Biography

Leela Chitnis was born on September 9, 1909 in Dharwad, Bombay Presidency, British India. She was an actress and director, known for Kangan (1939), Sadhna (1958) and Chhaya (1936). She was married to Dr. Gajanan Yeshwant Chitnis. She died on July 14, 2003 in Danbury, Connecticut, USA.

She is remembered as the first Indian movie star to endorse Lux soap, in 1941. Foreign celebrities had previously been the ones to endorse this and other consumer products.

Son actor, producer Manavendra Chitnis was producing a film shot exclusively in New York. This was in 1976. It was titled " New York, New York". It starred Sanjeev Kumar and Persis Khambhatta. Sanjeev and Persis had shot a song riding a bike in Central Park in New York. The film was shelved for financial reasons.

Launched her son Ajit Chitnis in the film "Aaj Ki Baat" in 1955. There are several reports that Leela also launched another son named "Uday " in the film. There are no reports anywhere online of her having a son named "Uday". The actor in question maybe a son of Leela who used the screen name "Uday" just for the film. It is not specified which son "Uday" is.