Last updated on February 2nd, 2016 at 09:14 am

A well known Indian actress Mala Sinha has a lot to do with Nepal. She is from a family of Nepali origin, she acted in one of the early Nepali movies, ‘Maitighar’, and married a Nepali actor and businessman CP Lohani. Born to Albert Sinha, in a Nepalese Christian family Mala was named Alda. She changed her name to Mala when her friends teased he by similar sounding name ‘Dalda’, a vegetable oil brand.

Because of the talent and beauty, Mala was one of the most popular leading actress in Hindi films from the early 1950s to the late 1970s. Most popular Hindi movies of Mala Sinha include Pyaasa (1957), Dhool Ka Phool (1959), Dil Tera Deewana (1962), Gumrah (1963), Himalaya Ki God Mein (1965), Maryada (1971) and Aankhen (1968).

Mala Sinha started her movie career as a child artist in Bengali Films ‘Jai Vaishno Devi’ and a couple of other movies. A well known Bengali film director Ardhendu Bose debuted Mala as an actress in his 1952 movie ‘Roshanara’. After a couple of Bengali movies, she went to Bombay to shot a Bengali film where she met a well know Bollywood actress, Geeta Bali. Geeta was impressed by Mala and she introduced her to the film director Kidar Sharma. Kidar Sharma featured Mala in ‘Rangeen Ratein’. But, her first Hindi film became ‘Badshah’. Mala was highly appreciated her role in ‘Hamlet’ although the movie failed in box office, the movie helped Mala to establish herself in Bollywood.

Apart from acting Mala was also a singer who used to sing for All India Radio and stage programs. But, she didn’t do any playback singing. Mala had acted with new-comer (at that time) actors like Dharmendra, Sunil Dutt, Sanjay Khan and Amitabh Bachchan.

Mala Sinha was invited to Nepal to act in a 1966 Nepali movie ‘Maitighar’. He opposite in the film Chidambar Prasad Lohani (popularly known as CP Lohani) was a businessman. They fell in love and got married after a few years. After marriage Lohani, an estate owner remained in Nepal while Mala Sinha went to Mumbai with their daughter Pratibha. Pratibha is best known for dance performance in the 1996 blockbuster ‘Raja Hindustani’ in the song “Pardesi Pardesi”.

From the late 1990s, the couple and their daughter are living in a bungalow in Bandra, Mumbai.

Actress profile

• Actress – Mala Sinha
• Other name – Alda Sinha
• Birthday  – November 11, 1936
• Identity – Indian actress, singer
• Acting debut – Jai Vaishno Devi (child artist, Bengali movie)
• Debut as actress – Roshanara (1952)
• Nepali movie – Maitighar (1966)
• Married to – CP Lohani (co-star of Maitighar) in 1968
• Daughter – Pratibha Sinha (Officially she is Pratibha Lohani) is also an actress in Bollywood although she couldn’t be as successful as her mother.

Achievements

Awards

• BFJA Award for Best Actress (1965) — Jahan Ara
• BFJA Award for Best Actress (1966) — Himalaya Ki God Mein
• Sikkim Samman Award by Government of Sikkim (2004)
• Felicitation by Government of Nepal (2005)
• Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award (2007)

Nominations

• Filmfare Award for Best Actress — Dhool Ka Phool (1960)
• Filmfare Award for Best Actress — Bahurani (1964)
• Filmfare Award for Best Actress — Jahan Ara (1965)
• Filmfare Award for Best Actress — Himalaya Ki God Mein (1966)

Filmography

Nepali movie

• Maitighar (1966)

Hindi Films: Name (Year)

• Kabita (1977)
• Shohorer Itikotha (Uttam Kumar )
• Saathihaara (Uttam Kumar)
• Abhaya O Srikanta (1961)
• Kelaghar (1959) (Uttam Kumar)
• Lookochoori (1958)(Kishore Kumar)
• Louha Kapat (1958)
• Bondhu
• Surer Parashay (1957)
• Prithibi Amare Chaay (1957)
• Putrabadhu (1956)
• Dhuli (1954)
• Chitrangadha (1954)
• Jog Biyog (1953)
• Roshanara (1952)

