Bela Bose

Bela Bose was a prolific dancer and actress in Hindi films during the 1960s and 70s. She was one of the popular dancers in Hindi cinema of the period along with Helen and Aruna Irani.

She was a schoolgirl who started her career as a group dancer in films to help support her family after her father's death. She picked up more films after she finished her schooling. Most of her roles were as glamorous dancers. Her first role was in "Sautela Bhai" (1962) opposite Guru Dutt at the age of 17. She honed her acting skills performing in Bengali plays. Her career consisted of more than 150 films, and her peak period was between 1961 and 1966. In Hawa Mahal (1962), he even play the of Helen's sister.

Some of her best roles were in Bimal Roy's Bandini (1963), F.C. Mehra's Professor and Amrapali, Atmaram's Shikar, Umang, Yeh Gulistan Hamara, Dil Aur Mohabbat, Zindagi Aur Maut and Wahan Ke Log. Later, she became a character actress and enjoyed her biggest success playing the villainous sister-in-law in the blockbuster Jai Santoshi Maa (1975).

Her real-life husband Ashish Kumar was the leading man in the hit film. She married him in 1967 and gradually eased out of films after giving birth to two children-a daughter and a son. Of all her films, her favorite roles were as Jeetendra's foster sister in "Jeene Ki Raah" (1969), followed by another film "More Man Mitwa."