Khote, Durga (c. 1905–1991)

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Khote, Durga (c. 1905–1991)

Indian actress. Born Jan 13, 1905, in Bombay, Maharashtra, India; died Sept 22, 1991, in Bombay; mother-in-law of Vijaya Mehta (stage and tv director); grandmother of Tina Khote (who made a film about Durga's life).

One of India's greatest and most highly respected stars, came from a cultured, affluent Brahmin family; her appearance in the early sound film Ayodhyecha Raja (1932), opened the doors for other girls from respectable families to become film actresses; appeared in over 200 films, including Maya Machhindra (1932), Rajrani Meera (1933), Seeta (1934), Amar Jyoti (1936), Pratibha (1937), Geeta (1940), Prithvi Vallabh (1943), Phool (1945), Maya Bazaar (1949), Adil-E-Jahangir (1955), Mughal-E-Azam (1960), The Householder (1963), Kaajal (1965) and Daadi Maa (1966); also appeared on stage often, including as Lady Macbeth in Rajmukut, a Marathi adaptation of Macbeth (1954).