Bina Rai
Encyclopedia
Bina Rai (Hindi
: बीना राय, Urdu
: بِن رے), was a leading actress primarily of the black and white era of Hindi cinema. She is most known for her roles in classics such as Anarkali
(1953), Taj Mahal
(1963), and won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress
for her performance in the film, Ghunghat
(1960).
in 1950, when she came across an advertisement for a talent contest, she applied and received a call from the sponsors. Although she had been active in college dramatics, a film career was never within her field of vision. Nevertheless she went Bombay, to participate in the contest where she won along with the 25,000 rupees in prize money a leading role in Kishore Sahu's 'Kali Ghata' (1951), which became her film debut, and also featured Kishore Sahu in the lead role .
In the 1950s she married actor Prem Nath, whose sister Krishna was married to the actor-director Raj Kapoor
, was part of the Kapoor family. They had acted together in some films, the first movie in which he was paired with Bina Rai was Aurat
(1953) , a Bollywood
version of the tragic Biblical tale of Samson and Delilah
(1949). The film was not a hit, but Bina Rai and Prem Nath fell in love with each other. They married and soon set up their own production unit, known as P.N. Films. Their first film from P.N. Films was Shagufa (1954) and they had pinned high hopes on it, but audiences rejected it. Neither Bina Rai’s elfin charm nor Prem Nath’s sensitive portrayal of the role of a doctor could save "Shagufa" from being a flop. And the films that followed "Shagufa" — Prisoner of Golconda, Samunder and Watan disappeared almost as soon as they hit the theater screens. Thus the Prem Nath-Bina Rai pairing never clicked on the screen.
However, her films with leading man Pradeep Kumar
remain her best-remembered performances, where she played the title role in Anarkali
(1953), Taj Mahal (1963 film)
and Ghunghat (1960 film)
for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress
In the 1970s, her son Prem Krishen
became an actor and had one big hit Dulhan Wohi Jo Piya Man Bhaye (1977), but couldn't sustain the momentum so he turned producer, with the Cinevista banner, which went on produce TV series such as Kathasagar, Gul Gulshan Gulfam and Junoon. He launched his daughter Akanksha Malhotra as an actress in 2002 in his home production, claiming that she reminds him so much of his mother Bina Rai.
Bina Rai stopped acting in films many years ago, claiming that women of a certain age don't get good roles. She also talks fondly of her husband Prem Nath who had died on 3 November 1992. In 2002, their son, Kailash (Monty) Nath released a tribute album, to his father on the occasion of his 10th death anniversary and 76th birth anniversary, titled Amar Premnath, released by Saregama . His grandson, Siddharth Malhotra directed the successful TV series on doctors, Sanjivani
(2004) .
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
: बीना राय, Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
: بِن رے), was a leading actress primarily of the black and white era of Hindi cinema. She is most known for her roles in classics such as Anarkali
Anarkali (1953 film)
Anarkali is a 1953 film based on the historical legend of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. As per the legend Jahangir revolted against his father Akbar over his love for a common girl called Anarkali....
(1953), Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal (1963 film)
Taj Mahal is a 1963 film based on the historical legend of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. As per the legend Shah Jahan created the Taj Mahal in fond remembrance and as a tomb for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal....
(1963), and won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress
Filmfare Best Actress Award
The Filmfare Award for Best Actress is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first given in 1954.-Superlatives:...
for her performance in the film, Ghunghat
Ghunghat (1960 film)
Ghunghat is a 1960 Hindi movie directed by Ramanand Sagar. The film stars Bharat Bhushan, Leela Chitnis, Pradeep Kumar, Bina Rai, Asha Parekh, Helen, Rajendranath, Rehman and Agha. The films music is by Ravi. The film became a hit at the box office. Musically also, it was liked by audience...
(1960).
