Tanuja Samarth, popularly known as Tanuja, is a famous Indian actress known for her performance in Hindi and Bengali films such as Memdidi (1961), Chand Aur Suraj (1965), Haathi Mere Saathi (1971) and Do Chu (1972). She is the mother of famous Indian actresses Kajol and Tanisha.
Wiki/Biography
Tanuja was born in 1943 (80 years old; by 2023) into a Marathi family at the Presidential Palace in Mumbai, British India (now Mumbai, Maharashtra, India). Tanuja’s childhood centered around film and the camera, and four generations of the Samas family have been a part of the film industry.
Little Tanuja (far right) with her mother and siblings
Her strong interest in movies is naturally integrated into her parents’ genes. She was educated at St. Joseph’s College, Panchgani, India and St. George’s College, Switzerland.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′1″
Hair color: natural black
Eye color: dark brown
family
parents and siblings
Tanuja’s mother Shobhna Samarth is an actress and her father Kumarsen Samarth is a film producer.
Filmmaker Kumasan Samas and actress Shaubna Samas
Tanuja had three sisters: Nutan, Chatura and Reshma, and a brother, Jadeep. Her younger sister Nutan is also an actress, while Chatura is an artist.
Tanuja and her sister Nutan
Tanuja and her sister Chatura Samarth
Her parents divorced during her childhood. Tanuja said in an interview that her parents divorced when her brother was a baby. she says,
My parents separated before my brother was born: while my parents went their separate ways, Jaideep was not yet born. Although they are no longer a couple, they are still mom and dad to us. In fact, Dad came to see us almost every day. Around that time, my mother decided that I should study in St. Georges, Switzerland because of my talent for languages. When I was in Switzerland, my father wrote to me in German and I always replied in German. “
Tanuja with her brother Jaideep Samarth
husband and children
Tanuja met the late film producer Shomu Mukherjee on the set of the film “Ek Baar Muskura Do” (1972) and they fell in love immediately and married in 1973.
Tanuja and Shomu Mukherjee
The couple welcomed their first child, Kajol, in 1974, followed by another child, Tanishaa, in 1978.
Tanuja with her daughters Tanishaa and Kajol
Shomu Mukherjee with his daughters Tanishaa and Kajol
Later, the couple separated: however, they decided to raise their two daughters together.
other relatives
Tanuja is the aunt of some Bollywood celebrities like Mohnish Bahl (Actor), Ayan Mukerji (Director), Sujoy Mukerji Mukherjee (actor) and Rani Mukerji (actor). Her grandmother Rattan Bai and her cousin Nalini Jaywant are also actors.
Tanuja with daughter Tanishaa and actress Rani Mukerji
Relationships/Affairs
Tanuja reportedly dated an Italian man named Pier Franco Giaccardi while in Switzerland. She even experienced her first kiss with him.
Profession
Movie
Tanuja started her career with her sister Nutan in her debut film Humari Beti (1950), produced by their mother Shobhna Samarth.
Poster of Tanuja’s debut as an actress, Hamari Beti
Poster of Tanuja’s debut as an actress, Hamari Beti
The turning point in Tanuja’s career was the film Humari Yaad Aayegi (1961), in which she played the role of Manorama. Tanuja did not limit herself to Hindi films, she started working in Bengali and Marathi films. She was praised for her excellent comic timing in Kishore Kumar-starrer Do Duni Char. Tanuja was also a member of Sunil Banerjee’s 1967 Indian biographical musical “Antony Firingee,” featuring Uttam Kumar and Tanu Tanuja plays the lead role. The film did exceptionally well at the box office. In 1969, she appeared in “Jeene Ki Raah” with Jeetendra.
television
Tanuja started her television journey in 1985 with Doordarshan’s show ‘Khandaan’. It achieved astonishing ratings and became India’s first long-running soap opera. In 1994, Tanuja appeared in the TV series “Junoon”. The show was originally aired on Doordarshan and ran for five years, setting a record as the “longest running prime time show” on Doordarshan. In 2008, Tanuja served as a judge on Zee TV’s family dance series Rock-N-Roll Family along with her daughter Kajol and son-in-law Ajay Devgn.
Tanuja, Ajay Devgn and Kajol in the rock family
In 2017, Tanuja appeared in the historical fiction television series “Aarambh: Kahaani Devsena Ki” produced by Rose Audio Visuals and aired on StarPlus.
Tanuja in Aarambh – Kahani Devsena Ki
awards
- “Paisa Ya Pyaar” (1970) won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
- “Adalat o Ekti Meye” (1981) won the Oriental Filmfare Award for Best Actress
- Nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for “The Jewel Thief” (1968)
- Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (2014)
Tanuja receives Lifetime Achievement Award from actor Amitabh Bachchan
- Bangladesh Film Journalists Association Award for Best Supporting Actress (Hindi), Benazir (1964)
- Marathi film Pitruroon (2013) 20th Life OK Screen Awards for Best Actress
- Feitian Film and Television Producers Association Award-Lifetime Achievement Award (2014)
Facts/Trivia
- Tanuja slapped Dharmendra when he tried to flirt with her while filming Chand aur Suraj (1965).
- When Tanuja first saw the raw footage from the first film, she didn’t like the sound of her voice.
- Tanuja is notorious for “breaking the rules” while on the sets.
- Tanuja was a very strict parent and she often beat Kajol.
- According to Tanuja, she doesn’t watch her own or anyone else’s films except those of Kajol.
- Tanuja’s mother Shobhana produced Tanuja and Nutan’s debut film.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education