39 Facts About Smita Patil

Smita Patil was an Indian actress who primarily worked in Hindi and Marathi films.

In 1985, Smita Patil received the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour.

Smita Patil made her film debut with Shyam Benegal's Charandas Chor.

Smita Patil became one of the leading actresses of parallel cinema, a New Wave movement in India cinema, though she appeared in several mainstream movies throughout her career.

Apart from acting, Smita Patil was an active feminist and a member of the Women's Centre in Mumbai.

Smita Patil was married to actor Raj Babbar, with whom she had a son, actor Prateik Babbar.

Smita Patil died on 13 December 1986 at the age of 31 due to childbirth complications.

Smita Patil was born on 17 October 1955, in Pune, Maharashtra into a Hindu-Marathi family, to a Maharashtrian politician father, Shivajirao Girdhar Patil and social worker mother Vidyatai Patil, from Shirpur town of Khandesh province of Maharashtra.

Smita Patil has two sisters, Dr Anita Patil Deshmukh, a faculty neonatologist and Manya Patil Seth, a costume designer.

Smita Patil studied literature at University of Mumbai, and was a part of local theatre groups in Pune and spent much of her time at the campus of the Film and Television Institute of India, causing many to mistake her for an alumna.

Smita Patil began her career in the early 1970s as a television newsreader on the newly transmitting Mumbai Doordarshan, the Indian government run broadcaster.

Smita Patil then won her first National Film Award for Best Actress and her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her performance in the Hindi film Bhumika, just three years after her debut.

Smita Patil attended the Cannes Film Festival in 1976 with Shabana Azmi and Shyam Benegal for the film Nishant.

Smita Patil was a part of the radically political cinema of the 1970s, which included actresses such as Shabana Azmi and Deepti Naval.

Smita Patil's work includes films with parallel cinema directors like Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani, Satyajit Ray, G Aravindan and Mrinal Sen as well as forays into the more commercial Hindi film industry cinema of Mumbai.

Smita Patil was a women's rights activist and became famous for her roles in films that portrayed women as capable and empowered.

Smita Patil received widespread critical acclaim for her performances in Chakra, which earned her a second National Film Award for Best Actress and her first and only Filmfare Award for Best Actress.

Smita Patil went onto star in Bazaar and Aaj Ki Awaaz, which earned her two nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.

Smita Patil showed that one can act in both, "serious" cinema and the "Hindi cinema" masala in the Hindi film industry.

Smita Patil acted with Raj Babbar in films such as Bheegi Palkein, Tajurba, Aaj Ki Awaaz, Awam and Hum Do Hamare Do and later fell in love with him.

For Waris, Smita Patil won her final acting award, the Lux Award for Best Actress.

Smita Patil was an active feminist and was member of the Women's Centre in Mumbai.

Smita Patil attempted to portray women's issues through her different films.

Smita Patil was involved in charity work, donating the winnings of her first National Award to charity.

When Smita Patil became romantically involved with actor Raj Babbar, she drew severe criticism from her fans and the media, clouding her personal life and throwing her into the eye of a media storm.

Babbar and Smita Patil first met on the sets of the 1982 film Bheegi Palkein.

Smita Patil died from childbirth complications on 13 December 1986, age 31.

Smita Patil is regarded as one of the greatest and most accomplished actresses of Indian cinema.

Smita Patil was known for her beauty and fashion throughout the 70s and 80s.

Smita Patil is highly regarded for her range as an actor, her beauty, and her style.

Smita Patil's oeuvre is outstanding, investing almost every portrayal with a powerhouse realistic performance.

Smita Patil was not class conscious, rather was very bubbly, full of life.

Smita Patil is known among the greatest actresses of Indian cinema.

Smita Patil could be a part of the story without your thinking about it.

Smita Patil established herself as one of the most prominent actress of arthouse and parallel cinema, and was widely known as the "Queen of parallel cinema and new wave movement".

Smita Patil was known for her work in the mainstream films.

Smita Patil was known for her path-breaking roles and she changed the portrayal of women onscreen with her morally complex characters.

Smita Patil's films made space for feminist interventions, serving as a template for every succeeding generation of actors.

Smita Patil was the life of art, parallel or new wave cinema.