Leela Mishra (1 January 1908 – 17 January 1988) was an Indian actress. She worked as a character actor in over 200 Hindi films for five decades, and is best remembered for playing stock characters such as aunts (Chachi or Mausi). She is best known for her role of "mausi" in the blockbuster Sholay (1975), Dil Se Mile Dil (1978), Baton Baton Mein (1979), Rajesh Khanna films such as Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein, Aanchal, Mehbooba, Amar Prem and Rajshri Productions hits such as Geet Gaata Chal (1975), Nadiya Ke Paar (1982) and Abodh (1984). Retrieved 10 September 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2011. Her career's best performance was in Naani Maa in 1981, for which she received Best Actress award at the age of 73.
Personal life Leela Mishra was married to Ram Prasad Mishra, who was a character artist, then working in silent films. She got married at the very young age of 12. By the time she was 17, she had two daughters. She hailed from Jais, Raebareli, and she and her husband were from zamindar (landowners) families.
Career Leela Mishra was discovered by a man called Mama Shinde, who was working for Dadasaheb Phalke's Nasik Cinetone. He persuaded her husband to make her work in films. During those days there was a severe scarcity of women actors in films; this was evident in the paychecks that the Mishras received when they went to Nasik for the shooting. While Ram Prasad Mishra was hired on a salary of Rs. 150 per month, Leela Mishra was offered Rs. 500 per month. However, as they fared poorly in front of the camera, their contracts were cancelled.
The next opportunity that came their way was an offer to work in the movie Bhikarin, which was being produced by a company owned by the Maharaja of Kolhapur. However, Leela Mishra lost out on this opportunity too, as the role required her to put her arms round the actor (who was not her husband) while delivering a dialogue, which she flatly refused to do.
She faced a similar problem while working in another film titled Honhaar. She was cast opposite Shahu Modak as a heroine, and was supposed to hug and embrace him, which she again refused steadfastly. Since the company was legally in a weak position, they couldn't turn her out of the film, which proved to be a blessing in disguise for her. She was offered the role of Modak's mother in the film and it clicked instantly. This opened the doors for her to play mother roles at the young age of 18.
Notable works Early on in her career she acted in films such as the musical hit Anmol Ghadi (1946), Raj Kapoor's Awaara (1951) and the Nargis-Balraj Sahni starrer Lajwanti (1958), which was nominated for the Palme d'Or for Best Film at the 1959 Cannes Film Festival.
She acted in the first Bhojpuri film, Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo (1962), which also starred Kumkum, Helen and Nazir Hussain.
Her roles varied from mothers, benign or evil aunts, to comic roles.
Death She died of a heart attack in Bombay on 17 January 1988 at the age of 80.
Partial filmography +YearTitleRoleNotes1941Chitralekha 1946 Anmol Ghadi 1947 Elan1948Rambaan 1949 Daulat 1950 Sheesh Mahal 1951 AaramAwaara1952 Daag Jagat's wife Aandhiyan 1953 Shikast Ladki Mrs. Hazurdas 1955 Baap Re Baap Mrs. Jung Bahadur 1957 Pyaasa 1958 SaharaLajwanti 1959 Santan 1960 College Girl Ramprasad's Sister1961 Suhaag Sindoor 1962 Umeed Ankh Micholi Geeta Bhalla, Mala's mother Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo Bhojpuri film 1963 Ghar Basake Dekho Kashi, Ganga's mother1964 Leader Mrs. Khanna Dosti1965 Chhoti Chhoti Baten 1966 Pati Patni 1967 Raat Aur Din MilanChhaila BabuNasihatDiwanaMajhli DidiRam Aur Shyam Shyam's motherBahu Begum Kareeman Bua 1968Pyar Ka SapnaGauri1969 Dharti Kahe Pukarke WapasPrinceSambandhBalakDo RaasteTumse Achha Kaun Hai Sheela's mother 1970 Suhana Safar Maa Aur MamtaDeedarJawabMastanaIshq Par Zor NahinMaa Ka Aanchal1971 Dushman Lal Patthar PatangaKhojPurab Aur PachhimTere Mere AapneKanganChingariKathputliUmeedDo RahaUphaarAlbela Mere Apne 1972 Parichay Do ChorTangewalaRoop Tera MastanaMunimjiDushmunAmar Prem Shaadi Ke BaadMan JaiyeSamadhi Annadata 1973 Saudagar Badi BiHoneymoon Vishnu ParanIntezarRocky Mera NaamAanganBada Kabutar Bhola's Mother1974Khote SikkayResham Ki Dori1975 Maa Ka Aanchal PhandaJai Santoshi Maa Prem KahaniSankalpPratiggyaSholayGeet Gaata Chal Khushboo 1976 Bairaag Do ShatruKalicharan Mehbooba GumrahKhaan DostRakhe Aur RifleZindagiPhool aur Insaan 1977 Paheli TinkuPalkon Ki Chhaon MeinKinaraJadu TonaNiyaz Aur NamaazDulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man BhaayehousekeeperShatranj ke Khilari Retrieved 10 September 2011. 1978NasbandiHeeralaal PannalalDil Se Mile DilAankhein DekhiSaajan Bina SuhaganPhool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan1979 SunayanaGhar Ki LaajNaiyyaAhsaasSawan Ko Aane DoSalaam MemsaabRaadha Aur SeetaSargamBaton Baton Mein 1980AngaarJazbaazAbdullahSaajan Ki SaheliMen PansadChetna Do Rahe ParHum Nahin SudhrengeThodisi BewafaiiAanchalPathar Se Takkar1981Nani Maa Best Actress and Best Comedy Diploma Award – Moscow Film festival – India Ek Hi BhoolGhungroo Ki AwaazDaasi Ahista AhistaChashme Buddoor 1982ChorniShriman ShrimatiNadiya Ke PaarDil..Aakhir Dil HaiPrem RogLog Kya KahengeBheegi PalkeinAamne Samne1983 KathaSun Meri LailaDoosri DulhanSajal Da Mang HamaarBhojpuri filmHumse Na Jeeta KoiSadma1984AbodhPakhandiYeh Ishq Nahin AasaanTohfa1985 Prem RogTelephoneMeraa Ghar Mere BachcheKuk Doo DooPighalta AasmanDil Ek Musafir1986Tan-BadanDada Dadi Ki KahaniyanTV SeriesSamay Ki DhaaraMaqaar1987BuniyaadTV Series1988Shiva ShaktiVeerana Soorma BhopaliZakhmi Aurat1989 DaataPurani HaveliKaisan Banaul SansarBhojpuri film
References
External links
Leela Mishra at Bollywood Hungama Leela Mishra Filmography at Upperstall