Biography

In the 1930s Versova was a deserted creek. She opened a puri bhaji and chai stall but soon had to close shop and move to a chawl next to Mohan Studios in Andheri. Maniben always use to visit the studios to see movie shootings. One day Ruby Myers (Sulochana) and E.Billmoria were shooting for Chamakti Bijli. There were hundreds of extras and director Homi Master told his assistant to make Maniben stand with the crowd. She was delighted. She was paid rupees 5. After that she kept returning to the studios for work.

Dimple Kapadia suggested Raj Mata get a identity card. From that peice of advice she recieved rs 10 000 for all her years of work in films.

In 1970,1971 Maniben was in Kashmir shooting for Daraar. Since she was the oldest member in the unit the producer Shanti Sagar called Maniben " Mataji". A temple scene revolved around Maniben. The scene was to show bombs going off and Maniben running. The shot was okayed in one shot. That is when the director told Maniben, "wow bombs were going off and you were not scared at all. From now on i will call you Raj Mata". Since then the name stuck.

Was blind in one eye.

Real name Maniben Shah. She had a sweet shop in Indore. After her husbands death, there were family problems and she came to Bombay to live with her married daughter.