Veteran actress of yesteryears, Bela Bose, passed away today (20th February) in Bombay. She was 79 years old. Besides being a fine actress, she was also trained in the Manipuri dance form.
Bela Bose had acted in more than 200 films from the 1950s to the 1980s. She was known for her energetic and graceful dances as well as wonderful performances. Among the many films in which she left her indelible mark were Shikar, Jeene Ki Raah and Jai Santoshi Maa. She got her big break when she was asked to do a song-dance number with Raj Kapoor in Main Nashe Mein Hoon (1959). She got break as a lead actress opposite Guru Dutt in Sautela Bhai (1962). She was married to actor-filmmaker Asis Kumar.
Bela Bose was quite a multi-faceted personality. She used to write poetry, was a fine painter and a state-level swimmer too. She had served as the president of the War Widows Association under the aegis of Mohini Giri. Although she became inactive as an actress after the 1980s, she was popular on social media platforms where she had a loyal fan following. She was a loving mother and grandmother. She is survived by her son, daughter and grandson.