Early life
Bina Rai born as Krishna Sarin. Bina Rai lived in Kanpur until she moved out for acting. She had to convince her parents to allow her to act in films, she claimed that she went on a hunger strike in order to convince her disapproving parents to let her join films, and they finally relented.Career
Bina Rai was a first year student of Arts in the Isabella Thoburn College of LucknowLucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
in 1950, when she came across an advertisement for a talent contest, she applied and received a call from the sponsors. Although she had been active in college dramatics, a film career was never within her field of vision. Nevertheless she went Bombay, to participate in the contest where she won along with the 25,000 rupees in prize money a leading role in Kishore Sahu's 'Kali Ghata' (1951), which became her film debut, and also featured Kishore Sahu in the lead role .
In the 1950s she married actor Prem Nath, whose sister Krishna was married to the actor-director Raj Kapoor
Raj Kapoor
Known as Ranbir Raj Kapoor Rāj Kapūr, 14 December 1924 – 2 June 1988), also known as The Show-Man, was an Indian film actor, producer and director of Hindi cinema. He was the winner of nine Filmfare Awards, while his films Awaara and Boot Polish were nominated for the Palme d'Or at the...
, was part of the Kapoor family. They had acted together in some films, the first movie in which he was paired with Bina Rai was Aurat
Aurat (1953 film)
Aurat is a 1953 Hindi movie produced by Munshiram Verma and directed by B Verma. The film stars Premnath and his wife Bina Rai. The film's music is by Shankar Jaikishan. The film is a re-working of the Biblical tale of Samson and Delilah. Premnath and Bina Rai fell in love during filming and...
(1953) , a Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
version of the tragic Biblical tale of Samson and Delilah
Samson and Delilah (1949 film)
Samson and Delilah is a 1949 film made by Paramount Pictures , produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Victor Mature and Hedy Lamarr as the title characters...
(1949). The film was not a hit, but Bina Rai and Prem Nath fell in love with each other. They married and soon set up their own production unit, known as P.N. Films. Their first film from P.N. Films was Shagufa (1954) and they had pinned high hopes on it, but audiences rejected it. Neither Bina Rai’s elfin charm nor Prem Nath’s sensitive portrayal of the role of a doctor could save "Shagufa" from being a flop. And the films that followed "Shagufa" — Prisoner of Golconda, Samunder and Watan disappeared almost as soon as they hit the theater screens. Thus the Prem Nath-Bina Rai pairing never clicked on the screen.
However, her films with leading man Pradeep Kumar
Pradeep Kumar
Pradeep Kumar was an Indian actor in Bengali and Hindi films.-Career:When Kumar was 17 years old, he decided to take up acting. His started his film career in Bengali films...
remain her best-remembered performances, where she played the title role in Anarkali
Anarkali (1953 film)
Anarkali is a 1953 film based on the historical legend of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. As per the legend Jahangir revolted against his father Akbar over his love for a common girl called Anarkali....
(1953), Taj Mahal (1963 film)
Taj Mahal (1963 film)
Taj Mahal is a 1963 film based on the historical legend of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. As per the legend Shah Jahan created the Taj Mahal in fond remembrance and as a tomb for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal....
and Ghunghat (1960 film)
Ghunghat (1960 film)
Ghunghat is a 1960 Hindi movie directed by Ramanand Sagar. The film stars Bharat Bhushan, Leela Chitnis, Pradeep Kumar, Bina Rai, Asha Parekh, Helen, Rajendranath, Rehman and Agha. The films music is by Ravi. The film became a hit at the box office. Musically also, it was liked by audience...
for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress
Filmfare Best Actress Award
The Filmfare Award for Best Actress is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first given in 1954.-Superlatives:...
In the 1970s, her son Prem Krishen
Prem Krishen
Prem Krishen is an Indian film actor, turned TV and film producer and the owner of Cinevista banner, known for TV series such as Kathasagar, Gul Gulshan Gulfaam and Junoon and more recently Dill Mill Gayye....
became an actor and had one big hit Dulhan Wohi Jo Piya Man Bhaye (1977), but couldn't sustain the momentum so he turned producer, with the Cinevista banner, which went on produce TV series such as Kathasagar, Gul Gulshan Gulfam and Junoon. He launched his daughter Akanksha Malhotra as an actress in 2002 in his home production, claiming that she reminds him so much of his mother Bina Rai.
