Durga Khote

 

Durga Khote is a prominent face pf bollywood's golden era. She was the first 'freelance' artists of her time who played some legendary roles in popular movies like Mughal-E-Azam.
Personal Profile (Personal Biography)
Date of Birth (Birthday):  January 14, 1905
Zodiac Sign:  Capricorn
Hair Color:  Black
Birth Place:  Mumbai, British India
Marital Status:  Married

Family Background
Brother's Name:  Nandu Khote
Husband:  Vijay Mehta (Died), Mohammed Rashid
Sons:  Bakul and Harin
Daughter:  Bhavna Balsaver

Film Background (Filmography)
Debut Film:  Farebi Jaal (1931)
Famous Movies:  Ayodhyecha Raja, Charnon Ki Dasi, Bharat Milap, Mirza Ghalib , Bobby, Bidaai.
Directed Films:  Saathi (1937),
Famous Plays:  Rajmukut-'The Royal Crown' 

Early career

Durga Khote debuted in a minor role in an obscure 1931 silent film, Farebi Jaal, by the Prabhat Film Company, followed by Maya Machhindra (1932). She was soon promoted to play heroine in the 1932 double version (Hindi and Marathi) Ayodhyecha Raja, another Prabhat film, which was the first-ever Marathi talkie and proved to be a runaway hit, where she essayed the role of Rani Taramati.^[4] There was no looking back for the diffident widow from Kolhapur after that. Indeed, she ventured yet another pioneering trend: Despite working closely with Prabhat Film Company, she broke away from the "studio system" (exclusive contract with a studio to work in its films on a monthly salary) then in vogue and became one of the first "freelance" artistes of that era by working occasionally with the New Theatres, East India Film Co. (both at Calcutta), and Prakash Pictures.

In 1937, she produced and directed a film titled Saathi, making her one of the first women to step into this role in Indian cinema.^[5] The 40s opened for her in a big way, with award-winning performances in Aachary Atre's Payachi dasi(Marathi) and Charnon Ki Dasi (Hindi) (1941) and Vijay Bhatt's classic, Bharat Milap (1942), both of which got her the BFJA Best Actress Award for two consecutive years.

Durga Khote remained active in theatre circuit for many years, especially the Marathi theatre in Bombay. She was actively associated with the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and worked in several plays for the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh. In 1954, she famously performed the role of Lady Macbeth, in V.V. Shirwadkar's Marathi adaptations of Macbeth, as Rajmukut, The Royal Crown, along with Nanasaheb Phatak.^[6]

Later career

Durga Khote essayed a wide variety of roles over a career that was not only long but also untouched by scandal. She was the inspiration for several generations of Indian actresses, including veterans like the late Shobhna Samarth, who frequently spoke of how she had been inspired by Khote's example.

During later years, she played several important character roles, such as the mother of the protagonist. Her portrayal of Jodhabai, the queen of Akbar torn between duty towards her husband and love towards her son in Mughal-e-Azam (1960) was well received. She went on to play other widely appreciated character roles in later movies such as the role of the grandmother of the heroine in Bobby (1973), the hero's aunt in Abhimaan (1973), and thee really memorableBidaai (1974), where she played a mother, a very sensitive role that can make one cry and received the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award.

In 1963, she acted in Merchant Ivory's debut film, The Householder (1963),^[7][8] and her final memorable role was in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Bawarchi (1972).

She acted in over 200 films in her career. By the 1980s she successfully diversified into production of short films, ad films and documentaries by setting up Fact Films and, later, Durga Khote Productions, which produced the Doordarshan TV series Wagle Ki Duniya.

Personal life

Her two sons Bakul and Harin were born during her first marriage with Vishwanath Khote. It was a traditional marriage into an orthodox family. Vishwanath Khote was a son of the millionaire family who were that time largest share brokers and road contractore he was mechanical engineer from Banaras Hindu University who died young. After she was widowed, Khote had an unsuccessful second marriage to Mohammed Rashid.^{[9][not in citation given]} Her son, Harin Khote died at the early age, and was a survived by his wife, Vijaya Mehta and two sons. ^[10]

Her grandchildren include Ravi, a filmmaker; granddaughter Anjali Khote; grandson Deven Khote a television producer,^[11] and a noted film producer, making films like Jodhaa Akbar and Life in a Metro.^[12]

Her brother-in-law, Nandu Khote, was a noted stage and silent movie actor. His daughter Shobha Khote acted in Hindi films; debuting in Seema (1955), she later directed and produced Marathi films and entered television in the 90s. Viju Khote, most known for his role of Kalia in Sholay (1975) is a noted character actor. Shobha Khote's daughter, Bhavna Balsaver, is an award-winning TV actress. They appeared together in 1993's sitcom Zabaan Sambhalke on DD Metro.^[13][14]

Later in life she wrote her acclaimed autobiography in Marathi which was later translated into English as I, Durga Khote,^[15] and moved to Alibaug, beachfront near Mumbai. She died on September 22, 1991.

