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Geeta Bali (born Harkirtan Kaur; 15 November 1930 ‒ 21 January 1965) was an Indian actress who worked in Hindi films. Bali is regarded among the finest actresses in the history of Indian cinema, Bali acted in over 75 films in a career spanning over two decades. She was twice nominated for Filmfare Awards.
She started her career as a child artist with The Cobbler (1942) and had her first success with Suhaag Raat (1948). After working in Badi Bahen (1949), Bali went onto establish herself as a leading lady of the 50s with films such as Bawre Nain (1950), Albela (1951), Baazi (1951), Jaal (1952), Anand Math (1952), Vachan (1955), Milap (1955), Faraar (1955), Jailor (1958) and Mr. India (1961). For Vachan, she was nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Actress.
She married actor Shammi Kapoor in 1955, with whom she has two children including actor Aditya Raj Kapoor. Bali died in 1965 due to small pox.
She became a star in the 1950s. She worked with her future brother-in-law Raj Kapoor in Bawre Nain (1950) and with her future father-in-law Prithviraj Kapoor in Anand Math, both of which were successful. Unlike other actresses who gave up films after marrying into the Kapoor family, Bali kept acting until her death. Bali helped Surinder Kapoor become a producer.
Bali was widely known for her comic timing and her range as an actor. Bali had her best onscreen pairing with Dev Anand, with whom she worked in several successful films including Baazi (1951), Jaal (1952), Ferry (1954), Milap (1955), Faraar and Pocket Maar (1956). She received a Filmfare Award for Best Actress nomination for Vachan (1955).
She worked with her husband Shammi Kapoor in films such as Miss Coca Cola (1955), Rangeen Raaten (1956), in which she sang a song and Coffee House (1957). Her other notable films were Dulari (1949), Nishana (1950), Albela (1951), Albeli (1955), Kavi (1955). Her last film was Jab Se Tumhe Dekha Hai in 1963.
Bali contracted smallpox around December, 1964 while shooting for the film "Rano" in Amritsar. On January, she returned to Bombay where she fell severely ill and subsequently died on 21 January 1965, at the age of 34, due to illness from smallpox. She was cremated at the Banganga crematorium. Ironically, it was near the same place where she had married 10 years prior.
After her death, Kapoor married Neila Devi, from Bhojapara, Gujarat, on 27 January 1969, who also took care of Bali's children.
Sukanya Verma of Rediff.com noted, "Geeta Bali’s terrific comic timing and natural manners made her stand out in a crowd of stilted, self-aware beauties. Yet, she was equally adept at moving the viewer in vulnerable, wounded parts." Megha Mathur of The Quint termed her one of the "most interesting actresses" of her time. Her son Aditya Raj Kapoor said, "If you see the way Shammi Kapoor danced, that was Geeta Bali’s personality." Pia Krishnankutty of The Print said that Bali had a "captivating on-screen presence" and wrote, "Given how she acted in a range of genres, whether tragedy, drama or comedy, Bali never fell into the trap of a typecast."
Subhash K. Jha of Firstpost termed her "ebullient" and said, "Geeta Bali was the original Sridevi…perky, bubbly and effervescent." Dinesh Raheja noted, "Geeta Bali's reputation as an actress rests more on her performances than her roles. Natural, spontaneous and gifted with a spot-on sense of comic timing." Journalist Rauf Ahmed added Bali on his "Biggest stars in Hindi filmdom" list and noted, "Bali was the first natural. The earliest tomboy among the actresses. Earthy, effervescent and uninhibited, she shed coyness and simpering so characteristic of the early Hindi film heroine."
In the 2016 film Ekk Albela, Bali was portrayed by actress Vidya Balan.
Artistry and legacy
Bali is regarded as one of the greatest actors of Indian cinema. In 2022, she was placed in Outlook Indias "75 Best Bollywood Actresses" list. One of the leading actress of the 50s, Bali has appeared in Box Office Indias "Top Actresses" list in 1951, 1952 and 1953. Bali was the first woman in the Kapoor family who did not gave up acting after marriage.
Filmography
1942 The Cobbler Child artist 1946 Badnaami Kahan Gaye 1948 Suhaag Raat Kamini "Kammo" Jalsa Nai Reet 1949 Neki Aur Badi Baby Dulari Kasturi Badi Bahen Kiran Bansariya Garibi Bholi Bholi Dil Ki Duniya Girls' School School student 1950 Nishana Chanda Chhai Gujri Punjabi cinema film Bawre Nain Tara Bhai Bahen Bahen Gulnar Shadi Ki Raat Dulhan Balo 1951 Baazi Leena Ghayal Albela Asha Nakhare Bedardi Johari 1952 Jaal Maria Raag Rang Anand Math Shanti Dev Sharma Betaab Jalpari Najariya Neelam Pari Pari Zalzala 1953 Bahu Beti Baaz Nisha Jhamela Firdaus Gunah Naina Naina 1954 Kashti Ferry Juhi Daku Ki Ladki Suhaagan Ameer Chora Chori 1955 Jawab Vachan Kamla Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Actress Sau Ka Note Miss Coca Cola Ganga Milap Asha Dayal Albeli Geeta Faraar Kitty Also producer Kavi Basanti Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress Bara Dari Gauri 1956 Hotel Inspector Varsha Pocket Maar Shukal Sailaab Kanchan Rangeen Raaten Gulu Lalten 1957 Coffee House 1958 Jailor Chhaya Aji Bas Shukriya Geeta Kumar Do Mastane Geeta Kumar List of Bollywood films of 1958 10 O'Clock Geeta Mujrim Hotel Dancer Special appearance in song "Chanda Chandni Mein Jab Chamke" 1959 C. I. D. Girl Chand Nai Raahen Mohar 1960 Bade Ghar Ki Bahu Lata 1961 Mr. India Bembi Sapne Suhane Jamuna 1963 Jab Se Tumhe Dekha Hai Mohini Last film 1965 Rano Filming abandoned Geeta Bali
Discography
1956 Rangeen Raaten "Main Ek Shola Aag Babola Re" Roshan
Accolades
1956 3rd Filmfare Awards Best Actress Vachan Best Supporting Actress Kavi
External links
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