Dina Pathak

Dina Pathak (née Gandhi; 4 March 1922 – 11 October 2002) was an Indian actress and director of Gujarati theatre and also a film actor. She was an activist and President of the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW).

A doyenne of Hindi and Gujarati films as well as theatre, Dina Pathak acted in over 120 films in a career spanning over six decades. Her production Mena Gurjari in Bhavai folk theatre style, ran successfully for many years, and is now a part of its repertoire.

Her notable Gujarati films were Moti Ba, Malela Jeev and Bhavni Bhavai, while her well-known plays include Dinglegar, Doll's House, Vijan Sheni and Girish Karnad's Hayavadana, directed by Satyadev Dubey.

Early life Dina Pathak was born in Amreli, Gujarat on 4 March 1922. She was enamoured of fashion and films, and while a teenager, started acting in plays and won acclaim from critics. She attended and graduated from a college affiliated to the University of Bombay (Mumbai). Rasiklal Parikh trained her in acting while Shanti Bardhan taught her dancing. along with her elder sister Shanta Gandhi and younger sister Tarla Mehta; while in Mumbai, she had an important hand in reviving the Gujarati theatre there, along with fellow Gujarati actors like Kailash Pandya and Damini Mehta.

Career She created quite a stir with her plays in Gujarat in the 1940s. The audience queued up to watch her play the lead in Mena Gurjari, which is still one of the most popular Bhavais along with sister Shanta Gandhi's Jasma Odhan. In 1957, when she performed Mena Gurjari in front of then-President Dr. Rajendra Prasad at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in Delhi, it became the first and the only Gujarati play to have achieved the feat so far.

Although she made her film debut with a Gujarati film, Kariyawar (1948), she returned to theatre after acting in just one film. She continued playing to packed audience in plays by Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and Shanti Bardhan's Ballet troupe. Later she formed her own theatre group in Ahmedabad called "Natmandal", even today, she is remembered as a stalwart performer and a theatre activist at IPTA.

In her mid-40's, she made a comeback to films, two decades after her debut, with Basu Bhattacharya's Uski Kahani (1966), for which she won the Bengal Journalists Association Award. She made four films in the 1960s, including Hrishikesh Mukherjee's classic Satyakam (1969), Saat Hindustani (1969), starring Amitabh Bachchan in his debut role and the Merchant Ivory Productions, The Guru (1969). By the 1970s, she had become a favourite of art and commercial films alike, playing powerful motherly and grandmotherly roles. It was in these films that she became recognised as the Grand-Old-Mother of Hindi films.

Films that stand out in this era are Gulzar's Mausam (1975), for which she earned her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress, Kinara (1977) and Kitaab (1977), and sweet comedies like Basu Chatterjee's Chitchor (1976), Gharaonda (1977) and also in an art cinema classic, Shyam Benegal's Bhumika (1977), which saw her standing tall alongside another acting legend, Smita Patil, in her career's best performance.

Just as the 1970s ended, she was seen in the comedy classic, Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Gol Maal (1979), where she essayed the role of Kamala Shrivastava, a middle-aged woman who sportingly plays mother to Amol Palekar, who went on to direct her in his 1985 film, Ankahee. The next decade began with another career-best performance, as a stern disciplinarian matriarch in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Khoobsurat in (1980), closely followed by Bhavni Bhavai (1980). She earned two nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the former two films. In 1980, she was also awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. During the '80s, she also appeared on the popular TV series, Malgudi Days. In 1984, she appeared in A Passage to India. She gave powerful performances in Ketan Mehta's Mirch Masala (1985), Govind Nihalani's Tamas (1986) and once again she worked with Gulzar in Ijaazat (1987).

Perhaps her career's best came in another comedy when she appeared in Deepa Mehta's Bollywood/Hollywood (2002) for which she was nominated for Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 23rd Genie Awards. She was also portraying the role of Badi Maa in the cult show Khichadi (2002).

