Tanuja

Tanuja Mukherjee (; born 23 September 1943), known mononymously as Tanuja , is an Indian actress who predominantly works in the Hindi film industry. Part of the Mukherjee-Samarth family, she is the daughter of actress Shobhna Samarth and producer Kumarsen Samarth, younger sister of actress Nutan and was married to filmmaker Shomu Mukherjee, with whom she has two daughters, actresses Kajol and Tanishaa. The recipient of a Filmfare Award, Tanuja is best known for her roles in the Hindi films like Memdidi, Chand Aur Suraj (1965), Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966), Jewel Thief (1967), Nai Roshni (1967), Jeene Ki Raah (1969), Haathi Mere Saathi (1971), Anubhav (1971), Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972), Do Chor (1972) as well as in Bengali films like Deya Neya (1963), Antony Firingee (1967), Teen Bhubaner Pare (1969), Pratham Kadam Phool (1970), Rajkumari (1970). Her pairings with actors Dharmendra, Rajesh Khanna, Uttam Kumar and Sanjeev Kumar were popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Personal life Tanuja was born on 23 September 1943 in a Marathi family to filmmaker Kumarsen Samarth and actress Shobhna Samarth. She has three sisters, including actress Nutan and one brother. Her grandmother, Rattan Bai, and cousin Nalini Jaywant were also actresses. Tanuja's parents parted amicably while she was still a child, and Shobhna became linked to actor Motilal. Shobhna produced debut films for Tanuja and her older sister, Nutan. Her two other sisters are; Chatura, an artist, and Reshma, and her brother is Jaideep, none of whom took to acting.

Tanuja married filmmaker Shomu Mukherjee in 1973. The couple has two daughters, actresses Kajol and Tanishaa. Kajol is married to actor Ajay Devgan. Shomu died on 10 April 2008 from a heart attack, aged 64. Filmmakers Joy, Deb and Ram are her brothers-in-law. She is the aunt of actors Mohnish Behl, Rani, and Sharbani, and director Ayan Mukherjee.

Career She started her film career with her older sister Nutan in Hamari Beti (1950) as Baby Tanuja. As an adult, she debuted in the film Chhabili (1960) which was directed by her mother, and had her sister Nutan, in the lead. The film that truly marked her transition to adult heroine was Hamari Yaad Aayegi (1961), directed by Kidar Sharma, who had earlier discovered Raj Kapoor, Madhubala and Geeta Bali.

Tanuja with her elder daughter Kajol (left) and younger daughter Tanishaa (right) at Esha Deol's wedding reception in 2012. One of her early films noted for her acting was Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966), directed by Shaheed Latif. Incidentally, it was Guru Dutt team's last offering, especially visible in the song "Woh Hanske Mile Humse" (believed to have been picturised while Guru Dutt was still alive) who worked hard to help her "tone down" her performance. The result was that the natural, spontaneous performer gave a highly restrained performance, which became the highlight of the film — as well of her career — as she moved to lead roles soon after. Tanuja received her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the spy film Jewel Thief (1967). Her next film was Izzat (1968) with Dharmendra. This was followed by a film with Jeetendra; Jeene Ki Raah (1969), an immediate and surprise hit. In the same year, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Paisa Ya Pyaar. After the success of Haathi Mere Saathi (1971), she acted in Door Ka Raahi, Mere Jeevan Saathi, Do Chor and Ek Baar Mooskura Do (1972), Kaam Chor, Yaarana, Khuddar, and Masoom. Some of the other films she has acted in are Pavitra Paapi, Bhoot Bangla, and Anubhav. Some of her Marathi films are Zaakol, Unad Maina and Pitruroon.

During the mid-1960s, Tanuja started a parallel career in Bengali movies in Kolkata, starting with Deya Neya (1963), where she was paired opposite Uttam Kumar. She followed it up with Antony Firingee (1967) and Rajkumari (1970). Tanuja had on-screen chemistry with Soumitra Chatterjee, with whom she made some films such as Teen Bhubaner Paare (1969) and Prothom Kadam Phool. Tanuja spoke her own lines in these Bengali films.

Afterwards, Tanuja retired from films for a number of years, but came back when her marriage ended. She was now offered supporting roles often starring former heroes. Her Pyar Ki Kahani hero Amitabh Bachchan had to call her "bhabhi" (sister-in-law) in Khud-Daar (1982). She also played a supporting role in Raj Kapoor's Prem Rog (1982). In 1986, she received an invitation from Sri Lanka to appear in the Sinhalese film Peralikarayo opposite to Vijaya Kumaratunga where she played the main role.

She then appeared in films such as Saathiya (2002), Rules: Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula (2003), and Khakee (2003) as a supporting actress. In 2008, Tanuja starred as a judge along with her daughter, Kajol, and son-in-law, Ajay Devgan on Zee TV's family dance series Rock-N-Roll Family. In 2013, Tanuja played a widow in the Marathi film Pitruroon made by Nitish Bharadwaj. For her role as a widow, Tanuja has tonsured her head to make her character look authentic.

