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Bela Bose was a prolific dancer and actress in Hindi films during the 1960's. She had no background in films and wasn't a stage-struck girl when she entered films. She was a schoolgirl who started her career as a group dancer in films to help support her family after her father's death. She picked up more films after she finished her schooling. Most of her roles were as glamorous dancers. Her first role was in "Sautela Bhai" (1962) opposite Guru Dutt at the age of 17. She honed her acting skills performing in Bengali plays. Her career consisted of more than 150 films, and her peak period was between 1961-66.
Some of her best roles were in Bimal Roy's Bandini, F.C.Mehra's Professor and Amrapali, Atmaram's Shikar, Umang, Yeh Gulistan Hamara, Dil Aur Mohabbat, Zindagi Aur Maut and Wahan Ke Log. Later, she became a character actress and enjoyed her biggest success playing the villainous sister-in-law in the blockbuster "Jai Santoshi Maa" (1975). Her real-life husband Ashish Kumar was the leading man in the film. She fell in love and married him in 1967 and gradually eased out of films after giving birth to two children-a daughter and a son. Of all her films, her favorite roles were as Jeetendra's foster sister in "Jeene Ki Raah" (1969), followed by another film "More Man Mitwa." Her daughter became a doctor, and her son became a businessman. Both have families of their own, making Bela a grandmother. Her husband died on November 23, 2013 leaving her a widow. Although, she stopped acting a long time ago, she said that she still have pleasant memories about her time in the entertainment industry.
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