Biography

Neena was an actress, known for Bharosa (1963), Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke (1969) and Shehar Se Door (1972). She was married to Tolaram Jalan. She died on April 17, 2008 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

She recounted how Filmistan studios was like a wasteland when she took over for her husband Tolaram Jalan'. It was getting just about five shifts a month of business. Paanwallahs and dhobis used the premises for all their activity while ironmongers conducted business from there. Neena recalled clearing nearly 1,000 truckloads of garbage. She then got a compound wall and a gate constructed and made all illegal inhabitants move out. She got the make-up rooms and other services back in working order. She beautified the premises with flowers and greenery. And with one masterstroke, opened the newly-finished studio at a 20 per cent discount. She soon began to get five shifts a day.

When she was young, she liked going on picnics and writing Hindi poetry.

She is the Vice Chairperson of the Dadasaheb Phalke Film Academy.

She married film financier Tolaram Jalan, owner of Filmistan studios, and then quit acting in films.

Her father was a barrister and wanted to train her as either a lawyer or a medico. Being free, happy- go-lucky and jovial, Neena was able to break the conventions in the family. The family is a conservative type and her elder sisters have all been married. Her father found her a different type and could not bring her to his way of thinking and ultimately agreed to her choosing the career she liked. That was how she has become a film actress.