_wheel-fena-ads |title=A dekho at the Iconic ads over the years |work=[[The Economic Times|Economic Times]] |date=22 April 2009}} Retrieved 10 September 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Representing religion in world cinema: filmmaking, mythmaking, culture making |author=S. Brent Plate |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2003 |isbn=1-4039-6051-8 |page=28 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tQGc8oHH5fkC&q=%22Leela+Mishra%22+-inpublisher%3Aicon&pg=PA28}}</ref> Her career's best performance was in ''Naani Maa'' in 1981, for which she received Best Actress award at the age of 73.

==Personal life==
Leela Mishra was married to Ram Prasad Mishra, who was a character artist, then working in silent films. She got married at the very young age of 12. By the time she was 17, she had two daughters. She hailed from [[Jais]], [[Raebareli]], and she and her husband were from ''zamindar'' (landowners) families.<ref name="CITEREFCinePlot">{{cite web |url=http://cineplot.com/leela-misra-interview/ |title=Leela Mishra interview on Cineplot.com |access-date=26 March 2014}}</ref>

==Career==
Leela Mishra was discovered by a man called Mama Shinde, who was working for [[Dadasaheb Phalke]]'s Nasik Cinetone. He persuaded her husband to make her work in films. During those days there was a severe scarcity of women actors in films; this was evident in the paychecks that the Mishras received when they went to [[Nasik]] for the shooting. While Ram Prasad Mishra was hired on a salary of Rs. 150 per month, Leela Mishra was offered Rs. 500 per month. However, as they fared poorly in front of the camera, their contracts were cancelled.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

The next opportunity that came their way was an offer to work in the movie ''Bhikarin'', which was being produced by a company owned by the [[Maharaja]] of [[Kolhapur]]. However, Leela Mishra lost out on this opportunity too, as the role required her to put her arms round the actor (who was not her husband) while delivering a dialogue, which she point-blank refused to do.

She faced a similar problem while working in another film titled ''Honhaar''. She was cast opposite Shahu Modak as a heroine, and was supposed to hug and embrace him, which she again refused steadfastly. Since the company was legally in a weak position, they couldn't turn her out of the film, which proved to be a blessing in disguise for her. She was offered Modak's mother's role in the film and it clicked instantly. This opened the doors for her to play mother roles at the young age of 18.<ref name="CITEREFCinePlot"/>

==Notable works==
Early on in her career she acted in notable films such as the musical hit ''[[Anmol Ghadi]]'' (1946), [[Raj Kapoor]]'s ''[[Awaara]]'' (1951) and [[Nargis]]-[[Balraj Sahni]] starrer ''[[Lajwanti]]'' (1958), which was nominated for the [[Palme d'Or]] for Best Film at [[1959 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/3435/year/1959.html |title=Festival de Cannes: Lajwanti |access-date=14 February 2009 |work=festival-cannes.com}}</ref>

She acted in the first [[Bhojpuri film]], ''[[Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo]]'' (1962), which also starred [[Kumkum (actress)|Kumkum]], [[Helen (actress)|Helen]] and [[Nazir Hussain]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Strong at 50, Bhojpuri cinema celebrates |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/strong-at-50-bhojpuri-cinema-celebrates/749762/0 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=14 February 2011 |access-date=10 September 2011}}</ref><ref name=ndtv>{{cite news |title=First Bhojpuri Film To Be Screened During Bihar Divas |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/regional/first-bhojpuri-film-to-be-screened-during-bihar-divas-599019 |publisher=[[NDTV]] Movies |date=17 March 2011 |access-date=3 April 2016}}</ref>

Her roles varied from mothers, benign or evil aunts, to comic roles.

==Death==
She died of a heart attack in Bombay on 17 January 1988 at the age of 80.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

