Sulochana Latkar is an Indian actress who has appeared in more than 250 Hindi and Marathi films such as Sujata (1959), Sampoorna Ramayana (1961) ), “Johny Mera Naam” (1970) and “Kora Kagaz” (1974). Sulochana is popular for playing the mother of famous actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Sunil Dutt, Dev Anand and Rajesh Khanna in many films. In June 2023, she breathed her last in a Mumbai hospital.
Wiki/Biography
Sulochana Latkar was born Nagabai on Monday, July 30, 1928, while some sources state that she was born on Thursday, July 30, 1929 (93 or 94 years old; at the time of death) , was born in Khadaklat Village, Belgaum District, Bombay Presidency, British India (now Belagavi District, Karnataka State, India). Her zodiac sign is Leo. She attended an elementary school in her hometown until fifth grade before having to drop out due to the death of her parents.
family
Sulochana Latkar was born into a Hindu Maratha family.
Parents and siblings
Her father was a fajadar (police officer) serving in Kolhapur state. Her parents died from a plague epidemic when she was 12-13 years old. She has a brother who is ten years older than her.
husband and children
At the age of fifteen, Sulochana married Abasaheb Chavan, who came from a wealthy landowning family in Maharashtra. Her daughter Kanchan Ghanekar is the wife of late actor Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar.
Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar’s photo with Kanchan
Profession
Early struggles
Due to a plague outbreak in Sulochana’s hometown, she moved with her brother and aunt to Chikodi, Karnataka, to live with her father’s lawyer friend. There, she met Master Vinayak, a film producer and owner of Prafulla Pictures, who offered her a job in his production house in Kolhapur; she accepted the job and was paid a salary of Rs. 30 per month. Surochana spoke about the incident in an interview and said,
Binardkar received us with open arms, but it would not be appropriate for us to rely on him for long. One day, Master Vinayak, a famous producer and director who was an acquaintance of Binaderkar, came to meet him. Master Vinayak is the owner of Prafulla Pictures in Kolhapur. When he came to know about our miserable situation, he invited me to Kolhapur and offered me a job in the company. “
While working at Prafulla Pictures, Sulochana worked as an extra in several films. She later quit her job as she was not ready to move to Mumbai (now Mumbai) where Prafulla Films moved. Thereafter, she was employed by Bhalji Pendharkar’s Jayaprabha Studio with a monthly salary of Rs. 30. After Mahatma Gandhi was killed by Nathuram Godse in 1948, she quit her job after her studio was burned down by protesters. In a media interaction, Sulochana said that the studio was destroyed by the protesters as Bhalji was an ardent supporter of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Nathuram Godse is affiliated with the RSS. Talking about this, she said,
After the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, riots against Brahmins and RSS members spread in Marathtra. Many lives were lost and many properties were set on fire, including the Jayaprabha Studio. Bhalji Pendharkar was even arrested at that time. In this case, he relieved all studio employees of their duties after giving them two months’ salary. “
In the same year, Sulochana moved to Pune from Kolhapur where she started working with Mangal Pictures.
Acting career
She played a small role in the 1943 Marathi film Chimukla Sansar.
Chimukra Sansar poster
In 1944, she played a role in the Hindi mythological film Maharathi Karna. She landed a role in the 1946 Tamil film Valmiki. In 1947, Sulochana made her starring debut in the Marathi film Sasuravaas. In 1948, she appeared in the Marathi film Jeevacha Sakha. She came into limelight with the release of her Marathi film Stree Janma Hi Tujhi Kahani in 1952. In 1953, she moved from Pune to Bombay. Sulochna Latkar starred in the 1954 Hindi film Aurat Teri Yahi Kahani, a remake of the 1952 Marathi film Stree Janma Hi Tujhi Kahani.
Aurat Teri Yahi Kahani’s poster
In 1954, she starred in the Hindi film Mahatma Kabir with actor Surendra Nath. After the release of her Hindi mythological film Sati Ansuya in 1956, she stopped receiving acting offers. In an interview, she explained why she did not receive acting offers after the release of Sati Ansuya and said that actors working in India at that time were considered inferior in mythological films compared to actors in non-mythological films of. In 1957, she played the role of Bela in the Hindi film Ab Dilli Dur Nahin. In 1959, she played Nutan’s mother in the Hindi film Sujata. She discussed playing the role of a mother in an interview, saying:
One day, Bimal Roy invited me to play the role of a mother in his film Sujata (1959). Although I couldn’t refuse, I couldn’t help but think, how could I play the role of a mother when I was only thirty years old? But based on the suggestions of Durga Khote and Lalita Pawar, I mentally convinced myself to accept the role as well. “
Sulochana Latkar in Sujata (1959)
Sulochana subsequently appeared in several Hindi and Marathi films, including Sampoorna Ramayana (1961) as Kaikeyi, Maratha Tituka Melvava (1964) as Jijabai, Kati Patang (1970) as Mrs. Dinanath, Kahani Kismat Ki (1973) as Mrs. Sharma, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978) as Vinod Khanna’s mother, Ek Daav Bhutacha (1982) as Radha Mavashi, Andha Kanoon (1983), Sasu Varchadh Jawai (1984) and Khoon Bhari Maang (1988) Playing the role of Shatrughan Sinha’s mother.
Sulochana Latkar plays Kaikeyi in Ramayana
Sulochana Latkar and Amitabh Bachchan star in the movie
Awards, Honors, Achievements
- In 1999, Sulochana Latkar was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award.
- In 2003, she received the Chita Bhushan Award from the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandal.
Sulochna Latkar winning photos
- In 2004, she received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.
- She is a four-time winner of the Hridinath Mangeshkar Award.
Sulochana Latkar wins Hridaynath Mangeshkar Award
- In 2009, the Maharashtra government conferred the Maharashtra Bhushan, the state’s highest civilian award, on Sulochana Latkar.
- In 2019, she received the Saraswatibhai Dadasaheb Palk Lifetime Achievement Award.
Sulochana Latkar receives Lifetime Achievement Award
die
Sulochana Latkar passed away on June 4, 2023, at 6.30 pm at Shushrusha Hospital, Dadar, Mumbai due to age-related illnesses. After her death, her family released an official statement, which stated:
She suffered from age-related health problems and difficulty breathing. She died at six o’clock this evening. It is with deep sadness that we inform you that our beloved grandmother Smt passed away. Sulochana Didi became a famous film actress after a long illness. “
She was cremated at Shivaji Park Crematorium, Dadar, Mumbai on June 5, 2023, with state honours.
Facts/Trivia
- Her stage name Sulochana was given to her by Bhalji Pendharkar.
- Sulochana Latkar is fondly called Rangu Diwan by her friends and family,
- Lata Mangeshkar and Sulochana Latkar have known each other since childhood. They first met while working at Prafulla Pictures.
Sulochana with Lata Mangeshkar
- Sulochana Latkar learned from Bhalji Pendharkar how to ride a horse and use sticks and swords.
- Sulochana Latkar follows her hobby of weaving passionately. She talked about it in an interview and revealed that she used to knit sweaters for actors and actresses.
- Sulochana Latkar has a sweet tooth.
- According to famous film historians like BD Samand and Sahabuddin, Sulochana Ratkar was born in a Muslim family. However, their claims were refuted by her daughter Kanchan Ghanekar, who said they were false and baseless.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education