Mala Sinha
Mala Sinha (born Alda Sinha on 11 November 1936) is a former Indian actress whose distinguished career in Hindi and Bengali cinema spanned more than five decades. Celebrated for her poise, glamour and commanding screen presence, she emerged as one of the most successful leading ladies of the 1960s and 1970s. Often described as a “daring diva” and a torchbearer of women-centric cinema, she was widely admired for portraying strong, unconventional female characters in films considered ahead of their time. In recognition of her enduring contribution, she received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. Born to Christian Nepali parents who had migrated to West Bengal, she was the daughter of Albert Sinha. Originally named Alda, she adopted the screen name Baby Nazma as a child artiste before eventually becoming Mala Sinha. Trained in singing and dance, she was an approved singer with All India Radio and performed extensively on stage between 1947 and 1975, though she did not pursue playback singing in films. Sinha began her acting journey in Bengali cinema with films such as Jai Vaishno Devi (1948), Shri Krishan Leela (1949), Jog Biyog (1953) and Dhooli (1954). Discovered during a school play by director Ardhendu Bose, she made her debut as a heroine in Roshanara (1952). A move to Bombay proved decisive, where actress Geeta Bali introduced her to filmmaker Kidar Sharma, who cast her in Rangeen Ratein (1956). Although her early Hindi films achieved modest success, critical recognition followed with Hamlet (1954). Her major breakthrough came with Pyaasa (1957), directed by Guru Dutt, in which she portrayed an ambitious woman torn between love and security. The film remains a landmark in Indian cinema and marked a turning point in her career. She consolidated her stature with Phir Subah Hogi (1958) and Dhool Ka Phool (1959). Over the years, she starred in more than a hundred films, including Anpadh (1962), Gumrah (1963), Bahurani (1963), Himalay Ki God Mein (1965), Aasra (1966), Ankhen (1968), Do Kaliyan (1968) and Maryada (1971). Frequently cast opposite leading men such as Dev Anand, Dharmendra, Raaj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar and Rajesh Khanna, Sinha nonetheless retained a formidable screen identity, often receiving top billing. She ranked among the highest-paid actresses of her era and earned multiple nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, along with honours from the Bengal Film Journalists' Association. In 1966, she married Nepali actor Chidambar Prasad Lohani, whom she met while working on the Nepali film Maitighar (1966). The couple had one daughter, Pratibha Sinha. Lohani died in June 2024. Sinha's legacy endures as that of a pioneering star who expanded the scope and depth of female representation in mainstream Indian cinema.
Mala Sinha (born Alda Sinha on 11 November 1936) is a former Indian actress whose distinguished career in Hindi and Bengali cinema spanned more than five decades. Celebrated for her poise, glamour and commanding screen presence, she emerged as one of the most successful leading ladies of the 1960s and 1970s. Often described as a “daring diva” and a torchbearer of women-centric cinema, she was widely admired for portraying strong, unconventional female characters in films considered ahead of their time. In recognition of her enduring contribution, she received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. Born to Christian Nepali parents who had migrated to West Bengal, she was the daughter of Albert Sinha. Originally named Alda, she adopted the screen name Baby Nazma as a child artiste before eventually becoming Mala Sinha. Trained in singing and dance, she was an approved singer with All India Radio and performed extensively on stage between 1947 and 1975, though she did not pursue playback singing in films. Sinha began her acting journey in Bengali cinema with films such as Jai Vaishno Devi (1948), Shri Krishan Leela (1949), Jog Biyog (1953) and Dhooli (1954). Discovered during a school play by director Ardhendu Bose, she made her debut as a heroine in Roshanara (1952). A move to Bombay proved decisive, where actress Geeta Bali introduced her to filmmaker Kidar Sharma, who cast her in Rangeen Ratein (1956). Although her early Hindi films achieved modest success, critical recognition followed with Hamlet (1954). Her major breakthrough came with Pyaasa (1957), directed by Guru Dutt, in which she portrayed an ambitious woman torn between love and security. The film remains a landmark in Indian cinema and marked a turning point in her career. She consolidated her stature with Phir Subah Hogi (1958) and Dhool Ka Phool (1959). Over the years, she starred in more than a hundred films, including Anpadh (1962), Gumrah (1963), Bahurani (1963), Himalay Ki God Mein (1965), Aasra (1966), Ankhen (1968), Do Kaliyan (1968) and Maryada (1971). Frequently cast opposite leading men such as Dev Anand, Dharmendra, Raaj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar and Rajesh Khanna, Sinha nonetheless retained a formidable screen identity, often receiving top billing. She ranked among the highest-paid actresses of her era and earned multiple nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, along with honours from the Bengal Film Journalists' Association. In 1966, she married Nepali actor Chidambar Prasad Lohani, whom she met while working on the Nepali film Maitighar (1966). The couple had one daughter, Pratibha Sinha. Lohani died in June 2024. Sinha's legacy endures as that of a pioneering star who expanded the scope and depth of female representation in mainstream Indian cinema.
