Shubha Balsavar (née Khote) is an Indian film and television actress who has worked in several Hindi-language and a few Marathi-language films. She is also a former women's national champion in swimming and cycling.
Early life and education
Shubha Khote was born into a Marathi-Konkani family, the daughter of noted Marathi theatre personality Nandu Khote by his wife, a Konkani lady from Mangalore in Karnataka. The actor Viju Khote was her younger brother.[1] Actress Durga Khote was the wife of Shubha's father's brother. Shubha's maternal uncle, Nayampalli, was also an actor.[citation needed]
Shubha Khote studied at St. Teresa's High School, Charni Road and St.Columba school (Gamdevi). As a girl, she excelled at swimming and cycling, and in an era when very few women even ventured into such sports, she was women's national champion in swimming and cycling for three successive years, 1952–55. After completing school, she graduated in English Literature from Wilson College.[citation needed]
Shubha is married to D. M. Balsavar, who was (like Shubha's mother) from Mangalore. He was the Vice President of Marketing in Nocil, a major Indian corporate.[2] He appeared in a cameo in the Marathi movie Chimukla Pahuna (1968), which she produced and directed.[citation needed] Their daughter, Bhavana Balsavar is also a TV actress.[3]
Career
She made her stage debut as child actor at age 4,[4] and her film debut in Seema (1955) as Putli. Her good cycling made her widely known, and led to Seema's team casting her. Since then, she has starred in a large number of Hindi and Marathi movies, stage shows, and TV serials. She mostly starred opposite Mehmood and the pair became hit in Sasural, Bharosa, Ziddi, Chhoti Behan, Sanjh Aur Savera, Love in Tokyo, Grahasthi, Humrahi and Beti Bete. She also played negative roles in Paying Guest and Ek Duuje Ke Liye. In 1962, she received two nominations for Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Gharana and Sasural, though she lost the award to Nirupa Roy.
She has directed comedy plays such as Hera Pheri, Hum Dono, Bachelor's Wife and Let's Do it (2000).[4][5] Her home production Bachelor's Wives (adapted from the Marathi play Gholat Ghol) had more than 40 performances in Mumbai and Aurangabad. Her TV show Zabaan Sambhalke (based on the Mind Your Language series) was a major hit.[6] She has also worked in the Marathi teleserial Eka Lagnachi Tisri Goshta on Zee Marathi.[7]
Selected filmography
Films
- Seema (1955)
- Paying Guest (1957)
- Dekh Kabira Roya (1957)
- Mujrim (1958)
- Didi (1959)
- Chhoti Bahen (1959)
- Anari (1959)
- Gharana (1961)
- Sasural (1961)
- Hamrahi (1963)
- Grahasti (1963)
- Dil Ek Mandir (1963)
- Ziddi (1964)
- Phoolon Ki Sej (1964)
- Akashdeep (1965)
- Love in Tokyo (1966)
- Tumse Achha Kaun Hai (1969)
- Mili (1975)
- Benaam (1974)
- Gol Maal (1979)
- Badalte Rishtey (1978)
- Naseeb (1981)
- Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981)
- Suraag (1982)
- Ek Din Bahu Ka (1983)
- Pukar
- Main Awara Hoon (1983)
- Coolie (1983)
- Mera Faisla (1984)
- Gangvaa (1984)
- Hum Dono (1985)
- Haqeeqat
- Saagar (1985)
- Aakhir Kyon? (1985)
- Mazloom (1986)
- Swarag Se Sunder (1986)
- Hifazat (1987)
- Maza Pati Karodpati (1988)
- Khoon Bhari Maang (1988)
- Billoo Badshah (1989)
- Kishen Kanhaiya (1990)
- Jawani Zindabad (1990)
- Sher Dil (1990)
- Pyar Hua Chori Chori (1990)
- Begunaah (1991)
- Karz Chukana Hai (1991)
- Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin (1991)
- Saudagar (1991)
- Ek Ladka Ek Ladki (1992)
- Parda Hai Parda (1992)
- Junoon (1992)[8]
- Anari (1993)
- Waqt Hamara Hai (1993)[8]
- Saajan Ka Ghar (1994)
- Sangdil Sanam (1994)
- Koyla (1997)
- Sirf Tum (1999)
- Shararat (2002)
- Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017)
- Bucket List (2018)[9]
- Double XL (2022)
Television
- Junoon (1994)
- Zabaan Sambhalke (1993–1998)
- Ek Raja Ek Rani (1996)
- Andaaz (1998)
- Dam Dama Dam (1998–1999)
- Jugni Chali Jalandhar (2008–2010)
- Baa Bahoo Aur Baby (2010)
- Eka Lagnachi Tisri Goshta (2013, Marathi-language)
- Mangalam Dangalam (2018–2019)
- Spy Bahu (2022)
- Thipkyanchi Rangoli (2022, Marathi-language)
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 9th Filmfare Awards | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress | Gharana | Nominated | [2] |
| Sasural | Nominated | ||||
| 2025 | 23rd Pune International Film Festival | PIFF Distinguished Award | — | Won | [10] |
References
- ^ "Rakhi Special: Bollywood's best brother-sister duo". IBN Live. 4 August 2011. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
- ^ a b "I never believed I was pretty - Shubha Khote". filmfare.com. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "Veteran actress Shubha Khote mourns the demise of her husband Dinesh Balsawar, writes 'For 60 years we said to each other grow old with me'". The Times of India. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Inside Out". The Indian Express. 30 March 2000. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
- ^ "For theatre buffs". The Hindu. 15 April 2002. Archived from the original on 30 May 2004. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
- ^ Pretty Funny! Archived 14 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine by V Gangadhar. Rediff.com, 5 October 1997.
- ^ "Shubha Khote to make a comeback with Lage Raho Chachu - Times of India". The Times of India. 10 April 2015. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ a b Jain, Madhu (31 August 1992). "Crooks turn comic". India Today. New Delhi: Living Media. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ Singh, Suhani (25 May 2018). "Bucket List review: Madhuri Dixit's journey of self-discovery is hardly compelling". India Today. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ "PIFF to honour Shubha Khote, Anupam Kher, Kavita Krishnamurthy". Hindustan Times. 5 February 2025. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
