Shashikala Saigal (née Jawalkar; 4 August 1932 – 4 April 2021), better known by her first name, was an
Indian film and television actress, who played supporting roles in hundreds of
Bollywood
Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...
films beginning in the
1940s
File:1940s decade montage.png, Above title bar: events during World War II (1939–1945): From left to right: Troops in an LCVP landing craft approaching Omaha Beach on D-Day; Adolf Hitler visits Paris, soon after the Battle of France; The Holoca ...
.
Early years
Shashikala Jawalkar was one of six children born in
Solapur,
Maharashtra to a Hindu Bhavsar Shimpi caste Marathi speaking family. By age 5, she had already been dancing, singing and acting on stage in many towns in Solapur district. When Shashikala was in her pre-teens, through ill luck, her father became bankrupt, and he brought his family to
Bombay
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the '' de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the sec ...
(now
Mumbai
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the secon ...
), where they thought that Shashikala, the best-looking and most-talented among his children, could find work in movies. For some time, the family lived with friends and barely survived, while Shashikala wandered from one studio to another looking for work. She earned in bits and pieces till she met
Noor Jehan, the reigning screen queen.
Noor Jehan's husband
Shaukat Hussain Rizvi, was making the movie ''Zeenat'' then, and included Shashikala in a ''
Qawwali'' scene. She worked with Shammi Kapoor in film Daku (1955). She struggled on and got small roles in movies made by P. N. Arora, Amiya Chakravarti, and a few other producers. She first rose to fame with her role in Hindi film Pugdi (1948) produced by Prem Narayan Arora. She got roles in
V. Shantaram's ''
Teen Batti Char Raasta'' (1953) and a few other movies. While in her early twenties, Shashikala met and married Om Prakash Saigal, who belonged to the
Kundan Lal Saigal family, and has two daughters.
Acclaimed supporting roles
In 1959, she appeared in
Bimal Roy's ''Sujata''. In
Tarachand Barjatya's ''Aarti'' (1962), starring
Meena Kumari,
Ashok Kumar, and
Pradeep Kumar
Pradeep Kumar (born Sital Batabyal; 4 January 1925 – 3 November 2001) was an Indian actor who is recognized for his work in Hindi, Bengali and English-language films.
Career
When Kumar was 17 years old, he decided to take up acting. He st ...
, Shashikala portrayed a negative role,
eventually winning a
Filmfare Award.
Soon after, offers began to pour in to her for supporting roles. She appeared in ''Anupama'', ''Phool Aur Patthar'', ''Ayi Milan Ki Bela'', ''Gumrah'', ''Waqt'', and ''Khubsoorat''.
She played a negative character in Chhote Sarkar (1974) starring Shammi Kapoor and Sadhana. While her female lead co-stars usually played roles of good-natured, modest, or pious women, Shashikala usually played either flighty and feisty bubbly women or vamps who plotted the downfall of others. Later in her acting career, she would typically play the role of a sister or mother-in-law. In 80s her acclaimed performances came in films like
Phir Wahi Raat,
Souten,
Sargam. She performed in supporting roles in more than 100 films.
Recent acting roles

In the past years, she has performed in a few television serials, including ''
Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai'' for
Sony
, commonly stylized as SONY, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. As a major technology company, it operates as one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer and professional ...
, ''Apnaapan'' for
Zee TV, ''Dil Deke Dekho'' for
Sab TV and ''
Son Pari'' for
Star Plus. She had roles in ''Mother 98'', ''
Pardesi Babu'', ''
Baadshah'', ''
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham'', ''
Mujhse Shaadi Karogi'' and ''
Chori Chori''.
Awards
;Civilian Award
*
2007
File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple's first iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto ...
–
Padma Shri
Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is confe ...
– India's fourth highest civilian honour from the
Government of India
The Government of India ( ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, ...
.
;Film Awards
Selected filmography
* ''
Karodpati'' (1936)
* ''Chand'' (1944)
* ''
Zeenat'' (1945) as Qawalli singer (one of the females)
* ''
Jugnu'' (1947)
* ''Doli'' (1947) (as Sashikala)
* ''Pugree'' (1948)
* ''Girls' School'' (1949)
* ''
Bombay
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the '' de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the sec ...
'' (1949)
* ''Bholi'' (1949)
* ''Aakhri Paigham'' (1949)
* ''Thes'' (1949)
* ''Rupaiya'' (1950)
* ''Raj Rani'' (1950)
* ''Patthe Bapurao'' (1950)
* ''
Arzoo'' (1950) as Kamla
* ''Sarkar'' (1951)
* ''Chamkee'' (1952)
* ''Ajeeb Ladki'' (1952)
* ''
Teen Batti Char Raasta'' (1953) as Lalita (Maratha wife)
* ''Madmust'' (1953)
* ''
Jeewan Jyoti'' (1953) as Leela
* ''Chacha Chowdhury'' (1953)
* ''
Surang
''Surang'' () is a 1953 film directed by V. Shantaram for his Rajkamal Kalamandir banner. The story and dialogue were by Vinod Kumar with music by Shivram Krishna and lyrics by Shewan Rizwi. The actor Chandrashekhar came into prominence with his ...
