"CHAND SI MEHEBOOBA." she was described as by Manoj Kumar in "HIMALAY KI GOAD MEIN". And, so was she, Mala Sinha, the Nepali Beauty who lighted up Indian film screens with her exuberant presence. Born a Nepali Christian, Mala Sinha, began her career in films during the early 1950's in Bengali films like ROSHANARA. Soon, she shifted to Mumbai. She made a not a very enviable entry with BADSHAH (1954). Then came 'EKADASHI', a mythological film. Followed by a lead in Kishore Sahu's 'HAMLET'.

It was the late Geeta Bali, who took an unsure confused Mala under her wings and groomed her during Kidar Sharma's RANGEEN RAATEIN (1956). Before becoming an actress, Mala sang regularly on the radio. However, she never sang in bollywood. If not for the Late Guru Dutt, Mala would have run the risk of being typecasted in the conventional roles. Guru Dutt put that extra glamour in her career with 'PYAASA' in 1957. From then on there was no looking back for her. She exuded sheer sensuality in PYAASA. Mala's character had negative shades as she played an ambitious woman who betrays her impoverished poet lover (Guru Dutt) for a millionaire publisher (Rehman).

Mala soon rose from a promising newcomer to star with films with a biggie like Raj Kapoor: PARVARISH (1958), PHIR SUBAH HOGI (1958) and MAIN NASHE MEIN HOON (1959). In 1959, Mala had, Dev Anand's musical 'LOVE MARRIAGE' and a role in B R Chopra's DHOOL KA PHOOL, where Mala Sinha again had a dark-shaded role of a woman who abandons her illegitimate child. What is remarkable about Mala Sinha is that she was as much responsible for her hits as much as the hero's'. She yielded such star power. When she acted opposite big stars, she made sure her role was as good as theirs. If that was not always possible, she didn't mind doing smaller films with lesser names or new actor stars like Dharmendra (ANPADH), Manoj Kumar (HARIYALI), Sanjay Khan (DILLAGI) and Amitabh Bachchan (SANJOG), besides doing 10 films with Biswajeet. She is even said to have refused a bimbette role in RAM AUR SHAYAM opposite a stalwart like Dilip Kumar. This ensured her a trio of hits in 1962 --- ANPADH, HARIYALI AUR RAASTA and DIL TERA DEEWANA and her career best, B R Chopra's GUMRAAH (1963). Strong, women-oriented roles were known as her forte. Yet, she was not de-glamorised.

 Mala looked chic in chiffon saris and butterfly blouses and when she needed to wear western tight-fitting clothes, she looked as lovely in them as she looked in a saree. Personally, the year 1966 when she acted in a Nepali Movie called "MAITIGHAR" became a turning point of her life as she got married with the hero of "MAITIGHAR", C.P. Lohani. Over the years, she was paired with Rajesh Khanna in MARYADA and she also won accolades for her moving performance as Sanjeev Kumar's grey-haired wife in ZINDAGI. She did do some character roles.

KHEL in 1992 has been the last film in which this versatile actress acted in bollywood. Though, Mala Sinha has been an actress of great grade and refineness, pitted against stalwarts of her time like Meena Kumari, Nutan and Waheeda Rehman, Mala didn't get her due.

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