Sulochana Latkar (born Rangu Diwan; 30 July 1928 – 4 June 2023), better known by her screen name Sulochana, was an Indian actress of

Marathi Marathi may refer to: *Marathi people, an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group of Maharashtra, India **Marathi people (Uttar Pradesh), the Marathi people in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh *Marathi language, the Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Mar ...

and

Hindi cinema Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...

, who acted in 50 films in Marathi and around 250 films in Hindi. She was most known for her performances in Marathi films such as ''Sasurvas'' (1946), ''Meeth Bhakar'' (1949), ''Vahinichya Bangdya'' (1953), ''Dhakti Jaoo'' (1958) and ''Sangte Aika'' (1959) in the lead roles, as well as for the mother roles she played in

right from 1959 film '' Dil Deke Dekho'' to the year 1995. She and Nirupa Roy epitomized the "mother" roles right from 1959 until the early 1990s.

Career

She has worked in over 300 Hindi films and around 50 Marathi films and made her debut in films in 1946. She was lead actress in Marathi films from 1946 to 1961 with films like ''Sasurvas'' (1946), ''Vahinichya Bangdya'' (1953), ''Meeth Bhakar'', ''Sangtye Aika'' (1959), ''Laxmi Ali Ghara'', ''Mothi Manse, Jivacha Sakha, Pativrata, Sukhache Sobti, Bhaubheej, Akashganga'' and ''Dhakti Jau''. She was often paired opposite Nazir Hussain, Trilok Kapoor and Ashok Kumar throughout her career in Hindi films. She quoted in an interview that she loved playing mother to three actors -

Sunil Dutt Sunil Dutt (born Balraj Raghunath Dutt; 6 June 1929 – 25 May 2005) was an Indian actor, film producer, director, and politician known for his work in Hindi Cinema. He acted in more than 80 films over a career spanning five decades and was t ...

Dev Anand Dev Anand (; born Dharamdev Pishorimal Anand; 26 September 1923 – 3 December 2011) was an Indian actor, writer, director and producer known for his work in Indian cinema, Hindi cinema. He is considered as one of the greatest and most succes ...

and

Rajesh Khanna Rajesh Khanna (; born Jatin Khanna; 29 December 1942 – 18 July 2012) was an Indian actor, film producer and politician who worked in Hindi films. Considered as one of the greatest and most successful actors in the history of Indian cinema, h ...

. She often played mother or as close relative in Hindi films with

as the leading man such as in ''Heera'', ''Jhoola'', ''Ek Phool Char Kante'', ''Sujatha'', ''Mehrbaan'' (1967), ''Chirag'', ''Bhai Bahen'' (1969), ''Reshma Aur Shera'', ''Umar Qaid'', ''Muqabla'', ''Jaani Dushman'' and ''Badle Ki Aag''. She was a regular in films with Dev Anand in the lead roles, where either Dev Anand was her son or relative and some of their films together were ''Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai'', ''Pyar Mohabbat'', ''Duniya'' (1968), ''Jhonny Mera Naam'', ''Amir Garib'', ''Warrant'' and ''Joshila''. Since 1969, she often played an on-screen close relative to the character played by

and some of their famous films included '' Dil Daulat Duniya,'' ''Bahraon Ke Sapne'', ''Doli'', ''Kati Patang'', ''Mere Jeevan Saathi'', ''Prem Nagar'', ''Aakraman'', ''Bhola Bhala'', ''Tyaag'', ''Aashiq Hoon Baharaon Ka'' and ''Adhikar'' (1986). Her other best known films include ''Nai Roshni'' (1967), ''Aaye Din Bahar Ke'', ''Aaye Milan Ki Bela'', ''Ab Dilli Dur Nahin'', ''Majboor'', ''Gora Aur Kala'', ''Devar'', ''Bandini'', ''Kahani Kismat Ki'', ''Talaash'' (1969) and ''Azaad'' (1978). In 2003, she was awarded the Chitrabhushan Award instituted by the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandal, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Baburao Painter, one of the founders of the modern

Marathi cinema Marathi cinema is the segment of Cinema of India, Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Marathi language, which is widely spoken in the state of Maharashtra. It is based out of Mumbai. It is the oldest film ind ...

Personal life and death

Latkar lived in

Prabhadevi Prabhadevi (Pronunciation: ɾəbʱaːd̪eʋiː is a prominent residential and religious neighborhood in South Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It is known for its mix of high-end residential buildings, cultural landmarks, and historical significan ...

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

. She was married at the age of 14. Her daughter's name is Kanchan Ghanekar who was the wife of Marathi stage superstar Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar. Latkar died from respiratory failure at Shushrusha Hospital in

Dadar Dadar (Help:IPA/Marathi, ̪aːd̪əɾ is a densely populated residential and shopping neighbourhood in Mumbai. It is also a prominent railway and bus service hub with local and national connectivity. It is Mumbai's first planned area and i ...

, Mumbai, on 4 June 2023. She was 94.

Awards

Latkar was a recipient of the civilian honour of

Padma Shri The Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī'', lit. 'Lotus Honour'), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. In ...

(1999). She was awarded the

Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award The Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, initially named Raj Kapoor Award for Lifetime Achievement after Raj Kapoor is given by the ''Filmfare'' magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films. List of honourees † - Indicates ...

in 2004. In 2009, she was awarded the Maharashtra Bhushan Award by the

Government of Maharashtra The Government of Maharashtra is the executive branch of the Indian states of india, state of Maharashtra. The government is led by the List of chief ministers of Maharashtra, chief minister (currently Devendra Fadnavis since 5 December 2024) ...

. In 2021 she Received Filmfare Marathi Lifetime Achievement Award For Her Contribution in Marathi Cinema.

Selected filmography

References

External links