The grand dame of Hindi cinema-Lalita Pawar

Lalita Pawar was born on April 18, 1916. Lalita was a prolific Indian actor, who later became famous as character actress, appearing in over 700 films in Hindi and Marathi cinema, where she gave hits like, Netaji Palkar (1938), made by Bhalji Pendharkar, New Hana Pictures’ Sant Damaji, Navyug Chitrapat’s Amrit, written by VS Khandekar, and Chhaya Films’ Gora Kumbhar. Lalita Pawar's other memorable roles were in film, Anari (1959), Shri 420 and Mr and Mrs 55, and the role of Manthara, in Ramanand Sagar's television epic serial, Ramayan.

Lalita Pawar's first marriage was to G.P. Pawar, a stunt film director, who directed most of her later silent, and initial sound films. Lalita co-produced and acted in a silent film, Kailash (1932), and later produced another film, Duniya Kya Hai in 1938, a talkie.

In 1942, Lalita was slapped by actor Bhagwan Dada, during the shooting of a film, which resulted in facial paralysis and a burst left eye vein. Three years of treatment later, Lalita Pawar was left with a defective left eye; thus she had to abandon lead roles, and switch to character roles, which won her much of her fame later in life.

Llita was known particularly for playing maternal figures, especially wicked matriarchs or mothers-in-law. She also notably played the role of the strict but kind Mrs. L. D'Sa in Anari (1959) with Raj Kapoor, acting under Hrishikesh Mukherjee's direction, she gave the performance of a lifetime , for which she received Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award; as the tough matriarch who falls in love in Professor (1962), and the devious hunchback Manthara in Ramanand Sagar's television series Ramayan. Lalita Pawar died in 1998, February 24.

Lalita Pawar has had the longest ever innings in the industry which spanned seven decades.