Personal life She married Baldev Pathak and had two daughters, actresses Ratna Pathak Shah (b. 1957), and Supriya Pathak Kapur (b. 1961).

Death She completed her last film, Pinjar (2003), but died before its release, of heart attack, following a prolonged illness, on 11 October 2002 in Bandra, Bombay.

Selected filmography

Kariyawar (1948) - Raju Uski Kahani (1966) The Guru (1969) - Jury member at U.P. Beauty Contest Saat Hindustani (1969) - Mrs. J. Nath Satyakam (1969) - Harbhajan's mother Sara Akash (1969) - Mrs. Thakur Holi Ayee Re (1970) - Jamuna Sachaa Jhutha (1970) - Insp Pradhan's Mother Devi (1970) - Dharam Das' Sister Jal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin Bijli (1971) - Rajmata Koshish (1972) - Durga (Aarti's Mother) Ranakdevi (1973) - Special Appearance Aap Ki Kasam (1974) - Sunita's Mother Avishkaar (1974) Charitraheen (1974) Mrig Trishna (1975) - Sandhya's maid Anari (1975) Sholay (1975) - Mausiji Chaitali (1975) - Chaitali's Aunt Mausam (1975) - Gangu Rani Sangat (1976) Lagaam (1976) - Bheema's mother Chitchor (1976) - Mrs. P. Choudhry Gher Gher Matina Chula (1977) Dream Girl (1977) - Ratnabai Bhumika (1977) - Mrs. Kale Vishwasghaat (1977) - Saroj Shankar Hussain (1977) - Gomti Paheli (1977) - Masterji's wife Kitaab (1977) - Babla's Mother Kinara (1977) Gharaonda (1977) - Guha's Mother Anurodh (1977) - Sushma Choudhary Aadmi Sadak Ka (1977) - Owner of Francis Hotel Badalte Rishtey (1978) - Mrs. Thakur Damaad (1978) - Mrs. Choudhary Bhookh (1978) - Mausi Nari Tu Narayani (1978) Chakravyuha (1978) Jeena Yahan (1979) Do Ladke Dono Kadke (1979) - Shantu (Ramu & Rani's mom) Gol Maal (1979) - Kamala Srivastav Meera (1979) - Mrs. Virendev Rathod 'Kunwarbai' Khandaan (1979) - Usha's mother Ahsaas (1979) Solva Sawan (1979) Bebus (1979) Khubsoorat (1980) - Nirmala Gupta Thodisi Bewafaii (1980) - Dr. Karuna's mom Humkadam (1980) - Mrs. Raghunath Gupta The Naxalites (1980) Saajan Mere Main Saajan Ki (1980) Bhavni Bhavai (1980) - Bhagat's wife Naram Garam (1981) - Bhavani's mother-in-law Biwi-O-Biwi (1981) - Col. Mangal Singh's mother Haqdaar (1981) Shama (1981) - Mehrunisa 'Poofi' Aapas Ki Baat (1981) - Mrs. Sinha Umrao Jaan (1981) - Husseini Sharada (1981) - Taradevi Sansani: The Sensation (1981) - Wilma Vaz Tumhare Bina (1982) - Nani (Seema's mom) Dil-E-Nadaan (1982) - Vikram's Mother Dil... Akhir Dil Hai (1982) - Shobha Desai Prem Rog (1982) - Radha's Mother-In-Law (uncredited) Lakshmi (1982) - Thakur-Vijay's Father Star (1982) - Mrs. Verma Yeh To Kamaal Ho Gaya (1982) - Durga Singh Arth (1982) - Kavita's Mother Vijeta (1982) - Angad's grandmother (Biji) Bheegi Palkein (1982) - Mrs. Acharya Arpan (1983) - Mrs. Verma Prem Tapasya (1983) - Naniji (Grandmother) Woh Saat Din (1983) - Savitri (Anand's Mom) Achha Bura (1983) - Rosy Sasural (1984) Bindiya Chamkegi (1984) - Jeevan's wife Asha Jyoti (1984) - Mangala Yaadgaar (1984) - Suresh's mom A Passage to India (1984) - Begum Hamidullah Yahan Wahan (1984) - Rajesh's