Photo: India Post, Government of India · GODL-India

Actress · Hindi Cinema

Smita Patil

Retro1975–1988

Smita Patil was one of the foremost actresses of Indian parallel cinema, celebrated for her naturalistic performances and portrayals of strong, complex women. A former television newsreader on Mumbai Doordarshan, she entered films through Shyam Benegal's Charandas Chor (1975) and went on to work extensively with directors such as Benegal and Govind Nihalani. Across roughly a decade she appeared in over 80 films, primarily in Hindi and Marathi, balancing acclaimed art-house work with mainstream cinema. Her career was cut short by her sudden death in 1986 at the age of 31, and she remains an enduring icon of socially engaged Indian filmmaking.

Honours: Two National Film Awards for Best Actress (for Bhumika and Chakra), the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for Chakra, and the Padma Shri (1985).

Filmography

45 films · compiled from Wikidata

Best known for: Bhumika · Manthan · Chakra · Bazaar · Arth · Ardh Satya · Mandi · Mirch Masala

Did You Know?

She began her career in the early 1970s as a television newsreader on Mumbai Doordarshan before moving into films.
A leading figure of India's parallel (New Indian) cinema, she frequently collaborated with directors Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihalani.
She died on 13 December 1986 at just 31, from childbirth complications (puerperal sepsis), and several of her films were released posthumously through 1988.
Her son with actor Raj Babbar, Prateik Babbar, later became a Bollywood actor himself.
Mother India (1957) was India’s first film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959) was the first Indian film shot in CinemaScope widescreen.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest honour in cinema, is named after the father of Indian film.

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Filmography

The 1970s–80s

Waaris

Dance Dance

Awam

Insaniyat Ke Dushman

Sher Shivaji

Sutradhar

Thikana

Amrit

Angaaray

Anokha Rishta

Dahleez

Dilwaala

Kaanch Ki Deewar

Nazrana

Mirch Masala

Chidambaram

Ghulami

Meraa Ghar Mere Bachche

Aakhir Kyon?

Debshishu

Aaj Ki Awaaz

Anand Aur Anand

Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki

Meraa Dost Meraa Dushman

Ardh Satya

Mandi

Qayamat

Anveshane

Chatpati

Arth

Shakti

Badle Ki Aag

Bazaar

Bheegi Palkein

Dard Ka Rishta

Dil-E-Nadaan

Namak Halaal

Umbartha

Sadgati

Akaler Shandhaney

Chakra

Aakrosh

Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai

The Naxalites

Kondura

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