'' (1953) as Pagli
* ''Parichay'' (1954)
* ''
Shart'' (1954) as Toto
* ''
Sangam'' (1954)
* ''Samaj'' (1954) (as Sashikala)
* ''Sitara'' (1955)
* ''Sakhi Lutera'' (1955)
* ''Sabse Bada Rupaiya'' (1955)
* ''Hoor-E-Arab'' (1955)
* ''Daku'' (1955)
* ''Bahu'' (1955)
* ''
Abe-Hayat'' (1955) as Shehzadi
* ''Taj Aur Talwar'' (1956)
* ''
Patrani
''Patrani'' ( hi, पटरानी; ) is a 1956 Hindi black and white historical drama written by R. S. Choudhury and directed by Vijay Bhatt. The film starred Vyjayanthimala and Pradeep Kumar, with Shashikala, Durga Khote, Om Prakash, Jeevan, ...
'' (1956) as Namunjala
* ''Kar Bhala'' (1956)
* ''Diwali Ki Raat'' (1956)
* ''Bhagam Bhag'' (1956) as Shashi
* ''Bandhan'' (1956) as Shanta
* ''Arab Ka Saudagar'' (1956)
* ''Jahazi Lutera'' (1957)
* ''Beti'' (1957)
* ''
Nau Do Gyarah'' (1957) as Neeta
* ''Lal Batti'' (1957)
* ''Captain Kishore'' (1957)
* ''Chandu'' (1958)
* ''Chalta Purza'' (1958)
* ''
12 O'Clock'' (1958) as Neena
* ''Sun To Le Hasina'' (1958)
* ''Jung Bahadur'' (1958)
* ''Madam XYZ'' (1959)
* ''Khoobsurat Dhokha'' (1959)
* ''Rangeela Raja'' (1960)
* ''
Kanoon'' (1960) as Murder's Girl Friend
* ''
Sujata'' (1960) as Rama Chowdhury
* ''Teer Aur Talwar'' (1960)
* ''
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...
'' (1960) as Shobha
* ''Jo Huwa So Bhool Jao'' (1960)
* ''Do Aadmi'' (1960)
* ''Flight to Assam'' (1961)
* ''
Junglee'' (1961) as Mala (as Shashi Kala)
* ''Krorepati'' (1961) as Roopa
* ''Batwara'' (1961) as Kala
* ''
Hariyali Aur Rasta'' (1962) as Rita
* ''Naag Devata'' (1962)
* ''
Anpadh'' (1962) as Basanti
* ''
Aarti'' (1962) as Jaswanti
* ''
Gumrah'' (1963) as Leela/Miss Roberts
* ''Commercial Pilot Officer'' (1963)
* ''
Yeh Rastey Hain Pyar Ke'' (1963) as Asha
* ''Satyavan Savitri'' (1963)
* ''Hamrahi'' (1963) as Hemalata 'Hema'
* ''Godaan'' (1963)
* ''Punar Milan'' (1964) as Shobhna Bakshi
* ''
Mera Qasoor Kya Hai
''Mera Qasoor Kya Hai'' () is a 1964 Indian Hindi-language film starring Dharmendra, Nanda and Om Prakash. The film's music is by Chitragupta.
Lyrics and dialogue of the film are by Rajinder Krishan
Cast
* Dharmendra
* Mohan Choti
* Babloo
* ...
'' (1964) as Shashi
* ''
Jahan Ara'' (1964) as Karuna
* ''
Ayee Milan Ki Bela'' (1964) as Roopa
* ''
Apne Huye Paraye
''Apne Huye Paraye'' is a 1964 Indian Bollywood film produced and directed by Ajit Chakraborty. It stars Manoj Kumar and Mala Sinha in pivotal roles.
Plot
Young Rekha lives with her widowed mother (Dulari). The five-year-old Lata, who is R ...
'' (1964) as Lata
* ''
Aap Ki Parchhaiyan'' (1964) as Rekha
* ''
Himalay Ki God Mein'' (1965) as Dr. Neeta Verma (as Shashi Kala)
* ''
Waqt'' (1965) as Rani sahiba
* ''Teesra Kaun'' (1965) as Lily
* ''
Neela Aakash
''Neela Aakash'' () is a 1965 Indian Hindi-language film directed by Rajendra Bhatia. The film stars Dharmendra, Mala Sinha, Shashikala, Mehmood and Raj Mehra. The film's music is by Madan Mohan.