Mother Sharara (1984) Rakta Bandhan (1984) - Chandan's mom Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho! (1984) Holi (1984) (uncredited) Meetha Zehar (1985) Ramkali (1985) - Ramkali's foster mom Balidaan (1985) - Vijay's Bua Sur Sangam (1985) - Kannu's Grandmother Jhoothi (1985) - Seema's mother Ankahee (1985) - Savitri Chaturvedi Shart (1986) - Jankibai Andheri Raat Mein Diya Tere Haath Mein (1986) - Mai Karamdaata (1986) - Govinda's mother Ek Chadar Maili Si (1986) - Jindhi Naache Mayuri (1986) - Mayuri's Grandmother Haathon Ki Lakeeren (1986) - Geeta's mom Ek Pal (1986) - Priyam's mother Angaaray (1986) - Vijay's mother Mirch Masala (1987) - Maanki, factory worker Raahee (1987) - Mrs. Kumar Ijaazat (1987) Mera Yaar Mera Dushman (1987) - Ashok's Mother Aulad (1987) - Savithri Anjaam khuda jaane (1988) Mohabbat Ke Dushman (1988) - Amijaan Yateem (1988) - Mrs. Yadav (uncredited) Tamas (1988, TV Series) Lathi (1988) Clerk (1989) - Kaushalya Hum Intezaar Karenge (1989) - Ravi's mother Kasam Jhoot Ki (1990) Sanam Bewafa (1991) - Fateh's Mom Khilaaf (1991) - Mrs. Singh Saudagar (1991) - Bir Singh's elder sister Pita (1991) Ghar Parivaar (1991) Antarnaad (1991) Kabhi Dhoop Kabhi Chhaon (1992) Yaad Rakhegi Duniya (1992) - Naina's paternal grandmother Aaj Ka Goonda Raaj (1992) - Grandmother Sunday (1993) Aaina (1993) - Grandmother Chor Aur Chaand (1993) - Dinkar's mom Phool (1993) - Dharamraaj's mom Meharbaan (1993) Jaagruti (1993) - Jugnu's Grandmother Aankhen (1993) - Grandmother Andaz (1994) - Dadi in Photo Frame Raja Babu (1994) - Bansi's Mother (uncredited) Eena Meena Deeka (1994) - Eena's mom Maidan-E-Jung (1995) - Buaji Zakhmi Sipahi (1995) - Shakti's Grandmother Sabse Bada Khiladi (1995) - Jamna's mom Yaraana (1995) - Durga Tarpan (1995) - Rammo Dushmani: A Violent Love Story (1995) - Buaji (Singh family) Yash (1996) - Daadima Aurat Aurat Aurat (1996) - Sita's chachi Mere Sapno Ki Rani (1997) - Rajnath's mom Pardes (1997) - Dadi Maa Zor: Never Underestimate the Force (1998) - Mrs. Singh Gharwali Baharwali (1998) - Dadi Maa Zulm-O-Sitam (1998) - Meena's Grandfather Himmatwala (1998) Silsila Hai Pyar Ka (1999) - Abhay's Grandmother Kartoos (1999) - Mini's Buaji Pyaar Koi Khel Nahin (1999) Badal (2000) - old lady Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya (2000) - Dodima Champion (2000) - Rajveer's Grandmother Aashiq (2001) - Dai Maa Tum Bin (2001) - Mrs. Shah Lajja (2001) - Bua Devdas (2002) - Badima Bollywood/Hollywood (2002) - Grandma ji Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai (2002) Border Hindustan Ka (2003) - 'Dadi' - Nargis' grandmother Pinjar (2003) - Rashid's aunt (final film role)

Television

Awards 1977 – Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Mausam 1980 – Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Gol Maal 1981 – Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Khubsoorat 2003 – Nominated – Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress for Bollywood/Hollywood