Shobhna Samarth, Bollywood ActressShobhna Samarth was an Indian actress, director and producer of Marathi films. She started her film career in the early days of Indian film industry. Although her career started with Marathi cinema, she also did a number of Hindi films. Her first Hindi film, "Nigahen Nafrat" was released in 1935. Shobhna Samarth is best remembered for her character played as Sita in "Ram Rajya" (1943). She was honoured with the Filmfare Special Award for her contribution to the film industry in 1996. She also produced and directed some movies to launch her daughters Nutan and Tanuja.

Shobhna Samarth, Bollywood ActressEarly Life of Shobhna Samarth
Shobhna Samarth was born on 17th November in 1916 in Mumbai (Bombay) in British India. Shobhna was born as Saroj Shilotri to banker Prabhakar Shilotri and film actress Rattan Bai. Shobhna initiated her studies in Cathedral School, Bombay. Then the family shifted to Bangalore in 1931 due to financial crisis. Then she attended Baldwin Girls High School. After the death of her father, Shobhna with her mother again returned to Mumbai, where she joined a convent school. She could not complete her matriculation as she joined film industry by that time.

Career of Shobhna Samarth
Shobhna Samarth"s first film was "Orphans of Society" (1935) also called "Nigahe Nafrat" or "Vilasi Ishwar" directed by Vinayak. The film was not a success, but Shobhna was critically acclaimed for her role. Her next film in the year 1936 was "Do Diwane" directed by C. M. Luhar, followed by "Kokila" directed by Sarvottam Badami in 1937. Then in 1939, she acted in "Pati Patni" directed by V. M. Gunjal. From 1939 to 1941 she did several films like "Kaun Kisi ka", "Saubhagya", "Apni Nagariya", "Ghar Javai" and others. In the year 1942, she acted in her career defining film "Bharat Milap" directed by Vijay Bhatt. Then in 1943 she got recognized as Seeta for the film "Ram Rajya".

Filmography of Shobhna Samarth
Shobhna Samarth has acted in the films enlisted below:

Year Films
1935 Vilasi Ishwar
1935 Nigah-e-Nafrat
1936 Do Diwane
1937 Kokila
1939 Pati Patni
1940 Apni Nagariya
1942 Savera
1943 Vijay Lakshmi
1943 Ram Rajya
1943 Naukar
1943 Mahasati Ansuya
1945 Veer Kunal
1945 Taramati
1947 Shahkar
1947 Sati Toral
1947 Malika
1948 Rambaan
1949 Narasinha Avatar
1950 Hamari Beti
1951 Ram Janma
1955 Insaniyat
1960 Love in Simla
1960 Chhalia
1964 Chitralekha
1965 Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal
1967 Wahan Ke Log
1972 Ek Bar Mooskura Do
1972 Do Chor
1973 Panitheeratha Veedu
1985 Ghar Dwaar

Death of Shobhna Samarth
Shobhna Samarth died in the year 2000 from cancer.

Personal Life Shobhna Samarth
Shobhna Samarth married the director and cinematographer Kumarsen Samarth. The couple had four children- Tanuja, Nutan, Chatura and Jaideep. Nutan Behl and Tanuja Samarth became leading actresses in the industry. Shobhana produced their debut films "Hamari Beti" (1950) and "Chhabili" (1960). Chatura is an artist and Jaideep is an advertising film producer. Tanuja`s daughters Kajol and Tanisha are also actresses. Kajol is married to actor Ajay Devgan. Nutan`s son Mohnish Behl is also a character actor.