Beena

QAMYAB – THE FORGOTTEN GEMS OF BOLLYWOOD

Qamyab is our humble tribute to all those lesser-known actors, one hit wonders and junior artists who we see umpteen times but don’t know about; beyond their faces. These actors have been an integral part of Bollywood but didn’t get their due. This series is our sincere attempt to put a name to these faces, familiarize them to our readers and celebrate their achievements in life – however big or small. We believe that every artist contributes in his/her own way to the cinema’s success. Qamyab will explore the unknown lives of such actors and artists as we believe even these forgotten gems of Bollywood deserve their due recognition today.

After Anjana Mumtaz, we bring to you another well-known actor who has played the onscreen mother to all the top heroes and heroines of the ’80s and ’90s. But did you know this lady started out as a heroine herself in the early ’80s before quickly making the transition to mother roles. Yes, we are talking about Beena Banerjee or simply Beena as she was called and credited in most of her films.

Acting in more than two hundred films mostly in character roles, Beena made her debut in Yash Chopra’s Doosara Aadmi (1977) where she played a small role. The following year, she acted in showman Raj Kapoor’s Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978) but the focus in the film was completely on Zeenat Aman so no one noticed Beena. Shikshaa (1979) which was her first pivotal role, also met an unheralded release. Next followed Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge (1980) where she was cast alongside newcomers Tariq Shah and Desh Gautam. The film flopped badly and Beena had to wait for three more years for her next release called Rachna (1983) where she played the main lead opposite a very young Anil Kapoor.

Rachna had Anil playing a playboy richie rich who marries an ailing orphan Beena just to satisfy his late father’s will but ends up falling in love with her. Beena looked damn sweet in this movie and had done a couple of bold scenes as well but unfortunately, Rachna became a box office disaster and was pulled out of most cinemas within a week.

In one of her later interviews, Beena was questioned as to why Anil Kapoor became a star while she did not. Beena stated three primary reasons for it. First was that she started her acting career a bit late. Secondly, she wasn’t a great dancer which was a pre-requisite for a heroine in those days. Last but most importantly was lady luck which wasn’t on her side to make her a superstar.

While lead roles didn’t come her way post the Rachna debacle, Beena was flooded with offers for character roles mostly sister and ‘bhabhi’ roles which she took up promptly. The first time she played a mother on screen was to Kumar Gaurav in Lovers (1983), the same year that Rachna released. Later along with Reema Lagoo and Anjana Mumtaz, Beena played mother to either the hero or heroine in practically each and every Hindi film.

Her notable performances include Lovers (1983), Andar Baahar (1984), Jagir (1984), Meri Jung (1985), Aakhir Kyon? (1985), Jeeva (1986), Karma (1986), Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), Zakhmi Aurat (1988), Chandni (1989), Bhrashtachar (1989), Tejaa (1990), Bandh Darwaza (1990), Baaghi (1990), Saugandh (1991), Zulm Ki Hukumat (1992), Khiladi (1992), Khuda Gawah (1992), Pehchaan (1993), Insaaf Apne Lahoo Se (1994), Anjaam (1994), Criminal (1995), Ziddi (1997), Lajja (2001), Viruddh (2005) and Khuda Kasam (2010).

In most of her films, she played the nice and docile mother or ‘bhabhi’ to the hero. However, in a significant departure to this image, Beena played a sexy vamp who seduces the much married Kulbhushan Kharbanda in the film Insaaf Apne Lahoo Se (1994). Later in the movie, she tries to seduce her onscreen step son played by Shatrughan Sinha as well. The audience was quite surprised with her role but this much delayed movie didn’t find too many takers at the box office.

Another film where Beena made her presence felt even in a small role was Khiladi (1992) in which she played Shakti Kapoor’s homemaker wife who dotes on her ‘devar’ Akshay Kumar and loves to make ‘motichoor ke ladoo’ for him. Her scenes with Akshay brought the much needed relief in the otherwise tense thriller.

Apart from Hindi films, Beena was a well-known face in Bengali cinema as well and also worked in many TV shows like Uttaran (2009-13), Tere Sheher Mein (2015) and Dil Sambhal Jaa Zara (2017). Her character of Gunvanti Singh Bundela in Uttaran, who is possessive of her son, became quite popular.

Beena was away from Bollywood since 2006 but made a surprise comeback in 2018 with Karwaan. Recently, she was also seen in a grandmother’s role in Prabhas-Pooja Hegde romantic drama Radhe Shyam (2002).

Not many know that Beena is daughter of yesteryear film star Pradeep Kumar known for his significant contribution as lead hero in Hindi and Bengali Cinema. He is famously known for his performances in Anarkali (1953), Nagin (1954), Aarti (1962) and Taj Mahal (1963). In spite being a star daughter, Beena is said to have led a protected childhood and was kept away from the glitz and glamour of cinema. She was not allowed to watch even her father’s movies and the only premiere she got to attend with her father was Taj Mahal as it was “a big film”.