Filmography

Year	Film	Character/Role	Notes
1983	Daulat Ke Dushman	Sunil's mother
1980	Karz	Mrs. Shanta Prasad Verma
1979	Chor Sipahee	Mrs. Khanna, Raja's mother
1977	Chacha Bhatija	Mrs. D'Silva
1977	Darling Darling
1977	Do Chehere	Daadima
1977	Naami Chor
1977	Paapi	Ashok's mother
1977	Paheli	Brij Mohan's mother
1977	Saheb Bahadur	Meena's grandmother
1976	Jaaneman	Ronnie's mother
1976	Jai Bajrang Bali	Devi Maa Anjani
1976	Rangila Ratan
1976	Shaque	Mrs. Bannerjee
1975	Chaitali	Manish's Mother
1975	Kala Sona	Mrs. Ranjeet Singh
1975	Khushboo	Brindaban's mother
1974	Bidaai	Parvati	Won 1975 Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
1974	Dil Diwana	Vijay's Dadimaa
1974	Insaaniyat	Ram's mother
1973	Bobby	Mrs. Braganza
1973	Namak Haraam	Somu's Mother
1973	Abhimaan	Durga Mausi
1973	Gopi	Kunwar's Mother
1973	Agni Rekha
1972	Bawarchi	Seeta Sharma
1972	Mere Bhaiya	Avinash's Mother
1972	Raja Jani	Rajmata
1972	Shararat	Harry's mother
1971	Anand	Renu's Mother	Guest Appearance
1971	Banphool	Haria's maternal grandma
1971	Ek Nari Ek Brahmachari	Rajlaxmi S. Chaudhary
1970	Khilona	Thakurain Singh
1969	Dharti Kahe Pukarke
1969	Ek Phool Do Mali	Leela
1969	Jeene Ki Raah	Janki
1969	Pyar Ka Sapna	Sudha's mother
1968	Jhuk Gaya Aasman	Mrs. Saxena
1968	Sapno Ka Saudagar	Peter's mother
1968	Sunghursh	Mrs. Bhawani Prasad
1967	Chandan Ka Palna	Mrs. Radha Laxmidas
1966	Anupama	Ashok's Mother
1966	Daadi Maa	Daadi Maa/Maharani
1966	Devar
1966	Pyar Mohabbat	Rajmata Rajeshwari
1966	Sagaai	Sheel's mother
1965	Do Dil	Ranimaa
1965	Kaajal	Rani Sahiba
1965	Purnima	Sharda R. Lal
1964	Benazir
1964	Door Ki Awaaz	Prakash's mother
1964	Kaise Kahoon
1964	Main Suhagan Hoon
1964	Shagoon
1963	The Householder	Prem's Mother
1963	Mujhe Jeene Do
1962	Main Shadi Karne Chala
1962	Man-Mauji	Dr. Mohan's mother
1962	Rungoli	Subhagi
1962	Son of India	Head Nun
1961	Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan	Prabha's mother
1961	Kismet Palat Ke Dekh
1961	Senapati
1960	Mughal-E-Azam	Maharani Jodha Bai
1960	Parakh	Rani Ma, J.C. Roy's mother
1960	Love in Simla	Sonia's grandmother
1960	Usne Kaha Tha
1959	Ardhangini	Prakash's mother
1959	Ghar Ghar Ki Baat
1959	Maine Jeena Seekh Liya
1958	Raj Tilak
1957	Bade Sarkar
1957	Bhabhi	Ratan's aunt
1957	Mera Salaam
1957	Musafir	Mrs. Nilambar Sharma
1956	Justice
1956	Parivar
1956	Patrani	Raj Mata
1956	Rajdhani
1955	Adil-E-Jahangir
1954	Lakeeren
1954	Mirza Ghalib	Amma, Chaudvin's mother
1953	Chacha Chowdhury
1953	Mashooka
1953	Naag Panchami
1953	Naulakha Haar	Devla
1953	Shikast
1952	Aandhiyan
1952	Lal Kunwar
1952	Mordhwaj
1952	Narveer Tanaji
1952	Sandesh
1951	Aaram	Sita
1951	Hamari Shaan
1951	Humlog	Mother
1951	Nai Zindagi
1951	Sazaa
1950	Alakh Niranjan
1950	Beqasoor
1950	Har Har Mahadev
1950	Magroor
1950	Nishana
1949	Singaar
1949	Jeet	Ratan's Mother
1949	Maya Bazaar
1948	Anjuman
1948	Seeta Sawayamwar
1946	Maharani Minaldevi
1946	Rukmini Swayamvar
1945	Lakharani	Bichwa
1945	Pannadai
1945	Phool
1945	Veer Kunal
1944	Maharathi Karna	Kunti
1943	Kurbani
1943	Mahasati Ansuya
1943	Mahatma Vidur
1943	Prithvi Vallabh	Mrinalvati
1943	Tasveer	Vidya Devi
1943	Zameen
1942	Bharat Milap	Maharani Kekaiyi	Hindi/Marathi film
1942	Vijay
1941	Payachi Dasi	Vidya's Mother-in-law	Marathi film
1941	Charnon ki Dasi	Vidya's Mother-in-law
1940	Yamla Jat
1940	Geeta	Durga
1940	Geeta	Durga	Marathi film
1940	Narsi Bhagat	Manekbai	Gujarati/Hindi film
1939	Adhuri Kahani	Harbala
1938	Nandakumar
1938	Saathi
1937	Pratibha	Pratibha
1936	Amar Jyoti	Queen Saudamini
1935	Inquilab	Miss Renee
1935	Jeevan Natak	Miss Queen
1934	Seeta	Seeta
1933	Patit Pawan
1933	Rajrani Meera	Meera
1932	Ayodhyecha Raja	Taramati	Hindi/Marathi film
1932	Maya Machhindra	Queen	Hindi/Marathi film
1931	Farebi Jaal

Awards

• 1942: BFJA Awards: Best Actress: Charnon Ki Dasi (1941)^[16]
• 1943: BFJA Awards: Best Actress: Bharat Milap(1942)^[17]
• 1958: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
• 1968: Padma Shri
• 1970: Maharashtra State Award: Dhartichi Lekre
• 1974: Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award: Bidaai
• 1983: Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the lifetime recognition award for films from Government of India^[5]