NationalityInde Birth 13 january 1905 at Mumbai (Inde) Death 22 september 1991 (at 86 years) at Mumbai (Inde) Awards Padma Shri, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Filmfare Awards
Durga Khote (January 14, 1905 − September 22, 1991) was an Indian actress, starting as one of the foremost leading ladies of her times, she remained active in Hindi and Marathi cinema, as well as theatre, for over 50 years, starring in around 200 films and numerous theatre productions.
In 2000, in a millennium issue, India Today named her among "100 People Who Shaped India", noting, "Durga Khote marks the pioneering phase for woman in Indian Cinema" as she was one of the first women from respectable families to enter the film industry, thus breaking a social taboo.
She also ranks among the top ten actresses in mother roles in Hindi cinema, most notable among them were as Jodhabai in K. Asif's Mughal-e-Azam (1960), as Kaikeyi in Vijay Bhatt's classic, Bharat Milap (1942); her other memorable roles as mother were in Charnon Ki Dasi (1941), Mirza Ghalib, Bobby (1973) and Bidaai (1974). She was received the highest award in Indian cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1983), for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. [...]See more...
Biography
Her two sons Bakul and Harin were born from her first marriage with Vishwanath Khote. It was a traditional marriage into an orthodox family. Vishwanath Khote was from a millionaire family who were, at that time, the largest share brokers and road contractors. Vishwanath was a mechanical engineer from Banaras Hindu University who died young. After she was widowed, Khote had an unsuccessful second marriage to Mohammed Rashid. Harin himself died at a young age, and was survived by his wife, Vijaya Mehta and two sons.
Her grandchildren include Ravi, a filmmaker; granddaughter Anjali Khote; grandson Deven Khote, a television producer, and a noted film producer, making films like Jodhaa Akbar and Life in a Metro.
Sharda Mukherjee, the ex governor of Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh and wife of India's first air chief marshal Subroto Mukherjee was her first cousin (mother's sister's daughter). Sharda Mukherjee's paternal uncle Ranjit Sitaram Pandit was married to Jawaharlal Nehru's sister Vijaylaxmi Pandit.
Her brother-in-law, Nandu Khote, was a noted stage and silent movie actor. His daughter Shubha Khote acted in Hindi films; debuting in Seema (1955), she later directed and produced Marathi films and entered television in the 90s. Viju Khote, most known for his role of Kalia in Sholay (1975) is a noted character actor, and younger brother of Shobha. Shobha's daughter, Bhavna Balsaver, is an award-winning TV actress. They appeared together in 1993's sitcom Zabaan Sambhalke on DD Metro.
Later in life she wrote her acclaimed autobiography in Marathi which was later translated into English as I, Durga Khote, and moved to Alibaug, near Mumbai. She died on September 22, 1991. [...]See more...
Meera (Durga Khote), is immersed in her love and devotion to Lord Krishna since a young age. When she grows older her family get her married to the Rana of Mewar Prithviraj Kapoor. Misunderstandings occur when her devotional poetry is thought to be love songs for someone. Several hardships are inflicted on her by her husband and her in-laws. She takes to sitting in the temple and singing bhajans (sacred songs) composed by her. Her brother-in-law tries to have her killed many times but fails. She finally renounces her life in the palace and wanders from place to place singing devotional songs.