Veteran actress Nanda, best known for her stellar performances in films like Hum Dono, Ittefaq and Gumnaam, passed away on Tuesday, following a massive heart attack, family sources said. She was 75.
Born to Marathi film actor-director Vinayak Damodar Karnataki, Nanda began her silver screen career early as a child artist with Jaggu in the 1950s.
Her popularity as a child actress made her transition to major roles easier, and she literally grew up on film sets.
But it was paternal uncle-filmmaker V Shantaram who gave Baby Nanda a big break by casting her in 1956 hit Toofan Aur Diya in 1956.
With the success of Toofan Aur Diya, Nanda did not look back and went on to establish herself in the Hindi film industry with hits like Jab Jab Phool Khile, Gumnaam, Teen Deviyan, The Train, Mandir, Angarey, Ram Laxman, Bandi, Ittefaq, Hum Dono, Prayashchit, Ahista Ahista, Prem Rog and Mazdoor among others.
She excelled most often as a supporting star but also found great acceptance and popularity as a lead heroine in later years.
She shared screen space with noted actors like Ashok Kumar, Kishore Kumar, Dev Anand, Waheeda Rehman, Rajesh Khanna and Shashi Kapoor.
In fact, Nanda did eight films with Shashi Kapoor. Their pairing in Jab Jab Phool Khile was a huge success.
Nanda was nominated for Filmfare Award five times for her performance in Bhabhi (1957), Aanchal (1960), Ittefaq (1969), Ahista Ahista (1981) and Prem Rog (1982).
She won Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Aanchal.
After a small role in Manoj Kumar's 1972 film Shor, Nanda reduced her work in films. Her other films such as Chhalia and Naya Nasha did not work.
She made a brief return to acting in 1982 as a character actress where she played the onscreen mother of Padmini Kolhapure in Ahista Ahista, Mazdoor and Prem Rog.
After that, she retired from acting.
Nanda's last rites will be performed at 4 pm at the Oshiwari crematorium in Mumbai.
