Leela Naidu
Leela Naidu | |
---|---|
Born | 1940[1] |
Died | 28 July 2009 (aged 69) Mumbai |
Occupation(s) | Actor, Model [citation needed] |
Years active | 1960–1992 |
Spouses |
|
Parent |
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Awards | Femina Miss India |
Leela Naidu (1940 – 28 July 2009) was an Indian actress who starred in a small number of
Early life
Leela Naidu was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. Her father, Dr.
Naidu enjoyed the advantages of birth and the connections of her parents. She grew up in Europe, went to an elite school in Geneva, Switzerland, and in her teens, took acting lessons from Jean Renoir.
Leela met Salvador Dalí in Grand-hotel Opera, Paris where she posed for a painting of the Madonna.[5]
Career
Leela Naidu was crowned Femina Miss India in 1954, and the same year was featured in Vogue magazine's list of the world's ten most beautiful women.[2][6]
Film career
Naidu made her film debut alongside Balraj Sahni in Anuradha (1962), directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. Mukherjee cast Naidu in the role after he happened to see one of her pictures taken by Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay.[7] Though it was not successful at the box office, the film went on to win the National Film Award for Best Feature Film, and garnered Naidu critical acclaim. The movie's music, including the songs "Haye Re Woh Din Kewn Na Aaye", "Jaane Kaise Sapnon Mein Kho Gayin Ankhiyan" and "Kaise Din Beete Kaisi Beeti Raatein", were composed by sitar maestro Ravi Shankar.[8] Naidu's next film was Nitin Bose's Umeed (1962), alongside Ashok Kumar and Joy Mukherjee.
She played an offbeat role as an adulterous wife in
In 1963, Naidu played the lead role of a rebellious young bride in the first
After watching her performance in the film,
Later, Naidu made a guest appearance in the Merchant-Ivory film, , turned out to be her last cinematic role.
She turned down Raj Kapoor four times when he approached her for casting her in his films. David Lean wanted to cast her as Tonya in Dr. Zhivago, Satyajit Ray wanted to make a film with her and Marlon Brando.[14]
Leela Naidu produced a documentary on mentally challenged children A Certain Childhood, which was Kumar Shahni's first directorial project under the banner of Leela Naidu Films. Later, she registered under Unicorn Films to make another film Houseless Bombay, but it was never made. She briefly held a job as an editor at the Bombay-based magazine Key Notes.
In September 2009, Lila, a documentary on Leela Naidu's life, by Bidisha Roy Das and Priyanjana Dutta was released.[15]
Personal life
In 1956, at the age of 17, she married Tilak Raj Oberoi, son of
Death
Leela Naidu's separation from her second husband Moraes caused her to retire from public life. She lived alone, in an elegant and large old flat bequeathed to her father by the Tatas, at Sargent House, in old Bombay the by-lane of the Colaba Causeway, Mumbai. [20] Naidu spent most of her last decade indoors but had a steady roster of visitors as she was an excellent conversationalist. She would call her friends and keep in touch with both her daughters and grandsons. Her daughter Priya died of a heart attack on 8 February 2008.
Leela Naidu died in Mumbai on 28 July 2009, due to lung failure after a prolonged bout of influenza, at the age of 69.[21][22] Her funeral was held on 29 July in Chandanwadi Crematorium attended by her daughter Maya, grandchildren and friends.
Books
- Leela: A Patchwork Life co-authored with Jerry Pinto. Penguin Group, 2009.
Filmography
Films
- Anuradha (1962), aka Love of Anuradha (International: English title) .... Anuradha Roy
- Umeed (1962)
- Yeh Raste Hain Pyar Ke(1963) .... Neena
- The Householder(1963), aka Gharbar .... Indu
- Baghi (1964)
- Aabroo (1968) .... Sharda
- The Guru (1969) .... Girl at the Party
- Trikaal(Past, Present and Future) (1985) .... Dona Maria Souzasoares
- Electric Moon (1992) .... Socks
Television
- Man of the World .... Dr. Bahandi (1 episode – "The Frontier", 1962)
- Channing The Face in the Sun (1 episode – "The Young and the Bold", 1964) .... Anna
References
- Independent.co.uk. 21 September 2009. Archivedfrom the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
- ^ a b c The Times of India (29 July 2009). "Leela Naidu put India on the beauty map". The Times Of India. Archived from the original on 31 July 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- ^ Profile Lata Khubchandani, Prevention Today (India Today)."French Mother"
- ^ "The Art Of Being Radiant". Outlook. 17 August 2009. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
- ISBN 9788184752540. Archivedfrom the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ^ "Actress, beauty queen Leela Naidu dead". Press Trust of India. 28 July 2009. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- ^ a b Dubey, Bharati (29 July 2009). "Leela Naidu personified grace and beauty". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 31 July 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- ^ A cineaste in the mainstream cinema Archived 1 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine Raju Bharatan, Rediff.com 12 September 2000.
- ^ 'The gentleman of the industry' Archived 25 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine Lata Khubchandani, Rediff.com 25 May 2005.
- ^ A Leela Naidu film : Ya Raste hain Pyar ke Archived 26 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine Passion for Cinema, 10 November 2006.
- ^ "Satyajit Ray planned film with Leela Naidu, Brando". The Times of India. 28 July 2009. Archived from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- ^ 'He was an adorable producer' Archived 4 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine Lata Khubchandani. Rediff.com 26 May 2005.
- ^ "Leela was wonderful: Benegal". The Times of India. 29 July 2009. Archived from the original on 2 August 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- ^ Suveen K. Sinha (16 June 2010). "A lifelong battle against beauty". Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016 – via Business Standard.
- Live Mint. Archivedfrom the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
- ^ a b "Oberoi Mohan Singh". The Most Famous Hotels in the World. 9 November 2009. Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- ^ Leela Naidu: An icon of Indian cinema passes away Archived 7 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine The Daily Star, 1 August 2009
- ^ The Philosopher and the Actress Archived 2 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine Rediff.com 17 February 2001.
- Indian Express, 29 July 2009.
- ^ Express, The Indian. "The Indian Express". archive.indianexpress.com. The Express Group, India. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- Times of India. 28 July 2009. Archivedfrom the original on 31 July 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- CNN IBN28 July 2009.