- Born
- Birth nameVyjayanthimala Bali
- Height5′ 3″ (1.60 m)
- Vyjayanthimala was born to actress and dancer Vasundhara Devi in a Tamil-speaking family in Chennai, India, on August 13, 1933.
At the age of 4, she got the rare chance of performing a dance before the Pope. Then at the age of 15, while in her final year at school, she was signed-up by family friend, M.V. Raman, for a role in a Tamil film 'Vazhkai'. This movie was successful at the box office and was re-made in Hindi during 1951 and released as 'Bahaar'.
Since her entry into films from 1949, this actress, who is also proficient in Bharat Natyam, has appeared in approximately 62 movies, the majority of them in the Hindi language. Her career spanned from 1949 through to 1989. She has received a total of five awards for her performances in 'Devdas', 'Sadhna', 'Ganga Jamuna', and 'Sangam', as well as a lifetime achievement award during 1995.
Her dance numbers, such as 'Hothon Pe Aisi Baat Main Dabake Chali Aai...', 'Man Doley Mera Tan Doley...'; 'Chad Gaiyo Paapi Bichua...'; 'Main Ka Karu Ram Mujhey Buddha Mil Gaya' continue to be popular even today. She made waves when she appeared in a fire red swimsuit in 'Sangam'. She also paved the way for other South Indian actresses, like Hema Malini, Rekha, Sridevi, etc. to make a transition to Bollywood. Her career was managed by her grandmother, Yadugiri Devi.
She married Raj Kapoor's personal physician, Dr. Chamanlal Bali after he divorced his first wife and re-located to Chennai, where she gave birth to a son, actor Suchindra Bali.
After quitting films, Vyjantimala took up shrimp farming, opened up a dance academy, even took an active interest in politics, and with the backing of Indira Gandhi's Congress Party was elected Member of Parliament during the 1980s. She chose to quit politics due to principled differences during 1999.
After the passing of her husband, she now resides in Chennai, with her son, who is an aspiring actor in his own right, and has removed herself completely from Bollywood, in particular, and movies in general, though she could have easily continued on for another decade.
One of her hits 'Naya Daur', originally in Black & White, has now been colorized, and re-released.
In 2007, she published her autobiography titled "Bonding," where she revealed that she didn't have an affair with Raj Kapoor, her leading man and director from "Sangam" (1964).
In 2011, her son Suchindra and daughter-in-law Nandini presented her with a grandchild named Swara.
- IMDb mini biography by: rAjOo
- SpouseChamanlal Bali(1968 - 1986) (his death, 1 child)
- Vyjayanthimala Raman entered the Indian National Congress in 1984 following the invitation of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The actor contested the 1984 General Election for the Chennai South constituency and defeated Era Sezhiyan to become a Member of the 8th Lok Sabha. She secured a second term in the 1989 General Election by defeating Aladi Aruna and served in the 9th Lok Sabha until 1991. President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma nominated her to the Rajya Sabha in 1993, where she served a six-year term representing the Indian National Congress until 1999. She resigned from the party on 28 August 1999, citing a departure from the ideological principles established under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Rajiv Gandhi. The actor subsequently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in September 1999.
- Asha Parekh served as a background dancer in several productions starring Vyjayanthimala before her 1959 debut as a leading lady in Aasha (1957). During the 1966 filming of Amrapali (1966), Parekh visited the set specifically to observe Vyjayanthimala's performance and technical dance execution. Parekh later portrayed a dedicated fan of Vyjayanthimala in Jawan Muhabat (1971). The two performers engaged in social lunches throughout their careers. "Asha is a very nice girl," Vyjayanthimala stated during a 2016 retrospective interview.
- Vyjayanthimala received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1968 for her contributions to Bharatanatyam, representing a pivotal shift from her primary identity as a film star to a classical exponent. She released a specialized research publication and documentary titled "Sanga Tamizh Maalai" which focuses on the preservation of ancient temple dance forms and the traditional music associated with Alvar literature.
- Vyjayanthimala secured the Filmfare Award for Best Actress on three occasions, earning the honors for her performances in Sadhana (1958), Gunga Jumna (1961), and Sangam (1964). She holds the distinction of being the first South Indian actress to achieve the status of a national superstar in the Hindi film industry. Her success established a professional precedent that facilitated the subsequent careers of other South Indian actresses, including Hema Malini and Sridevi, within the Mumbai based production landscape.
- Vyjayanthimala maintains a rigorous specialization in Bharatanatyam, training under gurus Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai and K. P. Kittappa Pillai. She secured the distinction of being the first South Indian actress to achieve national stardom in the Hindi film industry, effectively shifting the industry capital from Calcutta to Bombay. Her technical proficiency in classical dance forms established a new production standard for female protagonists, mandating formal dance training as a prerequisite for leading roles.
- Art has now become less spiritual because of the attempts to modernize it. I don't believe in fusion. East is East and West is West. I plan to continue dancing and doing social service.
- I believe in the purity of art. I think you have to be pure at heart to depict divinity.
- I am basically an emotional person. Otherwise, I wouldn't be an artiste. I always speak from my heart and that's the way I like to be.
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