Yesteryear actor Shashikala breathes her last!
Veteran actor Shashikala, who was a master of vampish roles breathed her last at her Colaba residence due to old age at noon on Sunday 4th April, ‘21. She always excelled in whatever role she played whether it’s a second lead or a character role or a vamp role. She was at the top of her career in Hindi film industry around sixties, seventies, eighties.
Shashikala Jawalkar was born in a Maharashtrian family in Solapur on August 4, ‘1932. As her father faced a financial setback in his business he migrated to Mumbai with his family of six children. Shashikala has always been good looking since her childhood and used to perform, dancing, singing, acting, when in Solapur. Knowing this her father thought of making his this pretty daughter to be a bread winner for the family. Shashikala started doing rounds of film studios and landed bit roles in films. During her one of the visits she came in contact with then superstar Noor Jahan’s film maker husband Shaukat Hussain Rizvi and he offered her a small part in a Qawwali in ‘Zeenat’. She also did small parts in Shammi kapoor starrer ‘Daku’ and V Shantaram ‘Teen Batti Char Rasta’.
Starting off at a very young age in pre-independence era (Karodpati: 1936, Chand: 1944, Zeenat: 1945) Shashikala has made a name for himself in cinema by playing innumerable roles. Shashikala married KL Saigal’s relative Om Prakash Saigal and they have two daughters. In fact, despite facing hard times Shashikala did not give up. Her performance was appreciated in Bimal Roy directed ‘Sujata’. The restraint in Shashikala’s role impressed many. Later, she got a lot of fame for her role as a vamp in ‘Aarti’ produced by Tarachand Barjatya starring Meena Kumari, Ashok Kumar and Pradeep Kumar. She won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for her role. The following year, in 1963, Shashikala won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Gumrah. Her career started shaping up after that.
Apne Hue Paraye, Himalay Ki God Mein, Hamrahi, Aayi Milan Ki Bella, Junglee, Nau Do Gyarah, Hariyali Aur Rasta, Chhoti Bahu, Three Bahuraniyaan, Pyar Mohabbat, Phool Aur Paththar are a few of the movie wherein Shashikala played various roles. She did around 100 films which also include Paisa Ya Pyaar, Khoobsurat, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Padma Shri Lalu Prasad Yadav, Jhankar Beats, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi. Shashikala had also acted in a few Marathi films like Lek Challi Sasarla, Mahananda etc. She was also seen in Hindi serials like Jeena Isika Naam Hain, Apanapan, Sonpari etc.
Shashikala Jawalkar was awarded the Padma Shri in 2007 for her long service to the film industry and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the V Shantaram Awards in 2009.
Heartfelt condolences to Shashikala Saigal’s (nee Jawalkar) family from the entire team of Cine Buster.