Mala Sinha (born Alda Sinha on 11 November 1936) is a former Indian actress whose distinguished career in Hindi and Bengali cinema spanned more than five decades. Celebrated for her poise, glamour and commanding screen presence, she emerged as one of the most successful leading ladies of the 1960s and 1970s. Often described as a “daring diva” and a torchbearer of women-centric cinema, she was widely admired for portraying strong, unconventional female characters in films considered ahead of their time. In recognition of her enduring contribution, she received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
Born to Christian Nepali parents who had migrated to West Bengal, she was the daughter of Albert Sinha. Originally named Alda, she adopted the screen name Baby Nazma as a child artiste before eventually becoming Mala Sinha. Trained in singing and dance, she was an approved singer with All India Radio and performed extensively on stage between 1947 and 1975, though she did not pursue playback singing in films.
Sinha began her acting journey in Bengali cinema with films such as Jai Vaishno Devi (1948), Shri Krishan Leela (1949), Jog Biyog (1953) and Dhooli (1954). Discovered during a school play by director Ardhendu Bose, she made her debut as a heroine in Roshanara (1952). A move to Bombay proved decisive, where actress Geeta Bali introduced her to filmmaker Kidar Sharma, who cast her in Rangeen Ratein (1956).
Although her early Hindi films achieved modest success, critical recognition followed with Hamlet (1954). Her major breakthrough came with Pyaasa (1957), directed by Guru Dutt, in which she portrayed an ambitious woman torn between love and security. The film remains a landmark in Indian cinema and marked a turning point in her career. She consolidated her stature with Phir Subah Hogi (1958) and Dhool Ka Phool (1959). Over the years, she starred in more than a hundred films, including Anpadh (1962), Gumrah (1963), Bahurani (1963), Himalay Ki God Mein (1965), Aasra (1966), Ankhen (1968), Do Kaliyan (1968) and Maryada (1971).
Frequently cast opposite leading men such as Dev Anand, Dharmendra, Raaj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar and Rajesh Khanna, Sinha nonetheless retained a formidable screen identity, often receiving top billing. She ranked among the highest-paid actresses of her era and earned multiple nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, along with honours from the Bengal Film Journalists' Association.
In 1966, she married Nepali actor Chidambar Prasad Lohani, whom she met while working on the Nepali film Maitighar (1966). The couple had one daughter, Pratibha Sinha. Lohani died in June 2024. Sinha's legacy endures as that of a pioneering star who expanded the scope and depth of female representation in mainstream Indian cinema.