==Partial filmography==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
*''[[Chitralekha (1941 film)|Chitralekha]]'' (1941): Nandrekar, Mehtaab Bano, A.S.Gyani, Monica Desai, Leela Mishra, Ram Dulai, Ganpatrai Premi, Bharat Bhushan
*''[[Anmol Ghadi]]'' (1946): Surendra, Noorjehan, Suraiya, Zahoor Raja, Leela Mishra, Murad
*''Elan'' (1947): Surendra, Munawar Sultana, Mohd. Afzal, Zebunissa, Leela Mishra, Shah Nawaz, Reehan, W.M. Khan, Shaheeda, Rita
*''[[Rambaan]]'' (1948): Shobhana Samarth, Prem Adib, Chandra Mohan
*[[Daulat (1949 film)|Daulat]] (1949):Mahipal,Madhubala,Jankidas
*''[[Sheesh Mahal (1950 film)|Sheesh Mahal]]'' (1950): Sohrab Modi, Naseem Banu, Mubarak, Pran, Nigar Sultana, Leela Mishra
*''[[Aaram (film)|Aaram]]'' (1951): Dev Anand, Madhubala, Premnath, Durgabai, Leela Mishra
*''[[Awaara]]'' (1951): Prithviraj Kapoor, Leela Chitnis, Raj Kapoor, Nargis, Premnath, Nimmi, Leela Mishra
*''[[Daag (1952 film)]]'' - as Jagat's wife (Dilip kumar's neighbour) Dilip Kumar, Nimmi, Usha Kiran, Kanhaiyalal, Leela Mishra
*''[[Aandhiyan (1952 film)|Aandhiyan]]'' (1952): Dev Anand, Nimmi, Shyama, Leela Mishra
*''[[Shikast]]'' (1953): Dilip Kumar, Nalini Jaywant, Leela Mishra
*''[[Ladki]]'' (1953) as Mrs. Hazurdas
*''[[Pyaasa]]'' (1957): Guru Dutt, Mala Sinha, Johnny Walker, Leela Mishra
*''[[Sahara (1958 film)|Sahara]]'' (1958)
*''[[Lajwanti]]'' (1958)
*''Santan'' (1959) : Rajendra Kumar, Kamini Kadam
*''[[College Girl (1960 film)|College Girl]]'' (1960): Shammi Kapoor
*''Suhaag Sindoor'' (1961): Manoj Kumar, Mala Sinha, Leela Mishra
*''[[Ummeed (1962 film)|Ummeed]]'' (1962)
*''[[Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo]]'' (1962) Bhojpuri film
*''[[Ghar Basake Dekho]]'' (1963) as Kashi, Ganga's mother
*''[[Leader (1964 film)|Leader]]'' (1964)
*''[[Dosti]]'' (1964)
*''[[Chhoti Chhoti Baten]]'' (1965)
*''[[Raat Aur Din]]'' (1967)
*''[[Ram Aur Shyam]]''(1967) as Shyam's mother
*''[[Majhli Didi]]'' (1967)
*''[[Bahu Begum]]'' (1967) as Kareeman Bua
*''[[Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke (1969 film)|Dharti Kahe Pukarke]]'' (1969)
*''[[Tumse Achha Kaun Hai]]'' (1969)
*''[[Suhana Safar]]'' (1970)
*''[[Dushman (1971 film)|Dushman]]'' (1971)
*''[[Lal Patthar]]'' (1971)
*''[[Amar Prem]]'' (1971)
*''[[Albela (1971 film)|Albela]]'' (1971)
*''[[Mere Apne]]'' (1971)
*''[[Parichay (film)|Parichay]]'' (1972)
Samadhi(1972)
*''[[Annadata (1972 film)|Annadata]]'' (1972)
*''[[Saudagar (1973 film)|Saudagar]]'' (1973) as Badi Bi
*''[[Honeymoon (1973 film)|Honeymoon]]'' (1973)
*''[[Bada Kabutar]]'' (1973)
*''[[Maa Ka Aanchal]]'' (1975)
*''[[Jai Santoshi Maa]]'' (1975): Kanan Kaushal, Leela Mishra
*''[[Sholay]]'' (1975): Sanjeev kumar, Amitabh, Jaya, Dharam, Hema, Leela Mishra, Amjad Khan, A.K. Hangal, Sachin
*''[[Geet Gaata Chal]]'' (1975): [[Sachin Pilgaonkar]], [[Sarika]], [[Urmila Bhatt]], Leela Mishra
*''[[Khushboo (1975 film)|Khushboo]]'' (1975): [[Jeetendra]] , [[Hema Malini]]
*''[[Bairaag]]'' (1976) [[Dilip Kumar]], [[Leena Chandavarkar]]
*''[[Mehbooba (1976 film)|Mehbooba]]'' (1976)
*''Phool aur Insaan'' (1976)
*''[[Paheli (1977 film)|Paheli]]'' (1977)
*''[[Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein]]'' (1977)
*''[[Kinara (film)|Kinara]]'' (1977)
*''[[Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaaye]]'' (1977)
*''[[Shatranj ke Khilari]]'' (1977):<ref>{{cite news |title=Leela Mishra |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/1023694/Leela-Mishra/filmography |archive-date=6 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506063228/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/1023694/Leela-Mishra/filmography |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2014 |url-status=dead}} Retrieved 10 September 2011.</ref> Sanjeev Kumar
*''[[Nasbandi]]'' (1978)
*''[[Sunayana]]'' (1979)
*''[[Sawan Ko Aane Do]]'' (1979)
*''[[Sargam (1979 film)|Sargam]]''
*''[[Baton Baton Mein]]'' (1979) [[Amol Palekar]], [[Tina Munim]]
*''Nani Maa'' 1981 - Best Actress and Best Comedy Diploma Award – Moscow Film festival – India – 1981
*''Daasi'' (1981)
*''[[Chashme Buddoor (1981 film)|Chashme Buddoor]]'' (1981), [[Farooq Sheikh]], [[Deepti Naval]]
*''[[Aamne Samne (1982 film)|Aamne Samne]]'' (1982)
*''[[Katha (1983 film)|Katha]]'' (1983) [[Naseeruddin Shah]], [[Farooq Sheikh]], [[Deepti Naval]]
*''[[Sadma]]'' (1983) [[Kamal Hasan]], [[Sridevi]]
*''[[Abodh]]'' (1984) [[Madhuri Dixit]], [[Tapas Paul]]
*''[[Prem Rog]]'' (1985) [[Rishi Kapoor]], [[Padmini Kolhapure]]
*''[[Tan-Badan]]'' (1986) [[Govinda]] , [[Khushbu]]
*''[[Veerana]]'' (1988) [[Hemant Birje]], [[Sahila Chaddha]]
*''[[Zakhmi Aurat]] (1988) [[Raj Babbar]], [[Dimple Kapadia]]
*''[[Daata]]'' (1989) [[Mithun Chakraborty]], [[Padmini Kolhapure]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0592789}}
*[http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrities/filmography/9008/index.html Leela Mishra] at ''[[Bollywood Hungama]]''
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130614002201/http://www.upperstall.com/people/leela-mishra Leela Mishra Filmography] at [[Upperstall]]

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mishra, Leela}}
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:1988 deaths]]
[[Category:People of British India]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Bhojpuri cinema]]
[[Category:People from Amethi district]]
[[Category:1908 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]

Leela Mishra - Revision history

UpdateBot at 01:06, 7 May 2022