Anita Kanwar

Anita Kanwar Biography

Anita Kanwar is a film and television actress better known for the role as Lajjo in popular Doordarshan serial of 1980’s – Buniyaad. She was a student of National School of Drama (1978 batch) and as a Bollywood actress, Janam, Salaam Bombay and Thodasa Roomani Ho Jaayen are her popular roles, where she played supporting roles. She received a nomination at Filmfare playing supporting role in Oscar nominated movie – Salam Bombay, directed by Mira Nair in 1988.

She took a break from television industry and later returned to it in the late 1990’s. TV serial Pukaar in 1992 was her last small screen appearance before she took a break from the industry. Then she returned four years after her hibernation. The role of Inspector KC in the 1998 Star Plus crime series Saboot marked her comeback. Her daughter Pooja Kanwal is a popular film and television actress, known for portraying the role of Pawni in Palampur Express. Lajjo of Buniyaad and Inspector KC of Sapoot are her popular roles till now. She couldn’t capitalize on the success of her role in Buniyad. She currently lives in Gurgaon, near Delhi.

When mega serial - Buniyaad was started on Doordarshan during 1980s, it was the golden era of National network. Its actors became a part of Indian culture and she got attention as well. Despite playing a few meaty roles in Bollywood, she couldn’t sustain in the industry and hence after a few television serials and movies, she moved away. Anita Kanwar belongs to a league of natural actresses who draw critical acclaim and little else.

She thought of entering film world after seeing play called Look Back in Anger by Ibrahim Alkazi. Very soon, she joined NSD and was fortunate to be trained under Mr Alkazi himself. Theatre was in her mind, more than movies. But at one point of time, she realized that an artist cannot survive alone with theatre and thus she reached Mumbai. She had to struggle a lot till she got the role of Buniyaad. But this single role type casted her, which was not at all easy for the actress to digest and she moved away.

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Updated: February 15, 2014