Shashikala

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Destiny made young Shashikala to dance to earn money Shashikala was born in a modest family. Her father Anantrao Jawalkar was engaged in cloth business in Sholapur. He made a handsome earning but most of the amount was spent on his younger brother’s education who studied in London. Her father had high hopes from his brother but after completing his education he ignored her father and the family was on roads when his father went bankrupt! Thus to earn a living young Shashikala, who was barely 5 years became a dancer. She travelled all over India with the dance troupe to earn and make ends meet.

Shashikala married at the age of 19 At the young age of 19 years Shashikala fell in love with O.P. Saigal, who belonged to the respected K.L.Saigal family. She had 2 daughters. Her husband even made a film with her but it took six years to complete and in these six years things changed drastically. Shashikala realized her mistake of marrying because due to her married tag she was denied heroine roles and she was reduced to play second lead or vamp roles. In a bid to make a career she had constant fights at home with her husband and this forced her to send her daughters to a boarding school in Panchgani.

Due to her poor Hindi she missed the opportunity to act opposite Noor Jehan Blessed with charming looks Shashikala’s father decided to try luck in Bollywood. Hence they came to Mumbai but life was difficult. They wandered from studios to studios in search of role and faced rejection. Many a times they survived on left over foods. One day legendary singer and actress Noor Jehan noticed young Shashikala and was impressed by her beautiful features. She called her near and offered her a role in her film Zeenat which was made by Noor Jehan’s husband Shaukat Hussain. Shashikala, who was 11 year old than was signed to play Noor Jehan’s daughter in the film. But alas in the screen test Shashikala failed as she hailed from Marathi family hence her Hindi had Marathi accent. Nevertheless, Shaukat Hussain was impressed by Shashikala and gave her a small role in a qawwali sequence, which Shashikala did with full sincerity. Shaukat Hussain recommends Shashikala to other filmmakers Shaukat Hussain was so overwhelmed by her hard work that he recommended Shashikala to other filmmakers like P.N. Arora, Amiya Chakravarti and several others. Soon Shashikala was made heroine opposite stars like Ashok Kumar, Karan Dewan and Agha and was paid Rs 400 per month! But alas with Indo-Pak partition, Noor Jehan and Saukat Hussai left India. Meena Kumari became her instant fan in the film Aarti The more desperate Shashikala was to seek fame, the more stardom eluded her. A time came after her role in Vijay Anand's first doctorial film, Nau Do Gyarah, failed, Shashikala decided to quit Bollywood. When she had almost made up her mind to quit, Tarachand Barjatya of Rajshri Pictures approached her to play a cruel Bhabhi in his first film production Aarti. The film had Meena Kumari, Pradeep Kumar and Ashok Kumar. It was a lucrative offer hence she agreed. Recalling the film, Shashikala recalls, “When I gave my first shot opposite Meena Kumari, it was ok in first take and Meenaji was so overwhelmed that she hugged me and became my fan.” Aarti was a huge hit and it opened doors of stardom for Shashikala. She was flooded with similar vamp roles in films like Phool Aur Pathar, Ayee Milan Ki Bela, Gumrah, Waqt which came back-to-back and were all super hit! Her second inning in Bollywood was as successful as first Though as an actress Shashikala became celebrity but her personnel life was a hell and fed up with constant quarrels with husband, she run away from Mumbai and eloped with another man abroad! Later she realized her folly and came back to Mumbai. But her bank balance had declined hence to make a living she joined films. Yet again her competent performance in films like Swami (1977), Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaaye (1977), Khubsoorat (1980), Sargam (1979) , Kranti (1981), Ahista Ahista (1981), Souten (1983) paid off and she survived.