Geeta Bali

Geeta Bali Biography

Geeta Bali was a very popular actress of Bollywood during black and white era, who died at a very young age. She was the first wife of great romantic actor of yesterdays – Shammi Kapoor! She was busy in acting till death took her away at a comparatively younger age of 34. Her most prominent movies include – Anand Matt, Baaz, Baazi, Jaal and Albela. Songs pictured on this beautiful actress are always regarded as the best songs of the golden era of Bollywood music. Majority of her songs were sing by Geeta Dutt.

Bali was born in pre-partition Punjab in Sargodha as Harkirtan Kaur. They lived in Amritsar before 1947. Her father, Pandit Kartar Singh, known as Philosopher and a Sikh scholar was blind. Her family moved to Mumbai after India partition and her financial condition was very pathetic. To support the family, she worked for movies and it proved successful too. She is always regarded as one among the fine actresses during the era of 50’s. Geeta Baali starred her film career as a child actress, at the age of 12. Cobbler was her first released movie. As heroine, her debut movie was Bednaami and very soon she became a star during 50’s.

She has worked with her brother-in-law, Raj Kapoor in Bawre Nain ( as his heroine) and her father-in-law, Pritviraj kapoor in the movie Anand math. As per customs and traditions of Kapoor family, ladies were not allowed to work in movies. But Geeta Bali worked even after her marriage with Shammi Kapoor, till she died in 1965. After their marriage Geeta Bali acted in 14 films.

Earlier, she fell in love with her co-actor Shammi Kapoor when they were working together for the movie – Coffee house. They also worked together in Mujrim and Miss.Coco cola. Shammi was one year junior to her and as she has acted opposite his elder brother and along with his father, parents didn’t approve the marriage. They got secretly married in the year 1955 and later had two children. At that time, she was the shining star and Shammi Kapoor was still struggling. Later they together worked in many movies. She died on 21 January 1965, having contracted smallpox while shooting a Punjabi film Rano. She was the producer of the movie too. Frustrated director burnt the script along with her funeral pyre and didn’t complete the project.

Geeta Bali's last film as a lead was Jab Se Tumhe Dekha Hai opposite Pradeep Kumar. Best songs pictured on Geeta Bali – Baabuji deere chalna, Dheere se aaja re akhiyan mein, Hum pyar mein jalnewalom ko, Shyam dale khildki thale, Yeh raat chandni phir kahan, Sari Sari Raat Teri Yaad Sataye of Aji bas sukriya, Vande matharam of Annad Matt, Zara Saamne Aa Zara Aankh Mila of Baaz and Taqdeer banale song.  

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Updated: May 06, 2014