Aruna Irani
Irani in 2012
Born	(1946-05-03) 3 May 1946 Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India (now Mumbai, Maharashtra, India)
Occupation(s)	Actress, director
Spouse	Kuku Kohli ​ (m. 1990)​
Relatives	Indra Kumar (brother) Adi Irani (brother) Firoz Irani (brother) Balraj Irani (brother) Bindu (cousin)

Aruna Irani (born 18 Aug 1946)^[1] is an Indian actress, who has acted in over 500 films throughout Hindi, Kannada, Marathi and Gujarati cinema, playing mostly supporting and character roles. She received two Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actress for Pet Pyaar Aur Paap (1985) and Beta (1992), and holds the record for the most nominations in the category (10). In January 2012, Irani was honoured with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award at the 57th Filmfare Awards.

Early life

Aruna Irani was born in Mumbai, India to an Irani father and a Hindu mother. Her father Faredun Irani ran a drama troupe, and her mother Saguna (Telugu )was an actress. She is the eldest of eight siblings. She was fond of studies and wanted to become a doctor.^[2] But she had to give up studies after sixth standard because her family did not have enough money to educate all the children.^[3] She claims to have learnt dancing while working in the films because she could not afford professional training from a master.^[4] Her brothers Indra Kumar, Adi Irani and Firoz Irani are all associated with the film industry. Actress Bindu is her cousin.^[5]

Career

Aruna Irani made her debut in the film Gunga Jumna (1961) playing Azra's childhood character. She then acted in the film Anpadh (1962) as Mala Sinha's childhood character. She next did several small roles in films such as Jahanara (1964), Farz (1967), Upkar (1967) and Aaya Sawan Jhoomke (1969). She later acted with comedian Mehmood Ali in films such as Aulad (1968), Humjoli (1970), Devi (1970) and Naya Zamana (1971).

In 1971, she starred in Caravan, as a knife-thrower, earning her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. She later starred in Mehmood Ali's Bombay To Goa (1972), Garam Masala (1972) and Do Phool (1973). Her films have included Farz (1967), Bobby (1973), Fakira (1976), Sargam (1979), Red Rose (1980), Love Story (1981), and Rocky (1981), earning nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Bobby and Rocky. She also starred in Do Jhoot (1975) and Khoon Pasina (1977) which earned her two more nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.

After having lost the award five time, she won her first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Pet Pyaar Aur Paap (1984).^[6]

In the late 1980s and 1990s, Irani switched to playing motherly roles, notably in Beta (1992), for which she won her second Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.^[7] She earned two more nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performances in Suhaag (1994) and Kartavya (1995). She acted in the Kannada remake of the same film with the same role. Some of her Marathi films are Aandhla Marto Dola, Bhingari, Changu Mangu, Lapwa Chapvi, Ek Gadi Baki Anadi, Mitwaa and Bol Baby Bol.

She earned her record-setting tenth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Ghulam-E-Mustafa (1997).

In her later career, Irani also switched to television, performing character roles in various serials. She also took up direction and production of tele-serials such as Mehndi Tere Naam Ki, Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand, Rabba Ishq Na Hove, Vaidehi and more.^[8]

On 19 February 2012, she was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.^[9]

Personal life

She is married to Bollywood film director Kuku Kohli.^[10][11]

Filmography

• Gungi Ladki (1961)
• Jahanara (1964)
• Ganga Ki Lahren (1964)
• Kalapi (1966)
• Spy in Goa (1966) as Lilli
• Farz (1967)
• Patthar Ke Sanam (1967)
• Upkar (1967)
• Anokhi Raat (1968)
• Aulad (1968)
• Tumse Accha Kaun Hai (1969)
• Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke (1969)
• Anjaan Hai Koi (1969)
• Oos Raat Ke Baad (1969)
• Samay Bada Balwan (1969)
• Humjoli (1970)
• Aan Milo Sajna (1970)
• Safar (1970)
• The Train (1970)
• Naya Zamana (1971)
• Man Mandir (1971)
• Ek Paheli (1971)
• Johar Mehmood in Hong Kong (1971)
• Ek Naari Ek Brahmchari (1971)
• Caravan (1971) as Nisha
• Buddha Mil Gaya (1971)
• Andaz (1971)
• Sanjog (1971)
• Garam Masala (1972)
• Bombay to Goa (1972)
• Bobby (1973)
• Do Phool (1973)
• Prem Nagar (1974)
• Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974)
• Har Har Mahadev (1974)
• Mili (1975)
• Do Jasoos (1975)
• Dharam Jeet (1975) double role in a Punjabi movie
• Khel Khel Mein (1975)
• Ranga Khush (1975)
• Deewaar (1975) (uncredited)
• Santo Banto (1976) as Santo/ Banto double role in Punjabi movie
• Sankoch (1976)
• Bhanwar (1976)
• Charas (1976)
• Sangram (1976)
• Fakira (1976)
• Zindagi (1976) as Sudha N. Shukla
• Laila Majnu (1976)
• Rangaa Aur Raja (1977)
• Apnapan (1977)
• Duniyadaari (1977)
• Do Chehere (1977)
• Khoon Pasina (1977)
• Shalimar (1978)
• Khoon Ki Pukaar (1978)
• Gol Maal (1979)
• Jaani Dushman (1979)
• Kartavya (1979) as Lachhi
• Surakshaa (1979) as Ruby
• Beqasoor (1980)
• Karz (1980)
• Kali Ghata (1980) as Pinky
• Morcha (1980)
• Qurbani (1980)
• Judaai (1980) as Miss Lily, dancer
• Phir Wohi Raat (1980) as Shobha
• Hum Paanch (1980) as Nishi
• Jwalamukhi (1980 film)
• Naache Mayuri (1986)
• Insaniyat Ke Dushman (1987)
• Dayavan (1988)
• Ek Gadi Baaki Anadi (1988)
• Janam Janam (1988)
• Mera Muqaddar (1988) as Shanti
• Mere Baad (1988)
• Inteqam (1988)
• Bees Saal Baad (1988)
• Zulm Ko Jala Doonga (1988)
• Shahenshah (1988)
• Chaalbaaz (1989)
• Changu Mangu (1990)
• Majboor (1990)
• Doodh Ka Karz Hindi and Marathi (1990)
• Bandh Darwaza (1990) Mahua Daayan Kunka
• Jungle Love (1990)
• Brahmarshi Vishwamitra (1991)
• Phool Aur Kaante (1991)
• Shanti Kranti (1991)
• Anokha Premyudh (1994)

Television shows

Awards and nominations

Film

Television

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aruna Irani.

• Aruna Irani at IMDb 
• Aruna Irani at Bollywood Hungama