Neetu Singh was born in Delhi in a Punjabi Sikh family. Her parents
name are Rajee Kaur and Darshan Singh. She lived in Shanti Building,
Peddar Road, Bombay and attended the Hill Grange High School on
Peddar Road.
Neetu Singh made her debut as a child actress with film Suraj in
1966, with Rajendra Kumar and Vyjanthimala as the lead pair. She was
spotted by actress Vyjanthimala, in her dance school and she
suggested T. Prakash Rao that Neetu be taken for the small uncredited
role in the film Suraj. She starred as the child artiste in films
like Dus Lakh, Waris,Pavitra Paapi and Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani. She
reprised the role originally played by Kutty Padmini in Kuzhandaiyum
Deivamum, in it's Hindi remake Do Kaliyaan.
Two years after the success of the film Rickshawkaran, in 1973, R. M.
Veerappan (Sathiya Movies) decided to remake his Tamil movie into
Hindi as Rickshawala (1973). The original Tamil film was a major
commercial success and won M. G. Ramachandran the National Film Award
for Best Actor. The remake was directed by MGR's friend, K.Shankar
with the actor Randhir Kapoor and the actress Neetu Singh. The
director duo Krishnan-Panju, who had directed Do Kaliyaan, suggested
K.Shankar, that he can take Neetu Singh to rerpise the role played by
Manjula Vijayakumar in the original. This paved the way for Neetu
Singh's debut at the age of 15 as the lead heroine. However the
remake was a flop. She took a small role as the dancer in Yaadon Ki
Baarat (1973), which became a hit, and her dance number to the song
Lekar Hum brought her so much attention that she was immediately
offered lead roles again. In most films, Neetu was cast as the
fun-loving daughter or the 'optimistic' or 'lively' girlfriend.
She acted with the top stars of her day.She was paired with her
future brother-in-law Randhir Kapoor in Heeralal Pannalal (1978),
Bhala Manus, Kasme Vaade, Dhongee and in the delayed Nikkamma. The
film Nikkamma, begun in 1976, was finally released in 1983 as
Jaan-e-Jaan and became a dud though the song composed by R.D.Burman -
Tere Bina Mein Kuch Bhi Nahin Hoon was popular. She was also paired
opposite actors like her future uncle-in-law Shashi Kapoor in hits
like Deewaar (1975), Shankar Dada, Ek Aur Ek Gyarah and the dud Kala
Pani(1980). She was paired opposite Rajesh Khanna in the
action-comedy film Maha Chor, the suspense film Chakravyuha (1978
film) and in Punjabi film Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun.
Neetu Singh formed a pair with her husband and then boy-friend Rishi
Kapoor in 12 films of which Khel Khel Mein (1975), Rafoo Chakkar
(1975), Kabhie Kabhie (1976), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Duniya Meri
Jeb Mein (1979) and their guest appearance in Pati Patni Aur Woh
(1978) were successful. The other films Zehreela Insaan (1974), Zinda
Dil (1975), Doosara Aadmi (1977), Anjane Mein (1978), Jhoota Kahin Ka
(1979) and Dhan Daulat (1980) were box office failures. She was
paired with Jeetendra in Dharam Veer (1977), Priyatama, Chorni, Jaani
Dushman (1979), The Burning Train and opposite Vinod Khanna in Sewak,
Parvarish (1977), Maha Badmaash, Yuvraaj, Raj Mahal. She was paired
with Shatrughan Sinha only in Kaala Patthar (1979). Of the 55 films
she did as the lead heroine from 1973 to 1983, 25 were box office
hits. She regards her roles in films Chakravyuha, Chorni, Priyatma
and Dhongee as her best.
Neetu was 21 when she married Kapoor in 1980. She was at the top of
her career, having just been nominated for a Filmfare Award as Best
Supporting Actress for Kaala Patthar (1979), but she retired.
She dismissed allegations that she left the film industry, as part of
the Kapoor tradition which forbids women from acting in films,
claiming that it was her 'personal choice.'
She made a comeback to films after 26 years, appearing opposite her
husband in Love Aaj Kal (2009), Do Dooni Chaar (2010), Jab Tak Hai
Jaan (2012) and Besharam (2013). Singh and Kapoor were awarded Best
Lifetime Jodi ("couple") at the 2011 Zee Cine Awards
ceremony.
On screen and off it, Neetu and Rishi Kapoor fell in love. They tied
the knot on 22nd January 1980 after a much publicized engagement that
was the talk of Bollywood. The couple has two children: Riddhima
(born 15 September 1980) and Ranbir (born 28 September 1982). Known
as a fashion designer, Riddhima Kapoor married Delhi-based
industrialist Bharat Sahni on 25 January 2006 and gave birth to a
daughter named Samara on 23rd March 2011. Ranbir Kapoor is a
Bollywood actor whose career started in the 2007.
She was honoured by Walk of the Stars as her hand print was preserved
for posterity at Bandra Bandstand in Mumbai.
Neetu Singh Filmography with Super Star Rajesh Khanna :
Aaina - 1977 : Herself (shooting of a movie)
Chakravyuha - 1978 : Chhaya
Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun - 1977 : as Quawali Singers (Neetu Singh & Rajesh Khanna in special appearance) - (Punjabi Film)
.
No comments:
Post a Comment