Usha Kiran

Usha Kiran (22 April 1929 – 9 March 2000) was a Hindi and Marathi film actress. In a career spanning over four decades she acted in over 50 Hindi and Marathi films, notably Daag (1952), Patita (1953), Baadbaan (1954), Chupke Chupke (1975), Mili (1975) and Bawarchi (1972). She was also the Sheriff of Mumbai during 1996–97.

She began her acting career on stage with M. G. Rangnekar's Marathi play Ashirwad. She entered Hindi film industry with a small role in Uday Shankar's dance-drama film, Kalpana (1948). She went on to act in numerous popular Hindi films are Nazrana (1961), Daag (1952), and Baadbaan (1954), for which she won the very first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1955  Kabuliwala (1961), Patita (1953), Mili, Bawarchi (1972) and Chupke Chupke (1975). Daag 1952 (one of her most memorable performances)

Her famous Marathi films include, Shikleli Bayko, Jasach Tase, Postatli Mulgi, Dudh Bhakar, Stree Janma Hi Tuzi Kahani, Kanyadaan (for which she received the Maharashtra Government's award for best actress) Gariba Gharchi Lek, and Kanchanganga.

She starred opposite Hindi film actors like Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Ashok Kumar, Dilip Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan.

She died in Nashik at the age of 70.

Her father's name was Balkrishna Vishnu Marathe and mother's name was Radha. She was second amongst five daughters. She was married to Dr. Manohar Kher, who was Dean of LTMMG (Sion) hospital, Mumbai. Her son Adwait Kher was a former model, now settled in Nashik with his wife Uttara Mhatre Kher, a Miss World representative after the Femina Miss India 1982, and two daughters Saunskruti Kher and Saiyami Kher. Her daughter Tanvi Azmi is a well known television and film actress, married to cinematographer Baba Azmi, brother of Shabana Azmi, and thus connected with the Akhtar-Azmi-Kher family.

Usha Kiran's Filmography with Super Star Rajesh Khanna :

Bawarchi (1972) - as as Shobha Sharma (Choti maa)