Introduction
Filmography
Hamlet | Hindi | Actor
Booklet
Badshah | Hindi | Actor
Booklet
Ekadashi | Hindi | Actor
Booklet
Riyasat | Hindi | Actor
Booklet
Paisa Hi Paisa | Hindi | Actor
Booklet
Rangeen Raten | Hindi | Actor
Booklet
Apradhi Kaun | Hindi | Actor
Feature | Fiction | Black and White | Booklet
Ek Gaon Ki Kahani | Hindi | Actor
Booklet
Fashion | Hindi | Actor
Booklet
Lal Batti | Hindi | Actor
Feature | Fiction | Black and White | Booklet
Sahu, Kishore (Director), Hamlet, 1954 | Photographic Still
Chakravarty, Amiya (Producer), Badshah, 1954 | Song-Synopsis Booklet
Arora, M.L. (Producer), Ekadashi, 1955 | Song-Synopsis Booklet
Research Centre
Sort By | Year (ASC)
Chakravarty, Amiya (Producer), Badshah, 1954 | Song-Synopsis Booklet
Chakravarty, Amiya (Producer), Badshah, 1954 | Lobby Card
Chakravarty, Amiya (Producer), Badshah, 1954 | Lobby Card
Chakravarty, Amiya (Producer), Badshah, 1954 | Lobby Card
Chakravarty, Amiya (Producer), Badshah, 1954 | Lobby Card
Sahu, Kishore (Director), Hamlet, 1954 | Photographic Still
Sahu, Kishore (Director), Hamlet, 1954 | Photographic Still
Arora, M.L. (Producer), Ekadashi, 1955 | Song-Synopsis Booklet
Jain, J.C. (Editor). Filmfare, 21 January 1955 | Magazine | 00793168
Jain, J.C. (Editor). Filmfare, 21 January 1955 | Magazine | 00793168
Jhaveri, Jaswant (Director), Riyasat, 1955 | Lobby Card
Arora, M.L. (Producer), Ekadashi, 1955 | Lobby Card
Arora, M.L. (Producer), Ekadashi, 1955 | Lobby Card
Arora, M.L. (Producer), Ekadashi, 1955 | Lobby Card
Arora, M.L. (Producer), Ekadashi, 1955 | Full Sheet Poster
Arora, M.L. (Producer), Ekadashi, 1955 | Half Sheet Poster
Jhaveri, Jaswant (Director), Riyasat, 1955 | Photographic Still
Jhaveri, Jaswant (Director), Riyasat, 1955 | Photographic Still
Jhaveri, Jaswant (Director), Riyasat, 1955 | Photographic Still
Jhaveri, Jaswant (Director), Riyasat, 1955 | Photographic Still
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Jain, J.C. (Editor). Filmfare, 21 January 1955 | Magazine | 00793168
Jain, J.C. (Editor). Filmfare, 21 January 1955 | Magazine | 00793168
Patel, Baburao (Editor). Filmindia, January 1958 | Magazine | 00796678
Patel, Baburao (Editor). Filmindia, January 1958 | Magazine | 00796678
Patel, Baburao (Editor). Filmindia, July 1958 | Magazine | 00796684
Patel, Baburao (Editor). Filmindia, July 1958 | Magazine | 00796684
Rao, L.P. (Editor). Filmfare, 09 October 1959 | Magazine | 00793243
Mandy, C.R. (Editor). Filmfare, 27 February 1959 | Magazine | 00793230
Rao, L.P. (Editor). Filmfare, 03 June 1960 | Magazine | 00793250
Karanjia, B.K. (Editor). Filmfare, 27 December 1963 | Magazine | 00793289
Karanjia, B.K. (Editor). Filmfare, 09 July 1965 | Magazine | 00793309
Karanjia, B.K. (Editor). Filmfare, 16 April 1965 | Magazine | 00793303
Karanjia, B.K. (Editor). Filmfare, 04 March 1966 | Magazine | 00793326
Ewing, Gulshan (Editor). Star & Style, 15 December 1966 | Magazine | 00808423
