By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On Her Birth Anniversary
चढ़ती जवानी मेरी चाल मस्तानी
तुने कदर न जानी रामा
हाय रामा, हाय रामा, हाय रामा
Bestowed with two Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Awards for “Pet Pyaar Aur Paap” (1984) and” “Beta” (1992), including the Lifetime Achievement Award, Aruna Irani, the subject of this write up, is an Indian actress who predominantly appeared in comic or supporting roles in films, also doing titillating dance numbers in some films to the audiences’ delight. She did many films opposite Mehmood in sixties & seventies like- “Anpadh”(1962), “Ganga Ki Lehren”(1964), “Gunahon Ka Devata” (1967), “Madhavi” ,”Tumse Acha Kaun Hai” “Waris”,& “Badi Didi” (1969), “Humjoli”, “Devi”, & “Bhai Bhai” (1970), “Naya Zamana”, “Main Sunder Hoon” & “Johar Mehmood In Goa”(1971) & “Caravan”(1971), “Garam masala” (1972) “Do Phool” (1973), “Khoon Ki Keemat” & “Badla” (1974) to mention some. She played the lead opposite Mehmood in 1971 movie “Albela”.
Some of her other films include the likes of “Humjoli” (1970),”Bobby”(1973),”Caravan”( “Chadti Jawani Meri Chaal Mastani” fame), “Laila Majnu”, (1976), “Khoon Pasina” , (1977), “Shalimar” (1978), “Judaai” & “Qurbani” (1980)to mention some. “Kudrat” (1998), “Khatta Meetha” (2010) & “Mitwaa” (2015) were her few last films. Married to director Kuku Kohli of “Phool Aur Kante ” fame. Aruna irani was from a family of three sisters & five brothers including director Indra Kumar of “Beta” (1992) fame. She also featured in “Sarhad” (1960), “Ganga Jamuna”(1961) & “Parasmani” (1963) as a teenager.
I met the actress during the shooting of “Bade Dil Wala”, albeit brief, starring Rishi Kapoor & Tina Munim. Kalpana Iyer, whom I had met at her four-bungalow flat a day earlier, had invited me on the sets. We had exchanged a good number of letter in 1980s. A lovely, lively talented actress Aruna Irani worked in more than 500 films including many in regional languages.
