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RIP Shashikala: A talented performer who became an important part of Hindi cinemaShashikala was honoured with the the Padma Shri in 2007 Roktim Rajpal DH Web Desk Last Updated 04 April
2021, 20:04 IST Actor Shashikala. Credit: Twitter/@praful_patel Veteran actor Shashikala, an integral part of the Hindi film industry, passed away on Sunday at the age of 88. She was born
into a Marathi family in 1932 and took a keen interest in music right from a young age. She began her career with a small role in the 1945 release _Zeenat_, a melodrama directed by Shaukat
Hussain Rizvi. The actor subsequently appeared in films such as _Jugnu_, _Bombay _and _Arzoo _and continued her journey in the film world. The 1955 release _Daku _proved to be an important
movie in her career as it had a stellar cast headlined by a young Shammi Kapoor. She essayed a key role in ace filmmaker Bimal Roy's evergreen classic _Sujata_, which featured Sunil
Dutt in the lead. The film garnered a fair deal of attention with its hard-hitting storyline and soon attained cult status. It was, however, the Meena Kumari-starrer _Aarti _that proved to
be a gamechanger for Shashikala as the actor critics with her work and bagged the Filmfare Award for 'Best Supporting Actress'. She subsequently stayed in the limelight with films
like _Gumrah_, _Mera Qasoor Kya Hai_ and _Yeh Rastey Hain Pyar Ke_. Many expected the 1964 release _Jahan Ara_ to establish her as a force to be reckoned with but that did not happen as the
film under-performed at the box office. ADVERTISEMENT Shashikala experimented with her image and essayed a negative role in the K Shankar-helmed _Chhote Sarkar_, which released in theatres
in 1974. She remained active in the years to follow, essaying pivotal roles in films like _Rocky_,_ Biwi O Biwi_ and Sunny Deol's _Arjun_. The powerhouse performer impressed fans with
her work in Salman Khan's well-received film _Mujhse Shaadi Karogi,_ which featured Priyanka Chopra as the leading lady. Shashikala was also seen in Karan Johar's magnum opus
_Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham_. Shashikala also acted in a few TV serials with _Son Pari,_ which featured her in the role of protagonist's grandmother, being the most notable of the lot. It
became popular among kids due to its fantasy elements. Shashikala was honoured with the the Padma Shri in 2007. Her death marks the end of an era.