Plot
Neela ( Mala Sinha) is a well educated gir ...
'' (1965) as Rita
* ''
Bheegi Raat
''Bheegi Raat'' () is a 1965 Bollywood film produced and directed by Kalidas. The film was a semi hit at the box office.
Roshan was the music director. Hit songs from the movie include'' 'Dil Jo Na Keh Saka' ''sung by Mohammed Rafi and La ...
'' (1965) as Vinita / Vinnie
* ''Bedaag'' (1965) as Lata
* ''Sunehre Qadam'' (1966)
* ''
Anupama'' (1966) as Anita Bakshi 'Annie'
* ''
Phool Aur Patthar'' (1966) as Rita
* ''Toofan Men Pyar Kahan'' (1966)
* ''
Pyar Mohabbat'' (1966) as Mohini
* ''Pati Patni'' (1966) as Lali
* ''
Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare'' (1966) as Ms. Paul
* ''
Do Dilon Ki Dastaan'' (1966)
* ''
Devar'' (1966) as Shanta M. Singh / Shanta S. Rai
* ''
Daadi Maa
''Daadi Maa'' () is a 1966 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by L. V. Prasad and starring Ashok Kumar, Bina Rai, Tanuja and Durga Khote.
Plot
Parvati (Bina Rai) hopes to repair the relationship between her husband Raja Pratap Rai (As ...
'' (1966) as Ganga
* ''
Mehrban'' (1967) as Devki
* ''
Chhoti Si Mulaqat
''Chhoti Si Mulaqat'' (''English: A Brief Interaction'') is a 1967 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film directed by Alo Sarkar starring Uttam Kumar and Vyjayanthimala. It's a remake of 1954 Bengali film '' Agni Pariksha'' directed by Agrado ...
'' (1967) as Sonia
* ''
Neel Kamal'' (1968) as Chanchal
* ''
Aabroo'' (1968) as Shanta
* ''
Teen Bahuraniyan'' (1968) as Sheela Devi
* ''Tamanna'' (1969)
* ''
Shatranj'' (1969) as Suzie
* ''
Rahgir'' (1969)
* ''
Paisa Ya Pyar
''Paisa Ya Pyar'' () is a 1969 Indian Hindi-language film directed by Jawar N. Sitaraman. The film stars Ashok Kumar, Biswajeet, Mala Sinha, Tanuja and Shashikala. The lyrics were written by Sahir Ludhianvi. The film was a remake of the Tamil ...
'' (1969) as Lakshmi
* ''
Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi
''Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi'' () is a 1970 Indian Hindi film starring Sanjay Khan, Leena Chandavarkar, Om Prakash, and Jagdeep among others. It deals with the relationship between mothers-in-law and their daughters-in-law. The film was a remake ...
'' (1970) as Maya M. Chaudhary
* ''
Humjoli'' (1970) as Shyama Rai
* ''
Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani'' (1970) as Jamuna
* ''
Chhoti Bahu'' (1971) as Paro
* ''
Woh Din Yaad Karo'' (1971) as Rajkumari / Saroj
* ''
Jawan Muhabat Jawan may refer to:
*''Jawan'', a term of Persian origin, meaning "young" in several South Asian languages
* A junior soldier
A soldier is a Salvationist who is at least 14 years of age and has, with the approval of The Salvation Army Pastoral ...
'' (1971) as Mala Das (as Shashi Kala)
* ''Narad Leela'' (1972)
* ''Naag Panchami'' (1972) as Mahadevi Mansa
* ''Dastaan E Kashmir'' (1973)
* ''
Chhote Sarkar'' (1974) as Seema
* ''
Amaanat'' (1977) as Sonia
* ''Babruvahana'' (1977)
* ''
Swami'' (1977) as Ghanshyam's step-mother
* ''Duniyadari'' (1977) as Malti devi
* ''
Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaaye'' (1977) as Ms. Saxena (as Sashikala)
* ''
Dildaar'' (1977) as Lata's mom (as Shashi Kala)
* ''
Hamara Sansar
''Hamara Sansar'' () is a 1978 Indian Hindi-language film directed by T. Prakash Rao produced under Usha Productions, starring Parikshit Sahni, Nutan, Mithun Chakraborty and Sarika.
Cast
* Parikshit Sahni as Pratap
* Nutan as Geeta
* Mi ...
