Tanuja, Bold and Beautiful at 71

Tanuja has been one of the most articulate and versatile actress in Indian cinema. One of the leading ladies of cinema in the 60s and the 70s, Tanuja is one of the few to have featured in films of different languages like Hindi, Bengali, Marathi and Gujarati. Last heard, she was reportedly helping daughter Tanishaa launch her production house.

On her 71th birthday, here is a look at the actress' cinematic journey.

Born on September 23, 1943, Tanuja was second of four children to poet Kumarsen Samarth and actress Shobhana Samarth. Her eldest sister Nutan was also a renowned actress.

Tanuja entered films at the age of seven with sister Nutan in the film Hamari Beti (1950).

Soon after the film, Shobhana Samarth sent her daughter to Switzerland for higher studies where Tanuja became proficient in English, French and German.

After coming back to India, she featured as an adult heroine alongside Nutan in Chhabili (1960) directed by her mother. But it was Hamari Yaad Aayegi in 1961 that set the path for Tanuja's sprawling film career.

In 1960s, Tanuja featured in several films like Chand Aur Suraj (1965), Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal (1965), Benazir (1964), Aaj Aur Kal (1963) and Baharein Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966) and Jewel Thief (1967), for which she received her first Filmfare nomination as Best Supporting Actress.

1969 was a good year for Tanuja as she had two hits - Jeene Ki Raah and Paisa Ya Pyaar, for which she won her first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.

In 1962, Tanuja forayed into Bengali films with Deya Neya opposite Bengali superstar Uttam Kumar. The film was a superhit. The actress consistently delivered hits in the form of movies like Anthony Firangee (1967), Teen Bhuvaner Parey (1969) and Rajkumari (1970).

In 1970s, Tanuja was a part of several commercially successful movies opposite some of the top actors of the time. She was seen opposite Rajesh Khanna in Haathi Mere Saathi (1971) and Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972), and with Sanjeev Kumar in Anubhav (1971).

Tanuja met filmmaker Shomu Mukherjee on the sets of the film Ek Baar Muskura Do (1972). They got married in 1973. The couple, who reportedly later seperated, have two daughters Kajol and Tanisha.

Kajol is an actress in her own right and married to actor Ajay Devgn. They have two children - Nysa and Yug.

The actress gave a powerful performance in one of her last films as a lead actress in Imtihaan (1974), and flaunted her formidable comic timing in the comedy Humrahi (1974). She later switched seamlessly from playing the heroine to supporting roles.

Thereafter, Tanuja featured in several films like Swarg Narak (1975), Lal Kothi(1978), Bandish (1980) and Yaarana (1981), but was inundated mostly by character roles.

In 1982, Tanuja featured in a supporting role in Raj Kapoor's Prem Rog which was well received at the box office.

Post 1980s, Tanuja has been seen doing small roles in many films like Sohni Mahiwal (1984), Maa Beti (1987), Dushman (1990), Saathiya (2002) and Khakee (2004), often portraying the protagonist's mother.

She was last seen in a comedy role in the 2012 film Son Of Sardaar.

Apart from Bengali films, Tanuja also forayed into Marathi and Gujarati film industry. Some of her major films include Zaakol (1980) (Marathi) and Naari Tu Narayani (1978) (Gujarati).

We wish the actress a very happy birthday.