Achala Sachdev

Achala Sachdev Biography

Achala Sachdev was a Bollywood actress of yesterdays most known for mother and character roles. The evergreen song of Waqt, E mere zugarajabi sung by Manna Dey was pictured on this actress, the song for which this actress is remembered most. Achala has given life to hundreds of character roles of Hindi cinema. She played Kajol's grandmother in blockbuster - Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995). She appeared for the last time onscreen for the Hritik Roshan movies - Na Tum Jaano Na Hum (2002) and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001). For the last 40 years she lived alone in Pune and died at the age of 91 in 2012. No film fraternity except the couple Ramesh and Seema Duo visited her at the hospital a few days before her death.

A few of her noted works include – Mere Hamdam Mere Dost, Dil ne pukara, Himalay ki gode mein, Haqeeqat, Arzoo, Seeta aur Gita, Trimurthi, Anamika, Daag, Albela, Hanste Zakhm, Heer Ranjha, Hare rama hare Krishna, Kanyadaan, Kora Kagaaz, Laila Majnu, Sangham, Dil Ek Mandir, Meri surat teri aakhein, Janwar, Meri Sanam, Kal Aaj Aur Kal and Julie. Waqt still remains her most memorable role and the best instance for the true expression of timeless love on Indian screen. She accepted mother and aunt roles at quite a younger age.

Achala made her film debut with Fashionable Wife (1938). She started her career as a child artist, later moved to character roles. Later she worked in Radio station, Lahore. After India Partition in 1947, she settled at Delhi and worked for AIR, Delhi. Apart from character roles of Hindi, she has also appeared in a couple of English movies - Mark Robson's Nine Hours to Rama (1963) and Merchant Ivory's The Householder (1963). She married twice. After her marriage with Clifford Douglas Peters, she settled in Pune.

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Updated: January 22, 2014