Leela Desai

Leela Desai Biography

Leela Desai was a popular actress of Indian screen in the silent era and early talkies in 1930s and 1940s. She was the daughter of very famous medical practitioner Umedram Lalbhai Desai and his second wife Satyabala Devi, a musician in the early 1900s. Her sisters, Shanti married the nephew of Sir Rabindranath Tagore, Monica married Phani Majumdar, a famous filmmaker of Hindi cinema and Ramola married the grandson of Nawab Sirajul Islam. She also had two half-brothers from his father’s first wedlock, and 6 more from her father’s third marriage. Her mother, Satyabala Devi was his second life, and the children including Leela followed her footsteps to join art and film world.

Leela was born in Newark, New Jersey. Her parents were on a tour to America when she was born. After leaving his first wife, Umedram Lalbhai Desai, a Gujarati Brahmin at the age of 36 married 13-year old child widow, her mother, daughter of a Zamindar from Bihar. There were 5 kids born in this wedlock. Leela grew up in India, and started her career in films. She acted in 11 Indian movies and was the associate producer of the movie, Kabuliwali in 1961. She shared screen space with her sister Ramola for one movie, Kaliyan in 1944.

Leela took formal education in classical Hindustani dancing under Sohanlal and Lacchumaharaj. She also completed her academic education in Music in Morrice College, Lucknow and also pursued a career in acting field. She later received training from Bhatkhande Music Institute established in Lucknow in 1926. She was regularly paired with Saighal in films, and her acting skills were praised as flawless. Dushman, President, Vidyapati, Nartaki and Tamanna were some among her famous films.

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Updated: April 29, 2018