Hindi Films: Name (Year) male counterpart

• Zid (1994) Jai Mehta
• Radha Ka Sangam (1992) Govinda
• Khel (1992) Anil Kapoor
• Dil Tujhko Diya (1987) Kumar Gaurav
• Babu (film) (1985) Navin Nishchol and Rajesh Khanna
• Yeh Rishta Na Toote (1985) Rajendra Kumar
• Aasman (1984) Rajeev Kapoor
• Beraham (1982) Sanjeev Kumar
• Harjai (1981) Shammi Kapoor
• Dhan Daulat (1980) Rajendra Kumar
• Karamyogi (1977) Raj Kumar
• Prayeschit (1977) Parikshit Sahni
• Do Ladkiyan (1977) Sanjeev Kumar
• Zindagi (1976) Sanjeev Kumar—Sarojini
• Mazdoor Zindabad (1976) Rajendra Kumar
• Naseeb (1976) (Guest Appearance)
• Sunehra Sansar (1975) Rajendra Kumar
• Archana (1974) Sanjeev Kumar
• Kora Badan (1974) (Guest Appearance)
• 36 Ghante (1974) Rajkumar
• Nek Parveen (1974) Rakesh Pandey
• Rickshawala (1973) Sujit Kumar
• Kahani Hum Sab Ki (1973) Vinod Mehra
• Phir Kab Milogi (1973) Biswajeet
• Rivaaj (1972) Sanjeev Kumar
• Lalkaar (1972) Rajendra Kumar
• Maryada (1971) Rajkumar and Rajesh Khanna
• Sanjog (1971) Amitabh Bachchan
• Chahat (1971) Jeetendra
• Holi Aayee Re (1970) Prakash Thapa
• Kangan (1970)Sanjeev Kumar
• Geet (1970)Rajendra Kumar
• Do Bhai (1970) Jeetendra
• Paisa Ya Pyar (1970) Biswajeet
• Mere Huzoor (1969) Rajkumar/Jeetendra
• Humsaya (1968) Joy Mukherjee
• Do Kaliyaan (1968) Biswajeet
• Pyar Ka Sapna (1968) Biswajeet
• Aankhen (1968) Dharmendra
• Dillagi (1966) Sanjay Khan
• Nai Roshni (1967) Biswajeet
• Night In London (1967) Biswajeet
• Jaal (1967) Biswajeet
• Aasra (1966)Biswajeet
• Tamanna (1966) Biswajeet
• Apne Huye Paraye (1966) Manoj Kumar
• Mere Lal (1966) Dev Kumar
• Zia ka Dil(1966) Zia Rahi, Guru Dutt, KN Shahu
• Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966) Dharmendra
• Himalaya Ki God Mein (1965) Manoj Kumar
• Jab Yaad Kisiki Aati Hai (1965) Dharmendra
• Neela Akaash (1965) Dharmendra
• Bahu Beti (1965) Joy Mukherjee
• Main Suhagan Hoon (1965) Ajit Khan
• Jahan Ara (1964) Bharat Bhushan
• Suhagan (1964) Guru Dutt
• Phool Bane Angarey (1963) Rajkumar
• Pooja Ke Phool (1963) Dharmendra
• Gumraah (1963) with Sunil Dutt
• Bahu Rani (1963) Guru Dutt
• Gehra Daag (1963) Rajendra Kumar
• Hariyali Aur Rasta (1962) Manoj Kumar
• Anpadh (1962) Dharmendra
• Bombay Ka Chor (1962) Kishore Kumar
• Aankh Micholi (1962) Shekhar
• Gyarah Hazaar Ladkiyan (1962) Bharat Bhushan
• Dil Tera Diwana (1962) Shammi Kapoor
• Suhag Sindoor (1961) Manoj Kumar
• Maya (1961) Dev Anand
• Dharamputra (1961) Rehman
• Patang (1960) Rajendra Kumar
• Main Nashe Mein Hoon (1960) Raj Kapoor
• Bewaqoof (1960) Kishore Kumar
• Mitti Mein Sona (1960) Pradeep Kumar
• Dhool Ka Phool (1959) Ashok Kumar / Rajendra Kumar
• Love Marriage (1959) Dev Anand
• Duniya Na Mane (1959) Pradeep Kumar
• Ujala (1959) Shammi Kapoor
• Devar Bhabhi (1958) Rajendra Kumar
• Parvarish (1958) Raj Kapoor
• Phir Subah Hogi (1958) Raj Kapoor
• Jaalsaz (1959) Kishore Kumar
• Chandan (1958) Kishore Kumar
• Detective (1958) Pradeep Kumar
• Nausherwan-E-Adil (1957) Rajkumar
• Ek Goan Ki Kahani (1957) Abhi Bhattacharya/Talat Mehmood
• Apradhi Kaun (1957) Abhi Bhattacharya
• Lal Batti (1957) Balraj Sahni
• Naya Zamana (1957) Pradeep Kumar
• Fashion (1957) Pradeep Kumar
• Pyaasa (1957) Guru Dutt/Rehman
• Rangin Raaten (1956) Shammi Kapoor
• Ek Shola (1956) Pradeep Kumar
• Paisa Hi Paisa (1956) Kishore Kumar
• Jhanshi Ki Rani (1956) Sohrab Modi
• Ratna Manjari (1955) Mahipal
• Ekadashi (1955) Trilok Kapoor
• Riyasat (1955) Mahipal
• Badshah (1954) Pradeep Kumar
• Hamlet (1954) Pradeep Kumar/Kishore Sahu
• Suhagan (1952) Guru Dutt