Awards and nominations 1964 - Bengal Film Journalists Association Award for Best Supporting Actress (Hindi), Benazir (1964) 1968 - Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Jewel Thief 1970 - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Paisa Ya Pyaar 1981 - Nominated - Filmfare Awards East for Best Actress for Adalat o Ekti Meye 2013 - Best Actress Award for Marathi Movie Pitruroon at the 20th Life OK Screen Awards 2014 - Lifetime Achievement Honour at Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Award 2014 - Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award

Filmography Year Title Role Language Notes 1950 Hamari Beti Hindi 1952 Amber Hindi 1960 Chhabili Hindi Debut As Lead Actress 1961 Hamari Yaad Aayegi Manorama Hindi 1961 Mem-Didi Hindi 1963 Deya Neya Bengali 1963 Aaj Aur Kal Hindi 1964 Benazir Shahida Hindi 1965 Chand Aur Suraj Hindi 1965 Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal Hindi 1965 Bhoot Bungla Hindi 1966 Daadi Maa Hindi 1966 Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi Hindi 1966 Sannata Hindi 1967 Nai Roshni Hindi 1967 Jewel Thief Hindi 1967 Anthony Firingee Bengali 1967 Dushtu Projapoti Bengali 1967 Wahan Ke Log Hindi 1968 Sapnon Ka Saudagar Hindi 1968 Juaari Hindi 1968 Do Dooni Chaar Hindi 1968 Izzat Hindi 1969 Ek Masoom Hindi 1969 Jiyo Aur Jeene Do Hindi 1969 Teen Bhubaner Pare Bengali 1969 Oos Raat Ke Baad Hindi 1969 Paisa Ya Pyar Hindi 1969 Jeene Ki Raah Hindi 1969 Gustakhi Maaf Hindi 1969 Pita Putra Bengali 1970 Pavitra Paapi Hindi 1970 Priya Hindi 1970 Pratham Kadam Phool Bengali 1970 Rajkumari Bengali 1970 Bachpan Hindi 1971 Pyar Ki Kahani Hindi 1971 Preet Ki Dori Hindi 1971 Haathi Mere Saathi Hindi 1971 Ek Paheli Hindi 1971 Door Ka Raahi Hindi 1971 Anubhav Hindi 1971 Purani Pehchaan Hindi 1972 Mome Ki Gudiya Hindi 1972 Mere Jeevan Saathi Hindi 1972 Ek Baar Muskura Do Hindi 1972 Do Chor Hindi 1972 Aparna Bengali 1972 Chaitali Bengali 1973 Insaaf Hindi 1973 Nanha Shikari Hindi 1974 Imtihan Hindi 1974 Humshakal Hindi 1974 Amir Garib Hindi 1974 Hamrahi Hindi 1975 Aaja Sanam Hindi 1976 Malavpati Munj Gujarati 1977 Simana Periye Bengali Bangladeshi Bengali Film 1978 Swarag Narak Hindi 1978 Lalkuthi Bengali 1978 Nari Tu Narayani Hindi 1980 Thaliritta Kinakkal Malayalam 1980 Bandish Hindi 1980 Zaakol Marathi 1981 Yaarana Hindi 1981 Commander Hindi 1981 Adalat o Ekti Meye Bengali 1982 Pyaas Hindi 1982 Prem Rog Hindi 1982 Khud-Daar Hindi 1982 Kaamchor Hindi 1982 Ucha Dar Babe Nanak Da Punjabi 1982 Johny I Love You Hindi 1982 Rustom Hindi 1982 Sugandh Hindi 1982 Bahu Ho Toh Aisi Hindi 1983 Masoom Hindi 1983 Ek Jaan Hain Hum Hindi 1983 Lovers Hindi 1983 Hamar Bhauji Bhojpuri 1983 Chena Achena Bengali 1984 Yaadgaar Hindi 1984 Pet Pyar Aur Paap Hindi 1984 Maati Maangey Khoon Hindi 1984 Boxer Hindi 1984 Shilalipi Bengali 1984 Gulchhadi Marathi 1984 Kunwari Bahu Hindi 1984 Sohni Mahiwal Hindi 1985 Lover Boy Hindi 1985 Hoshiyar Hindi 1985 Zabardast Hindi 1985 Ghar Dwaar Hindi 1986 Suhaagan Hindi 1986 Nasihat Hindi 1986 Mohabbat Ki Kasam Hindi 1986 Maa Beti Hindi 1986 Love 86 Hindi 1986 Jaal Hindi 1986 Ek Main Aur Ek Tu Hindi 1986 Anokha Rishta Hindi 1986 Adhikar Hindi 1986 Ek Aur Sikander Hindi 1986 Peralikarayo Sinhala 1987 Mard Ki Zabaan Hindi 1987 Diljalaa Hindi 1987 Meraa Suhaag Hindi 1988 Paap Ko Jalaa Kar Raakh Kar Doonga Hindi 1988 Mera Muqaddar Hindi 1988 Madhuban Hindi 1988 Agnee Hindi 1988 Aagoon Bengali Bengali film 1988 Unad Maina Marathi 1989 Taaqatwar Hindi 1989 Rakhwala Hindi 1989 Paraya Ghar Hindi 1989 Meri Zabaan Hindi 1989 Gharana Hindi 1989 Gawaahi Hindi 1990 Shandaar Hindi 1990 Dushman Hindi 1990 Andha Bichar Bengali 1992 Gajab Tamaasa Hindi 1992 Abhi Abhi Hindi 1992 Deedar Hindi 1992 Bekhudi Hindi 1993 Paruvu Prathista Telugu 1993 Izzat Ki Roti Hindi 1993 Antim Nyay Hindi 1994 Aatish Hindi 1996 Muqadama Hindi 1998 Paradesi Bengali 1999 Safari Hindi 2002 Tum Jiyo Hazaron Saal Dr. Mukta Kohli Hindi 2002 Saathiya Hindi 2003 Rules: Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula Hindi 2003 Bhoot Hindi 2004 Khakee Hindi 2004 Deewaar Hindi 2010 Toonpur Ka Superrhero Hindi 2012 Son of Sardaar Hindi 2013 Pitruroon Marathi Marathi film 2016 A Death in the Gunj English/Hindi 2018 Shonar Pahar Bengali 2022 Modern Love: Mumbai Hindi Anthology web series

Television

Khandaan (1985) Junoon (1994) Aarambh (2017)