Sushma Seth

Sushma Seth (born 20 June 1936) is an Indian stage, film and television actress. She started her career in the 1950s, and was a founder member of the Delhi-based theatre group Yatrik. Her first film was Junoon in 1978. She is known for playing a mother and grandmother role in movies and on television, and notable for her role as Dadi in the pioneering TV soap Hum Log (1984–1985). She received a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Ameena Bai in B. R. Chopra's drama Tawaif. She has worked with famous directors like Dev Raj Ankur, Ram Gopal Bajaj, Manish Joshi Bismil and Chander Shekhar Sharma.

Early and personal life Brought up in Delhi she completed her schooling at Convent of Jesus and Mary, New Delhi. Thereafter Sushma did a teachers training diploma in home science, Lady Irwin College, New Delhi, Associate in Science diploma, Briarcliff College, New York, and later, Bachelor of Fine Arts, from Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, United States.

Sushma Seth and her husband, businessman Dhruv Seth, have three children. Among them is actress Divya Seth, who acted alongside her mother in Hum Log and Dekh Bhai Dekh.

Career

Seth started her career on stage in the 1950s. With Joy Michael, Rati Bartholomew, Roshan Seth and others, she was one of the founders of the Delhi-based theatre group Yatrik in 1964. In addition to acting, she has directed many plays.

She made her big screen debut with Shyam Benegal's 1978 period film Junoon, in which she played Shashi Kapoor's aunt. She has starred in some of the biggest hits in the Indian industry including Silsila, Prem Rog, Ram Teri Ganga Maili, Chandni, Deewana, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Kal Ho Naa Ho. She also appeared in the Punjabi film Chann Pardesi (1980).

She received a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Ameena Bai in B. R. Chopra's drama Tawaif (1985). She has played the mother and grandmother of many Bollywood performers including Rishi Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Shahrukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Anil Kapoor and Preity Zinta.

Seth appeared in the TV sitcom Dekh Bhai Dekh (1993), directed by Anand Mahendroo, where she played the matriarch of the Divan family. She has also worked with theatre directors like Ram Gopal Bajaj and Manish Joshi Bismil. She is notable for her performance on the TV soap Hum Log, telecast in the early 80s on Doordarshan, in which she played Daadi (the grandmother). Seth was so popular that her character, who was shown suffering from throat cancer, had to be extended on viewer's demand.

Since the early 2000s, Seth has been working with an NGO called Arpana, directing plays and dance dramas. She has written a play called Sitaron Ke Paas inspired by the life of astronaut Kalpana Chawla.

Filmography

Junoon (1978) as Javed's chachi Chann Pardesi (1980) as Jassi (Punjabi movie) Kalyug (1981) as Savitri Silsila (1981) Swami Dada (1982) as Seema's mom Prem Rog (1982) as Badi Maa Aparoopa (1982) as Rana's mother Romance (1983) as Mrs. Roy Naukar Biwi Ka (1983) as Sandhya's foster mom Salma (1985) as Mrs. Bakar Ali Khamosh (1985) as Leela Tawaif (1985) as Nadira Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985) as Naren's Grandmother Meraa Ghar Mere Bachche (1985) Wafadaar (1985) as Mrs. Namdev Faasle (1985) Alag Alag (1985) as Neeraj's mom Maa Kasam (1985) as Thakurain Palay Khan (1986) as Fatima Khalim Nagina (1986) as Rajiv's mother Kala Dhanda Goray Log (1986) as Mrs. Durga Janbaaz (1986) as Laxmi Singh Pyar Kiya Hai Pyar Karenge (1986) as Annapurnadevi Naache Mayuri (1986) Mard Ki Zabaan (1987) Khudgarz (1987) as Sita Sinha Avam (1987) as Durga Jagrathan Apne Apne (1987) as Mrs. Kapoor Dharamyudh (1988) as Kundan's mother Aurat Teri Yehi Kahani (1988) as Jamunabai Aakhri Adaalat (1988) as Mrs. Kaushal Hum Farishte Nahin (1988) as Supriya Waaris (1988) as Paro's mom Suryaa: An Awakening (1989) as Salma Khan Mitti Aur Sona (1989) as Mrs. Yashoda Bhushan Gharana (1989) as Shraddha Kasam Suhaag Ki (1989) Bade Ghar Ki Beti (1989) as Mrs. Din Dayal Toofan (1989) as Devyani Chandni (1989) as Mrs. Gupta Jawani Zindabad (1990) as Sharda Sharma Jaan-E-Wafa (1990) Amiri Garibi (1990) as Sona's Aunt Shankara (1991) as Rani Maa First Love Letter (1991) as Uma Devi Khoon Ka Karz (1991) as Savitri Devi Ajooba (1991) as Zarina Khan Do Matwale (1991) as Amar's Mother Maa as Heerabai Heer Ranjha (1992) as Heer's mom Suryavanshi (1992) as Rajmata Sarphira (1992) as Mrs. B.K. Sinha Inteha Pyar Ki (1992) as Mrs. Shankar Dayal Walia Deewana (1992) as Laxmi Devi Bol Radha Bol (1992) as Sumitra Malhotra Dil Aashna Hai (1992) as Mrs. Baig In Custody (1993) as Safiya Begum Pyaar Ka Tarana (1993) 1942: A Love Story (1993) as Gayatridevi Singh Tejasvini (1994) as grandma Daraar (1996) as Mrs. Malhotra Kareeb (1998) as Lata Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998) as Seema's mother Daag: The Fire (1999) as Dai Taal (1999) as Mrs. Mehta Chal Mere Bhai (2000) as Grandmother Dhadkan (2000) as Vibha Verma, Ram's stepmother Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke (2000) as Yogi's mom Shikari (2000) as Rajeshwari's mother Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya (2000) as Manisha's Mother Moksha: Salvation (2001) as Ritika's grandmother Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) as Kaur, Nandini's mother Tujhe Meri Kasam (2003) as grandmother Rasikan Re (2003) Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) as Lajoji Pal Pal Dil Ke Ssaat (2009) Student Of The Year (2012) Shaandaar (2015) Tamasha (2015) Noor (2017) Mehram (2018) as Noor Bibi, short film released on ZEE5

Television

Staying On (1980) as Codcod Menektara Hum Log (1984) as Dadi Dekh Bhai Dekh (1993) as Sarla Diwan Amma and Family (1995) as Ammi Miilee (2005) Kash-m-Kash Ret Par Likhe Naam Qaid Kaun Yeh Hui Na Baat Dard ka Rishta (2014) as Ganga Dindyal Sharma Alibaba Vansh Aradhana Tanha Zanjeerein Star Bestsellers Ret Par Likhe Naam Ret Par Likhe Naam