Nepedia
Back to Discover
Advanced Reader
🎨

Rakhee Gulzar

arts Maturity 7-9 war conflict Next article →

This article covers sensitive topics: war_conflict. Parents can manage visibility in Parental Controls.

Raakhee Gulzar is a prominent Indian actress known for her work in Hindi and Bengali cinema.

She emerged as one of the most influential leading actresses during the 1970s and early 1980s. Her career is defined by a remarkable versatility that allowed her to move between romantic, comedic, and intense dramatic roles. For her contributions to the arts, she has received numerous prestigious honors. These include two National Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards. In 2003, she was also awarded the Padma Shri, which is India's fourth-highest civilian award.

Raakhee's professional journey began in the Bengali film industry. She made her acting debut in 1967 with the film Badhu Bharan.

She later transitioned to Hindi cinema, making her debut in the 1970 film Jeevan Mrityu. This film was a successful crime thriller where she played the lead role opposite actor Dharmendra. Following this, she achieved rapid stardom through several commercial successes. These included the musical romance Sharmeelee, where she performed a triple role, and dramas such as Lal Patthar and Paras. These early roles helped establish her as a major figure in Hindi cinema.

Her career reached new heights through a series of breakthrough performances that showcased her range. In 1973, she won her first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for the film Daag: A Poem of Love.

She also received a Special Souvenir prize at the National Film Awards in 1974 for her work in 27 Down. A major turning point occurred in 1976 with the film Tapasya. In this heroine-dominated drama, she portrayed a family breadwinner who sacrificed her own ambitions for her siblings. This performance earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. The film was a significant box-office success and solidified her reputation as a powerful dramatic actress.

Raakhee's filmography includes collaborations with many of India's most legendary actors. She maintained an exemplary professional chemistry with Amitabh Bachchan, appearing in eight of his films.

Notable collaborations included Kaala Patthar, Trishul, and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar. She also starred in ten films with Shashi Kapoor, such as the critically acclaimed Trishna. Other frequent co-stars included Rajesh Khanna and Dev Anand. Her ability to hold her own against these leading men was often noted by critics. In some films, such as Jurmana, her prominence was so great that her name was credited before the male lead.

As her career progressed, Raakhee made the deliberate choice to transition into strong character roles. Instead of only playing the traditional heroine, she accepted roles as a sister-in-law, a mother, or a woman of high principle.

She played the mother to Amitabh Bachchan in the films Shakti and Yeh Vaada Raha. During the 1990s and early 2000s, she remained active in commercially successful movies like Baazigar and Border. In 2003, she won another National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the mystery thriller Shubho Mahurat. This demonstrated her continued ability to command attention in supporting parts.

Raakhee was born on 15 August 1947, in Ranaghat, located in the Nadia district of West Bengal.

Her father operated a successful shoe business in Meherpur, which was then part of undivided India. Following the partition, the family settled in West Bengal. Beyond acting, she has explored other creative avenues in the film industry. She worked in costume designing for the film Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha in 1998. She also provided dress assistance for Dil Kya Kare in 1999. Additionally, she lent her voice to the song "Teri Nindiya Ko Lag Jaaye Aag Re" in the 1982 film Taaqat.

Her personal life is closely linked to the Indian literary and cinematic tradition. In 1973, she married the celebrated poet, lyricist, and director Gulzar.

Following her marriage, she adopted his pen name as her surname, becoming Raakhee Gulzar. The couple has one daughter, Meghna Gulzar, who has become a successful writer and film director. Today, Raakhee lives a quiet life at her farmhouse in Panvel. She spends her time tending to animals, growing vegetables, and reading. Her legacy remains a vital part of Indian cinematic history.

684 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.