Aruna Irani

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Aruna Irani was born to Faredun Irani who ran a drama troupe and to Saguna who was an actress of the yesteryears. She is their eldest child out of the eight children . Sadly Aruna Irani gave up her education in her sixth grade as the family could not afford to send her to a school . Aruna Irani the yesteryears actress recalls how a bottle of coke and a packet of potato wafers did the trick to lure the nine year old from a poor family to getting into films. Dilip Kumar was the first one to spot her potential in the filmline. As a child Aruna Irani was a topper at school and had aimed and dreamt to be a doctor but fate willed her to stop studying and mentioned she could never stand up against her parents who believed that money was required to spend on educating the boys in the family. But despite the fact she lost out on the childhood early in life with her entering the films she maintains a deep respect for her parents.

Though as a child Aruna Irani being the eldest of the siblings went through the pressure of the family financial problem for her parents had toraise eight children, She is the sister of Actor Adi Irani and director Indra Kumar. Aruna Irani’s parents were stage actors, Faridun ( or Faridoon) and Shaguna. Her father acted in a few films as well and was often mistaken for the Cinematographer Faridoon Irani. Her younger sister also acted in a few films but in un credited list of names. She was rumoured to have secretly married to actor comedian Mehmood but the actress had denied the rumours

Initial Break Aruna Irani’s debut film was with Dilip Kumar for Ganga Jamuna. A supplier had come to the Soonawala colony in Tardeo where she lived with her family. He announced that Dilip Kumar was looking for a child artist but she wasn’t interested and did not pay attention . Dilip Kumar made her say a dialogue and she was selected instantly after which she had no looking back in the film industry for a while. A dozen odd films that came her way including Anpadh and Parasmani that took her to the next level from the child to and adult role in the Hindi Cinema. Since films were not coming her way her father decided that she would accompany him in the drama troupe rehearsals . She would usually substitute for any artist who failed to show up on the day of the show thus she had mastered the art of the character’s dialogues steadily and was a learning experience for her. One of her such shows on the stage , Babubhai Mistri was in the audience and he liked Aruna Irani’s performance and offered her role in his film and thereafter she went on to do many more of his films in supporting roles. Bombay to Goa was one of her major breakthrough in the Indian Cinema followed by a pivotal role in Caravan that made the audience and critic take not of her. The turning point to her film career happened with the lavani dance in Dada Kondke’s Marathi film, ‘ Andhala Marto Dola’ as the second innings she also got the offer to dance in the film Bobby and got a lifetime chance to work with the showman Raj Kapoor Aruna Irani one of the most beautiful supporting actress who played character roles and is remembered for her sizzling dance numbers as well. A veteran of around 400 films to her credit, Aruna Irani has swerved over to the small screen when she stopped receiving roles for the films in mainstream. Some of her most popular dance numbers were “Thoda Resham Lagta Hai’ from the film Jyoti in 1981, “Chadti Jawani Meri Chaal Mastani” , “Dilbar Dilse Pyare Dilbar” and ‘Ab Jo Mile Hai’ from the film Caravan in 1971 and one of her best song and dance performance was for the film Bobby which was a superhit with the dance number “ Main Shayar To Nahi’ which won her the nomination for the Best Supporting Actress at the Filmfare Awards in 1973. Aruna Irani has a record of holding the highest nomination of Best Supporting Actress category. Aruna Irani made her debut in the film, Gunga Jumna in 1961 as a child artist playing the character of young Azra in the film. She did a few child artist’s role in the films, Anpadh in 1962 as baby Mala sinha and after doing such roles for a long time, she switched to adult roles mostly in the supporting actress roles for which she became one of the most popular heroine. Some of her best films were Jahanara in 1964, Farz in 1967, Upkar in 1967, Aaya sawant jhoom ke in 1969 and she hit off as a successful pair with comedian Mehmood in the films lie Aulad in 1968, Humjoli and Devi in the year 1970 followed by Naya Zamana in 1971. In 1971 she danced on a very popular number for the film ‘Caravan’ which was gained music scores. Her role as the leading actress in the film Bombay to Goa in 1972 starred opposite to Amitabh Bachchan when he was a new entrant in the Hindi films. Some of her superhit films were Garam Masala in 1972, Do Phool in 1973 , Fakira in 1976, Sargam in 1979, Red Rose in 1980, Love Story and Rocky in 1981. In the late 80’s and 90’s Aruna Irani switched over from supporting actress roles to character artists as well as started playing the mother and sister in many of the films. Her most worthy of scene in a mother’s role is for the film Beta for which she won her second Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award. At the fag end of her lustrous career, Irani switched over to the small silver screen and also took upto direction and production of Television serials like Mehndi Tere Naam Ki, Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand, Vaidehi and Ishq Na Hove. Today’s generation remember Aruna Irani in the role of Hansuba from the television serial Sanskaar- Dharohar Apno Ki and very few would know that once upon a time she was one of the first leading lady with Amitabh Bachchan and also that the actress was very popular and famous for her swaying her body to the rhythm of Rishi Kapoor’s song, ‘ Main Shair to Nahin’ from the superblock buster film ‘ Bobby’.