Shashikala

Shashikala Om Prakash Saigal (née: Shashikala Jawalkar; Marathi: शशिकला; born 1933), better known by her first name, is an Indian film and television actress, who has played supporting roles in over 100 Bollywood films.

Shashikala was born as one of six siblings in Solapur, Maharashtra in a well-to-do Marathi-speaking Jawalkar family. By age 5, she had already been dancing, singing, and acting on stage in many towns in Solapur district.

When Shashikala was in her pre-teens, through ill luck, her father became bankrupt, and he brought his family to Bombay (now Mumbai) where they thought that Shashikala, the best-looking and most-talented among his children, could find work in movies. For some time, the family lived with friends and barely survived, while Shashikala wandered from one studio to another looking for work. She earned in bits and pieces till she met Noor Jehan, the reigning screen queen.