Leela Mishra

Leela Mishra was a notable Indian actress, who was a character artist in more than 200 films of Bollywood for almost five decades. She also played in many stock roles like Chachi or Mausi i.e., as aunts. She is very famous for her character in Sholay as Mausi in the year 1975, Baton Baton Mein Baton Baton Mein is a hit televised talk show. A t >> Read More... in the year 1979 and Dil Se Mile Dil in the year 1978. She also acted in many films of Rajesh Khanna Born as Jatin Khanna on 29th December 1942, the ch >> Read More... like Aanchal, Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein, Mehbooba, and Rajshri Productions' hit movies like Geet Gaata Chal in the year 1975, Abodh in the year 1984.

Leela was married to a character artist named Ram Prasad Mishra, who was working in some silent films when she was 12 years old. She gave birth to two daughters in five years after getting married. Leela's talent was first identified by a man named Mama Shinde. He was working for Nasik Cinetone of Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, who is famous as Dadasaheb Phalke. Since there was a scarcity of female actors in movies those days, Leela Mishra was paid higher compared to her husband. The salary of Ram Prasad was about Rs. 150 per month, while her salary was Rs. 500 per month. But, their agreements were cancelled as they fared very less on screen. They got their next chance to work for the movie produced by a big company which, was owned by the King of Kolhapur. The name of the film was Bhikarin.

Leela lost this opportunity also as the character required that she should put her arms around an actor, who was not her husband during a dialogue delivery, as she refused to do it. She faced the same problem when she was working in a movie named Honhaar. She was to act as a heroine opposite Shahu Modak, in which it was necessary for her to hug, and also embrace him. She refused the offer again. She wasn't removed from the film as the company was not legally strong, and hence, it was a blessing for her.

She played the role of Modak's mother in the same film, and it worked well. This success made her popular in playing mother roles at the age of 18. She acted in many notable films in the 1940s and 1950s like Anmol Ghadi in the year 1948, Awaara in the year 1951, which was directed by Raj Kapoor, Lajwanti in the year 1958, starred by Nargis and Balraj Sahni. This film was nominated for the highest prize awarded Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. She also worked in a Bhojpuri film named Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo in the year 1962, which was starred by Helen Khan, Kumkum, and Nasir Hussain.

Leela died in Bombay at the age of 80 due to the heart attack on 17th January 1988.