25 Facts About Nutan The Legendary Actress Who Had A Glorious Bollywood Career Of Four Decades

Which movie buff is not familiar with the name Nutan! For an 80s child like me, I grew up listening to her songs as my parents were witness to Nutan’s golden era in the Indian cinema. Nutan was known for her exceptional acting skills and was even referred to as “one of the finest performers in the Hindi cinema ever!” by various film critics, both Indian and international alike.

Did you know what for many decades Nutan held the record for winning the highest number of Filmfare Awards for the Best Actress?! There are many such facts that most of us are unaware about. Let us take you through a virtual journey of Nutan’s life, circling some of the interesting facts.

1. Nutan Samarth Bahl was born in a Marathi Family

Nutan was born on 4th June 1936 to a director-poet Kumarsen Samarth and actress Shobhna Samarth in a Marathi family.

2. Eldest of the four children

While her mother was a well-known actress of her time. Nutan sister Tanuja also joined the movies for a successful film career. She had two other siblings, brother Jaideep and another sister Chatura.

3. Completed her higher studies in Switzerland

She completed her schooling from St. Joseph’s Convent School, Panchgani. After that, she went for her higher studies to Switzerland. She describes the one year spent in Switzerland as the ‘happiest year of her life.’

4. Began her film career at the age of 14

Nutan started her film career at the age of 14 with the movie Humari Beti in 1950, which was produced by her mother, Shobhna. However, her career was not going great, therefore, her mother decided to send her for higher studies to Switzerland. And when she came back, there was no looking back.

5. Tasted success in 1957

For her, the torrent of success started with the movie ‘Seema’ in 1957, which led her to her first Filmfare Award for the Best Actress.

6. Hugely appreciated for her acting skills

She was widely acclaimed for her stellar performances in all the movies she acted in such as Paying Guest, Anari, Sujata, Chalia, Saraswati Chandra, Tere Ghar Ke Saamne, Devi and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki and many more, with critics calling her superbly expressive.

7. Paired with Dilip Kumar only once!

Despite being two of the most popular performers of their era, Nutan and Dilip Kumar were paired in the movie Karma in 1986 for the first time. Although there was a movie where they were paired together in yesteryears called Shikwa, however, it remained incomplete.

Also read- 25 Lesser-Known Facts About Dilip Kumar, The Tragedy King of Bollywood

8. Bandini was considered one of her best movie

Her performance in Bandini was the most appreciated one as apart from the Filmfare Award for the Best Actress it also won her a huge amount appreciation by The Bengal Film Journalists’ Association, The Hindu and “25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema” by Forbes India along with various other film critics.

9. Acted in a television series

In her lifetime, Nutan only acted in one serial which was aired on the small screen, Mujrim Hazir. Her performance as Kaliganj ki Bahu won her accolades.

10. Marriage to Rajnish Bahl

Nutan married Naval Lieutenant Commander Rajnish Bahl in the year 1959. Her husband was very supportive of her career, however, being a wife of a naval officer, her personal life became very demanding as they would be required to socialise quite often.

11. Nutan’s only child Mohnish Bahl was born in 1961; he became a well-known actor in the Hindi Film Industry.

12. Besides her profession, acting, Nutan was also interested in hunting.

13. Record holder for winning 5 Filmfare Awards

She holds the record of winning 5 Filmfare Awards for the Best Actress. These awards were for movies Seema, Sujata, Bandini, Milan and Main Tulsi tere Aangan Ki.

14. Record Holder for grabbing a lead actor award at the age of 42

The Best Actress Award for Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki made her another record holder of being the oldest winner of the award at an age of 42. It is believed that during those times, Nutan was the only one who was doing lead roles in movies at that age.

15. Nutan was also awarded the Padma Shri, which is the fourth-highest civilian honour of India by the Government of India in 1974.

16. Nutan Biography

Well known Marathi author Lalita Tamhane has written a book on the life of Nutan by the name of Nutan – Asen Mi Nasen Mi.

17. A writer, poetess, thinker and a philosophic woman

In an interview with Cineplot Nutan’s friend Gautam Rajadhyaksha, the well-known photographer of Bollywood tells Nutan’s story in her own words, as she had told him.

“I got a lot very early in life. I feel I have achieved everything in the right time, but I have managed to maintain it a little while longer than many. With actors or actresses, it’s a fade out or a fade over to another category in 15 years time. I was a leading lady for over thirty years and my transition was gradual and smooth. Yes. I do feel a sense of achievement. But the credit doesn’t go entirely to me. Luck had a big hand in it. I must admit I’ve had it easy, though.”

18. When Nutan had to take her mother to court

There were two incidents in Nutan’s life which she said to cause her great pain,

“One, was the rift between my mother and me, when I took her to court for mismanaging my funds. It was a very hard decision for me to take. Yes, I had expected the reaction: `How can a daughter take her mother to the court?’ But that didn’t make the conflict any easier to bear. Yet, I had to do it to protect the future of everyone concerned. Anyway since 1983, all is well between the two families.”

19. The second incident was when Nutan Slapped Sanjeev Kumar

It is believed that Nutan used to be careful not to get entangled in any controversy, however, once when Sanjeev Kumar started spreading rumours about their love affair, which was non-existent, she slapped him in front of everyone present. Gautam Rajadhyaksha said,

“My slapping Sanjeev Kumar became a much-talked about incident. He made a very careless, irresponsible statement about having an affair and that made me furious. I have never been linked with scandals and when he said what he did, I flew off the handle. I had to put him in his place. After I said what I had to, I cooled down and said, ‘let’s finish the love scene,’ and we did.”

20. Nutan’s last movie was Kanoon Apna Apna which was released in 1989.

21. Nutan passed away on 21st February 1991 due to Breast Cancer, which was diagnosed in 1990.

22. Her husband, Rajnish also passed away in 2004 due to a fire accident at his residence.

23. Two of her movies, Naseebwala and Insaniyat were released after Nutan’s death in 1992 and 1994, respectively.

24. Postage Stamp in her honour

India’s Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology released a postage stamp bearing her photo to honour her in 2011.

25. On her 81st birthday, Google commemorated her with a Doodle.

In a career spanning over almost 4 decades, Nutan gave exceptionally stellar performances throughout! From a leading lady to a mother in a supporting role, Nutan’s acting skills have been appreciated widely, by fans and critics alike. There have been very few actors who have given unforgettable memories to the audience by their talents and Nutan was such an actor; she is forever carved in the memories of Indian Cinema.