Aruna Irani

Aruna Irani (born 18 August 1946) is an Indian actress, who has acted in over 500 films throughout Hindi, Kannada, Punjabi, Marathi and Gujarati cinema, playing mostly supporting and character roles. She received two Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actress for Pet Pyaar Aur Paap and Beta (1992), and holds the record for the most nominations in the category (10). In January 2012, Irani received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award at the 57th Filmfare Awards.

Early life

Aruna was born in Mumbai, India to an Irani father and a Hindu mother. Her father, Faredun Irani, ran a drama troupe, and her mother, Saguna, was an actress. She is the eldest of eight siblings.

She aspired to become a doctor, but had to discontinue her studies after the sixth standard due to financial constraints.

She later stated that she learned dancing while working in films, as she could not afford formal training.

Her brothers Indra Kumar, Adi Irani and Firoz Irani are associated with the film industry. Actresses Sarita Joshi and Bindu are her cousins.

Career Aruna Irani made her debut as a child artist in the film Ganga Jumna (1961) playing Azra's childhood character. She then acted in the film Anpadh (1962) as Mala Sinha's childhood character. She next did several small roles in films such as Jahanara (1964), Farz (1967), Upkar (1967) and Aaya Sawan Jhoomke (1969). She later acted with comedian Mehmood in films such as Aulad (1968), Humjoli (1970), Devi (1970) and Naya Zamana (1971).

In 1971, she starred in Caravan, as a knife-thrower, earning her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. She later starred in Mehmood Ali's Bombay To Goa (1972), Garam Masala (1972) and Do Phool (1973). Her films have included Farz (1967), Bobby (1973), Fakira (1976), Sargam (1979), Red Rose (1980), Love Story (1981), and Rocky (1981), earning nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Bobby and Rocky. She also starred in Do Jhoot (1975) and Khoon Pasina (1977) which earned her two more nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.

After having lost the award five time, she won her first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Pet Pyaar Aur Paap (1984).

In the late 1980s and 1990s, Irani switched to playing motherly roles, notably in Beta (1992), for which she won her second Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. She earned two more nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performances in Suhaag (1994) and Kartavya (1995). She acted in the Kannada remake of the same film with the same role. Some of her Marathi films are Aandhla Marto Dola, Bhingari, Changu Mangu, Lapwa Chapvi, Ek Gadi Baki Anadi, Mitwaa and Bol Baby Bol.

She earned her record-setting tenth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Ghulam-E-Mustafa (1997).

In her later career, Irani also switched to television, performing character roles in various serials. She also took up direction and production of tele-serials such as Mehndi Tere Naam Ki, Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand, Rabba Ishq Na Hove, Vaidehi and more.

On 19 February 2012, she was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.

Personal life She married Bollywood film director Kuku Kohli in 1990. He died of heart attack on 25 August 2026.

Filmography

Television shows Year Show Character Notes 1995–1997 Zamana Badal Gaya Veena Lead 2001–2005 Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand Teji Also as a producer under AK Films 2000–2002 Mehndi Tere Naam Ki Sharada Jayant Malik 2003–2005 Tum Bin Jaaoon Kahaan Shalini Avinash Mathur 2005–2006 Zameen Se Aassman Tak Balraj's Mother 2005–2006 Rabba Ishq Na Hove Veera's Mother 2006 Vaidehi Sita 2006–2007 Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki Narayani Devi Balaji Telefilms2007 Maayka Durga Khurana 2007–2009 Babul Ki Bitiya Chali Doli Saja Ke Dadima Also as a producer under AK Films 2007–2009 Naaginn Maasa/ Triveni 2008 Saas v/s Bahu Judge 2009–2011 Jhansi Ki Rani Vahini Sahiba 2010–2011 Sanjog Se Bani Sangini Rajrani 2011–2012 Dekha Ek Khwaab Rajmata Mrinalini Devi Lead 2011–2012 Main Lakshmi Tere Aangan Ki Sharda Agnihotri 2012 Parichay — Nayee Zindagi Kay Sapno Ka Sulekha Diwan 2013–2014 Sanskaar - Dharohar Apno Ki Ansuya Vaishnav 2015–2016 Bhagyalakshmi Vasundhara Prajapati 2015 Uzalo Producer of AK Films Producer 2016 Saubhagyalakshmi Vasundhara Prajapati 2018 Porus The Oracle 2018–2019 Dastaan-E-Mohabbat Salim Anarkali Hamida Banu Begum (Mariam Makani) 2019 Dil Toh Happy Hai Ji Mrs Khosla 2019 Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai Herself

Awards and nominations

Film

Television