Leena Chandavarkar, a former Indian actress, is best known for her remarkable career and her personal life, particularly her marriage to the legendary Kishore Kumar. This post delves into the details of her life, career, and more.
Wiki/Biography
Leena Chandavarkar was born on August 29, 1950 (age 73 as of 2023), in Dharwad, Karnataka. Her zodiac sign is Virgo. She completed her schooling at Bassel Mission High School, Karnataka, but didn’t pursue higher education. A pivotal moment came in 1965 when she participated in the Filmfare Fresh Face competition, finishing as a runner-up. This led to various advertising assignments, a career she pursued until 1968, when she transitioned into acting.
Physical Appearance
Here’s a summary of Leena Chandavarkar’s physical attributes:
- Height: Approximately 5’3″
- Weight: Approximately 55 kg
- Eye Color: Brown
- Hair Color: Black
Family
Leena hails from a Brahmin family. Her father, Srinath Chandavarkar, served in the Indian Army. Details about her mother remain scarce. She has a brother, Anil Chandavarkar. Leena has been married twice. Her first marriage was to Siddharth Bandodkar, and her second, and most well-known, was to the iconic Kishore Kumar. She and Kishore Kumar had a son, Sumeet Kumar.
Career
While enjoying success in modeling, Leena aspired to act. Her conservative nature led her to decline several film offers. She finally secured a significant role in Sunil Dutt’s Man Ka Meet (1968), co-starring with Sunil Dutt’s brother, Som Dutt, and Vinod Khanna (in his debut role).
From 1969 to 1979, she starred in numerous films alongside prominent actors. By the late 1980s, her filmography included collaborations with legendary actors such as Dilip Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Sanjeev Kumar, and Jeetendra. The song “Dhal Gaya Din Ho Gayi Shaam” from her 1970 film Huumjoli (with Jeetendra) became a massive hit, catapulting her to widespread fame.
Her performance in Mehboob Ki Mehndi (1971), alongside Rajesh Khanna, is often cited as one of her best. Over a 15-year career, she appeared in over 30 films. Her last film was Sarfarosh. In a 2015 interview, she expressed openness to acting roles if suitable opportunities arose.
Controversy
During the 2015 Hum Log Awards, an incident involving Ram Jethmalani garnered significant media attention. While Leena was on stage, Jethmalani unintentionally kissed her while attempting a greeting. While initially generating controversy on social media, Leena later clarified that there was no malice intended, and they both held mutual respect.
Favourite Things
Leena’s preferences are summarized below:
| Category | Favorite |
|---|---|
| Food | Chicken Tikka |
| Actor | Kishore Kumar |
| Actress | Nargis |
| Bollywood Film | Bidai (1974) |
| Hollywood Film | River of No Return (1954) |
| Singer | Kishore Kumar |
Facts
- At age 15, Leena was a Filmfare Fresh Face competition runner-up (Rajesh Khanna and Farida Jalal were winners that year).
- Nargis mentored Leena, teaching her dance, driving, and Hindi (Leena’s mother tongue was Kannada).
- Leena never did bikini shoots due to her conservative nature.
- She starred in over 30 mostly successful films.
- She met Kishore Kumar on the set of Manchali (1973).
- She married Siddharth Bandodkar on December 8, 1975, and he tragically died on November 7, 1976, after a year-long struggle following an accidental shooting.
- She married Kishore Kumar in 1980 and they had a son, Sumeet Kumar.
- Following Kishore Kumar’s death in 1987, Leena remained unmarried. She has since retired from acting and now writes lyrics for her son’s music albums.
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