Bina Rai stopped acting in films many years ago, claiming that women of a certain age don't get good roles. She also talks fondly of her husband Prem Nath who had died on 3 November 1992. In 2002, their son, Kailash (Monty) Nath released a tribute album, to his father on the occasion of his 10th death anniversary and 76th birth anniversary, titled Amar Premnath, released by Saregama . His grandson, Siddharth Malhotra directed the successful TV series on doctors, Sanjivani
Sanjivani (TV series)
Sanjivani - A Medical Boon was a Hindi television serial that was first aired on STAR Plus in 2004, and currently reruns on TV Asia channel in USA from November 3, 2007. Currently a sequel to Sanjivani, Dill Mill Gaye, airs on Star One.-Plot:...
(2004) .
Awards
- Filmfare Award
- 1961: Filmfare Best Actress AwardFilmfare Best Actress AwardThe Filmfare Award for Best Actress is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first given in 1954.-Superlatives:...
: GhunghatGhunghat (1960 film)Ghunghat is a 1960 Hindi movie directed by Ramanand Sagar. The film stars Bharat Bhushan, Leela Chitnis, Pradeep Kumar, Bina Rai, Asha Parekh, Helen, Rajendranath, Rehman and Agha. The films music is by Ravi. The film became a hit at the box office. Musically also, it was liked by audience...
- 1961: Filmfare Best Actress Award
Filmography
- 1951: Kali GhataKali Ghata (1951 film)Kali Ghata is a 1951 Hindi film directed by Kishore Sahu and starring Kishore Sahu, Bina Rai and Asha Mathur....
- 1952: Sapna
- 1953: AnarkaliAnarkali (1953 film)Anarkali is a 1953 film based on the historical legend of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. As per the legend Jahangir revolted against his father Akbar over his love for a common girl called Anarkali....
- 1953: AuratAurat (1953 film)Aurat is a 1953 Hindi movie produced by Munshiram Verma and directed by B Verma. The film stars Premnath and his wife Bina Rai. The film's music is by Shankar Jaikishan. The film is a re-working of the Biblical tale of Samson and Delilah. Premnath and Bina Rai fell in love during filming and...
- 1953: Gauhar
- 1953: Shagufa
- 1953: Shole
- 1954: Meenar
- 1954: Prisoner of Golconda
- 1955: InsaniyatInsaniyat (1955 film)Insaniyat is a 1955 Hindi film produced and directed by S. S. Vasan. The film stars Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Bina Rai, Jayant and Shobhana Samarth. The film songs written by Rajendra Krishna. The films music is by C. Ramachandra. It is remake of 1950 Telugu film Palletoori Pilla .-Cast:*Shobhna...
- 1955: Madh Bhare Nain
- 1955: Marine Drive
- 1955: Sardar
- 1956: Chandrakant
- 1956: Durgesh Nandini
- 1956: Hamara Watan
- 1957: Bandi
- 1957: Chengiz Khan
- 1957: Hill Station
- 1957: Mera Salaam
- 1957: SamundarSamundarSamundar is an Indian film directed by Rahul Rawail and released in 1986. The movie stars Sunny Deol, Poonam Dhillon, Amrish Puri, Navin Nischol.-Characters:* Navin Nischol ... Surajbhan* Sunny Deol ... Ajit* Poonam Dhillon ... Anjali...
- 1957: Talaash
- 1960: GhunghatGhunghat (1960 film)Ghunghat is a 1960 Hindi movie directed by Ramanand Sagar. The film stars Bharat Bhushan, Leela Chitnis, Pradeep Kumar, Bina Rai, Asha Parekh, Helen, Rajendranath, Rehman and Agha. The films music is by Ravi. The film became a hit at the box office. Musically also, it was liked by audience...
- 1962: Vallah Kya Baat Hai
- 1963: Taj MahalTaj Mahal (1963 film)Taj Mahal is a 1963 film based on the historical legend of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. As per the legend Shah Jahan created the Taj Mahal in fond remembrance and as a tomb for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal....
- 1966: Daadi Maa
- 1967: Ram Rajya
- 1968: Apna Ghar Apni Kahani