Suchitra Sen

Suchitra Sen Biography

Suchitra Sen’s name is always counted among the most talented Bengali actresses all time. She was paired opposite another legend in Bengali films, Uttam Kumar in many movies and they became classics in the history of Bengali cinema. She refused the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2005 as she was keeping away from public eyes. In 2012, Suchitra Sen was conferred with West Bengal government`s highest award Banga Bibhushan. Her daughter Moon Moon Sen is a famous actress and her granddaughters Rima Sen and Riya Sen also work for Bollywood movies as well as Bengali movies.

Sen was born in Pabna in present day Pabna District of Bangladesh. She got married to Dibanath Sen, son of a wealthy Bengali industrialist in 1947 before she joined film industry. Actress Moon Moon Sen is their daughter. Suchitra Sen made a successful entry after marriage into Bengali films 1952. She occasionally acted in a few Hindi movies of which Aandhi, opposite Sanjeev Kumar became most popular. This movie was in news as everyone believed that it’s loosely based on the political career and personal life of the then Prime Minister of India – Indira Gandhi. Sen received a Filmfare Award nomination as Best Actress while Sanjeev kumar won it. She has won a Film fare nomination for the movie Mamta in 1966 too. Another successful movie was the classic Devdas opposite Dilip Kumar in the year 1955. This movie was her debut Hindi movie and it gave her Filmfare best actress award too.

Sen made her debut in films with Shesh Kothaay in 1952, but it was never released. Her first released movie was the box office hit, Sharey Chuattor, opposite Utham Kumar. Thus they came to be known as the successful pair of Bengali movies. Deep Jwele jai released in the year 1959 is regarded as the best performance of Suchitra Sen till now. This movie was later remade to Hindi as Khamoshi, where Waheeda Rehman played the leading role. Uttar Falguni (1963) is another landmark movie of this great actress.

She retired from the screen in 1978 after a career of over 25 years to a life of silence and isolation. She always keeps herself away from media’s eyes. Her other Hindi movies include – Mamta, Musafir, Bombai Ka Baboo and Sarhad.

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Updated: May 29, 2018