Bindu Desai
Born: 1951-01-17 in Valsad, Bombay Presidency, British India
Known For: Acting
Biography
Bindu had early successes with Ittefaq and Do Raaste in 1969. From here she went on to write her success story with Shakti Samanta's Kati Patang (1970), where she had a sizzling cabaret dance, "Mera Naam Shabnam" to her credit; a number which is even today remembered as one of the highlights of the film. Bindu's mesmerising performances in 1974 as a seductress in Imtihan, and as a nymphomaniac in Hawas, left audiences asking for more. With a string of hits behind her, she successfully managed to break out of the myth that married actresses usually do not go to become sex symbols, especially in the Hindi film industry. She is the third point in the 'holy trinity' of item number queens. Along with Helen and Aruna Irani, Bindu defined the Bollywood 'cabaret' dance number and the role of the 'Vamp'. Her acting ability was seen in films like Hrishikesh Mukherjee's films Arjun Pandit and Abhimaan, where she won raves for playing a very sympathetic character. She proved to be just as convincing as the crippled woman in Chaitali and as the deglamorised role of wife to Ashok Kumar, in Arjun Pandit. She played the villain's moll in Zanjeer and became famous as Mona Darling. An impending pregnancy, followed by a miscarriage, brought about a lull in her career and on the advice of her doctors she had to end her stint as the glamorous 'vamp' – dancing and all. However, she did not stay away for long and returned to the silver screen with character roles – Hero, Biwi Ho To Aisi and Kishen Kanhaiya and with many other such movies she managed to re-establish herself as the unmerciful and cruel mother-in-law, or the cynical aunt. In the later stages of her career, she made fewer on-screen appearances, like the ones in Shola Aur Shabnam, which highlighted her comic side, and followed with other light and funny performances in Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Main Hoon Na, and Om Shanti Om.
Filmography
2016
- The Kapil Sharma Show as Herself
2015
- Comedy Nights Bachao as Self
2008
- Mehbooba as Karan's aunt
2004
- Indian Idol as Self
- Main Hoon Na as Mrs. Kakkad
1999
- Sooryavansham as Radha's mother
- Jai Hind as Bindiya
- Jaanam Samjha Karo as Chandini's Aunt
- Haseena Maan Jaayegi as Shakuntala
1998
1997
- Judwaa as Sundari Batwani
- Banarasi Babu as Lily Chaubey
1995
- Anokha Andaaz as Reema's step-mother
1994
- Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! as Aunt
- Saajan Ka Ghar as Mrs. Dhanraj
- Udhaar Ki Zindagi
- Krantiveer
1993
- Rang as Suchitra Madhav Singh
- Aasoo Bane Angaarey as Mrs. Durgadevi Verma
- Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja as Yashudhara Devi
- Aankhen as Anuradha
- Shreemaan Aashique
1992
- Shola Aur Shabnam as Girls Hostel Principal
1991
- Phool Bane Angaray as Mrs. Singh
1990
- Kishen Kanhaiya as Kamini
- Ghar Ho To Aisa as Durga
- Lohe Ke Haath as Bindu Devi
1988
- Biwi Ho To Aisi as Kamla Bhandari
1987
- Muqaddar Ka Faisla as Mona
- Pyar Ke Kabil
- Khazana as Sonam
1986
- Allah Rakha as Banoo
- Adhikar
- Angaaray as Hirabai - courtesan
- Maphicha Sakshidar
- Saveray Wali Gaadi as Sukhdai
- Pyar Ke Do Pal as Paro
1985
- Haqeeqat as Laxmi
- Balidaan
- Alag Alag
- Aaj Ka Daur as Bijli, Laundry Women
- Pyar Jhukta Nahin as Kamini Pratap
- Sarfarosh as Item Dancer
1984
- Bandh Honth
- Sreekrishna Parunthu as Lakshmikkutty
- Divorce as Jayant's wife
1983
- Bandhan Kuchchey Dhaagon Ka as Dr. Shobha
1982
- Prem Rog as Chamiya
- Meharbaani
1981
- Naseeb as Self
- Laawaris as Kamini
- Maan Gaye Ustaad as Jaikishan's Assistant
1980
- Shaan as Maharani of Kamalpur
- Neeyat
- Bin Maa Ke Bachche as Kamla
- Garam Khoon as Pummy
1979
- Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum as Cabaret dancer
- Chambal ki rani
- Ahsaas
- Amar Deep
- Naalayak as Rita
1978
- Phandebaaz
- Bandie as Vimla
- Trishna as Vidya
- Rahu Ketu as Sheela
- Apna Khoon as Sumi
- Des Pardes as Sylvia
- Ganga Ki Saugand as Jayshree
- Chor Ho To Aisa as Seema
- Daku Aur Jawan
- Besharam as Manju
1977
- Do Chehere as Dancer
- Tyaag
- Maha Badmaash as Reena
- Hira Aur Patthar as Roopa Bai
- Farishta Ya Qatil
- Chakkar Pe Chakkar as Munnibai
1976
- Arjun Pandit
- Shaque
- Dus Numbri as CBI Officer Roopa Sharma
- Sharafat Chod Di Maine
- Aaj Ka Mahatma as Julie
- Shankar Shambhu as Munnibai
- Kabeela as Bijli
- Nehle Pe Dehla
- Shankar Dada as Bindiya
1975
- Zorro as Nisha
- Dhoti Lota Aur Chowpatty
- Vandana
1974
- Hawas as Kamini Singh
- Imtihan as Rita
- Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi
- Prem Nagar as Shamsher's wife
- Raja Shiv Chhatrapati
- Prem Shastra
- Aarop as Kanchan
- Golden Cage as Reshma
1973
- Abhimaan as Chitra
- Joshila as Rani
- Gehri Chaal as Shobha Shankar
- Zanjeer as Mona
- Nafrat as Ashoo Kumar
- Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye as Lily
- Agni Rekha
1972
- Garam Masala as Neelima
- Mere Jeevan Saathi as Kamal
- Chori Chori as Meena
- Amar Prem as Kamla
- Dushman as Chamelibai
- Raja Jani
- Dastaan
- Dil Ka Raaja as Rani of Beenapur
- Ek Bechara
1971
- Kati Patang as Shabnam 'Shaboo'
- Parde Ke Peechey
1969
- Ittefaq as Renu
- Do Raaste as Neela Alopee Prasad
- The Gold Medal
1962
1960
- Ek Phool Char Kaante as (uncredited)