Remembering Usha Kiran

( 22nd April 1929 - 9th March 2000 )

We, the Maharashtrians have a special pride for Madhuri Dixit for securing the topmost position in Bollywood in 90s. While the pride placed on Madhuri is not at all undeserved, at the same time we should also be proud of Usha Kiran, a Marathi actress who made a mark in Bollywood in 1950s, when forget acting in movies, going to a movie was a taboo !

Usha Kiran viz. Usha Balkrishna Marathe, started acting in films at the age of 19 to support her family. Her first film was Kalpana ( 1948 )a dance- drama film, produced by Uday Shankar, in which she played a small role. Her first film in lead role was 'Daag' ( 1952 ) opposite Dilip Kumar. But she rose to the fame from Patita ( 1953 ) opposite Dev Anand. Her performance in Patita established her in Bollywood.

Usha Kiran acted in about 50 Hindi and Marathi films. Other than Daag and Patita, her other hit  Hindi films were Badbaan, Nazrana, Kabuliwala, Chupke Chupke, Mili, Bawarchi etc. Her well known Marathi films are 'Shikleli Bayko', Postatil Mulgi and Jashas Tase.

Usha Kiran acted opposite to the Great trine ( Raj,Dilip,Dev), Ashok Kumar, and during 70s opposite to Rajesh
Khanna, Dharmendra and Amitabh Bacchan.

She had the honour of being Sheriff of Mumbai during 1996-97. This talented actress having a simple, sweet and expressive face succumbed to cancer in 2000. Dev Anand who worked with Usha Kiran in three films remembered her in his condolence as one of the finest actress he has ever worked with...