'' (1978) as Pratap's Mother
* ''Bin Baap Ka Beta'' (1979)
* ''
Sargam'' (1979) as Savitri Pradhan
* ''Zulm Ki Pukar'' (1979)
* ''
Khubsoorat'' (1980) as Mrs. Gupta
* ''Kashish'' (1980) as Seema's Mother
* ''
Phir Wohi Raat'' (1980) as Aunty
* ''Yeh Kaisa Insaf?'' (1980) as Shanta Nath
* ''Swayamvar'' (1980) as Jwala
* ''Saajan Mere Main Saajan Ki'' (1980)
* ''
Kranti'' (1981) as Charumati (Shakti's Adopted Mother)
* ''
Rocky'' (1981) as Sophia
* ''
Biwi O Biwi'' (1981) as Nirmala
* ''
Ahista Ahista'' (1981) as Subbalaxmi
* ''
Jyothi'' (1981) as Sunanda (Niranjan's mom)
* ''
Dial 100'' (1982) as Shanti
* ''Teri Maang Sitaron Se Bhar Doon'' (1982) as Anand's Mother
* ''
Yeh To Kamaal Ho Gaya
''Yeh To Kamaal Ho Gaya'' () is a 1982 Indian Hindi-language film directed by T. Rama Rao. It stars Kamal Haasan in a double role, with Poonam Dhillon in the lead roles and is a remake of his own acted Tamil film '' Sattam En Kaiyil'' (1978).
...
'' (1982)
* ''
Samraat'' (1982) as Ranbir's mom
* ''
Anokha Bandhan
''Anokha Bandhan'' ( ''Unique Relation'') is a 1982 Hindi-language drama film, produced by Ratan Irani under the Shree Jagdamba Movies banner and directed by Mehul Kumar. It stars Ashok Kumar, Shabana Azmi, Navin Nischol, Master Bittu while ...
'' (1982) as Annapurna's mom
* ''Log Kya Kahenge'' (1982)
* ''
Souten'' (1983) as Renu Prannath Pasha (as Shashi Kala)
* ''Dard-E-Dil'' (1983) as Shola Beghum
* ''Ram Tera Desh'' (1984) as Kanta Saxena
* ''Lek Chalali Sasarla'' (1984) as Aaisaheb
* ''
Tawaif'' (1985) as Bilquis Bai (as Shashi Kala)
* ''
Arjun'' (1985) as Mrs. Rukhmini Malvankar
* ''Mahananda'' (1985)
* ''
Amma'' (1986) as Jiji
*
''Preeti'' (1986 film)
* ''Khamosh Nigahen'' (1986)
* ''Dhakti Soon'' (1986) as Ujwala's patron
* ''
Dadagiri'' (1987) as Shanti B. Singh
* ''
Besahara'' (1987) as Rakesh's Mother
* ''
Mera Karam Mera Dharam
''Mera Karam Mera Dharam '' (transl. My deed, my religion) is a 1987 Bollywood film, starring Dharmendra and Moushumi Chatterjee. The movie was shot in Murshidabad kathgola Palace, West Bengal.
Plot
Ajay lives in poverty with his mother until ...
'' (1987) as Mrs. Taraknath
* ''
Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani'' (1988) as Mrs. Dhanraj
* ''
Main Tere Liye'' (1988) as Anjana Saxena
* ''Sach'' (1989) as Mrs. Chinoy
* ''
Salma Pe Dil Aa Gaya
The South American land mammal ages (SALMA) establish a geologic timescale for prehistoric South American fauna beginning 64.5 Ma during the Paleocene and continuing through to the Late Pleistocene (0.011 Ma). These periods are referred to as ...
'' (1997) as Dai Maa
* ''
Lahoo Ke Do Rang'' (1997) as Chachi
* ''Main Solah Baras Ki'' (1998)
* ''
Maharaja
Mahārāja (; also spelled Maharajah, Maharaj) is a Sanskrit title for a "great ruler", "great Monarch, king" or "high king".
A few ruled states informally called empires, including ruler raja Sri Gupta, founder of the ancient Indian Gupta Em ...
'' (1998) as Ranbir's mom
* ''
Pardesi Babu'' (1998) as Mai (landlady)
* ''
Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge!'' (1998) as Mrs. Malhotra
* ''
Baadshah'' (1999) as Raj(Baadshah)'s Mother
* ''
Mother'' (1999) as Mrs. Chaudhary
* ''Agniputra'' (2000)
* ''Uljhan'' (2001) as Varun's grandma
* ''
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham'' (2001) as Ashfaque's grandmother
* ''
Jhankaar Beats'' (2003) as Shanti's mother
* ''
Chori Chori'' (2003) as Chachi
* ''
Mujhse Shaadi Karogi'' (2004) as Grandma Malhotra
* ''
Rakht'' (2004) as Dhristi's Grandmother
* ''
Padmashree Laloo Prasad Yadav'' (2005) as South African Witness
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shashikala
1932 births
2021 deaths
Indian film actresses
Actresses in Hindi cinema
Indian television actresses
People from Solapur
Marathi people
Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts
Filmfare Awards winners
20th-century Indian actresses
21st-century Indian actresses