By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
In Hindi Cinema most women enacting a mother enjoyed respectability & command. We have examples of actresses who have successfully carved a niche for themselves like- Durga Khote, Leela Chitnis, Achala Sachdev, & last but not least Nirupa Roy. The Hindi Cinema has been witness to many a sharp tongued and Peevish kind of mothers too, like Lalita Pawar ( ‘Anari’, ‘Professor’) Veena (Pakeezah, Noorehan, Razia Sultan & Do Raaste) & Lela Mishra, the subject of this write up.
The actress, known for her pranks and distinct style of dialogue delivery, worked in more than 200 films including ‘Dosti’ (1964), Sunil Dutt-Sadhana starrer ‘Gaban’ in 1966 ‘Raat aur Din’, ‘Ram Aur Shyam’, ‘Bahu Begum’ (1967), ‘Dushman’, ‘Amar Prem’ (1971), Sholay, ‘Geet Gaata Chal’ (1975), ‘Mehbooba’ (1976) and the 1962 Bhojpuri film ‘Ganga Maiya Tohe Piyaari Chadhaibo’. Sharp banter remained her raisen d’ etre . She also played the roles of a mother and aunt aplenty. Most people would remember ‘Sholay’, in which she did many witty scenes with Dharmendra. ‘Mere Apne’ (1971), ‘Parichay’ (1972), ‘Sadma’ (1983), ‘Prem Rog’ (1985), ‘Zakhmi Aurat’ (1988) are some of her other notable films.
Leela Mishra was married to zamindar Ram Prasad Mishra, a character actor. When she made a foray into acting, working in film was not considered a respectable profession, especially for those coming from the middle class or upper middle . It may be news to many that she drew three times more salary than what was paid to her husband himself an actor.