Ewing, Gulshan (Editor). Star & Style, 15 December 1966 | Magazine | 00808423
Rao, L.P. (Editor), Maqbool Hosh Yar Jung and Devyani Chaubal (Editorial Assistant). Star & Style, 1 January 1966 | Magazine | 00808402
Rao, L.P. (Editor), Maqbool Hosh Yar Jung and Devyani Chaubal (Editorial Assistant). Star & Style, 1 January 1966 | Magazine | 00808402
Karanjia, B.K. (Editor). Filmfare, 05 January 1968 | Magazine | 00793371
Karanjia, B.K. (Editor). Filmfare, 29 August 1969 | Magazine | 00793409
Karanjia, B.K. (Editor). Filmfare, 11 September 1970 | Magazine | 00793436
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Chakravarty, Amiya (Producer), Badshah, 1954 | Song-Synopsis Booklet
Chakravarty, Amiya (Producer), Badshah, 1954 | Lobby Card
Chakravarty, Amiya (Producer), Badshah, 1954 | Lobby Card
Chakravarty, Amiya (Producer), Badshah, 1954 | Lobby Card
Chakravarty, Amiya (Producer), Badshah, 1954 | Lobby Card
Sahu, Kishore (Director), Hamlet, 1954 | Photographic Still
Sahu, Kishore (Director), Hamlet, 1954 | Photographic Still
Arora, M.L. (Producer), Ekadashi, 1955 | Song-Synopsis Booklet
Jhaveri, Jaswant (Director), Riyasat, 1955 | Lobby Card
Arora, M.L. (Producer), Ekadashi, 1955 | Lobby Card
Arora, M.L. (Producer), Ekadashi, 1955 | Lobby Card
Arora, M.L. (Producer), Ekadashi, 1955 | Lobby Card
Arora, M.L. (Producer), Ekadashi, 1955 | Full Sheet Poster
Arora, M.L. (Producer), Ekadashi, 1955 | Half Sheet Poster
Jhaveri, Jaswant (Director), Riyasat, 1955 | Photographic Still
Jhaveri, Jaswant (Director), Riyasat, 1955 | Photographic Still
Jhaveri, Jaswant (Director), Riyasat, 1955 | Photographic Still
Jhaveri, Jaswant (Director), Riyasat, 1955 | Photographic Still
Mehrish (Director), Paisa Hi Paisa, 1956 | Song-Synopsis Booklet
Sharma, Kidar (Director), Rangeen Raten, 1956 | Song-Synopsis Booklet
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Chakravarty, Amiya (Producer), Badshah, 1954 | Song-Synopsis Booklet
Dutt, Guru (Producer), Pyaasa, 1957 | Song-Synopsis Booklet
Shah, Mahipatray (Producer), Parvarish, 1958 | Song-Synopsis Booklet
Saigal, Naresh (Director), Main Nashe Men Hoon, 1959 | Song-Synopsis Booklet
Chopra, B.R. (Producer), Dhool Ka Phool, 1959 | Full Sheet Poster
Chopra, B.R. (Producer), Dhool Ka Phool, 1959 | Cyclostyled Lyrics Leaflet
Chopra, B.R. (Producer), Dharmputra, 1961 | Song-Synopsis Booklet
Desai, Chandrakant (Producer), Suhag Sindoor, 1961 | Song-Synopsis Booklet
Narang, S.D. (Producer), Bombay Ka Chor, 1962 | Song-Synopsis Booklet
Srinivasan, A.L. (Producer), Suhagan, 1964 | Song-Synopsis Booklet
Saigal, Naresh (Producer), Jab Yaad Kisi Ki Aati Hai, 1967 | Song-Synopsis Booklet
Sagar, Ramanand (Producer), Aankhen, 1968 | Song-Synopsis Booklet
Roshan, G.M. (Producer), Chahat, 1971 | Song-Synopsis Booklet
Tilak, Raj (Producer), 36 Ghante, 1974 | Song-Synopsis Booklet
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