#memory
Devika Rani.
30 March is the death anniversary of Devika Rani Roerich ( 1908-1994).
She was the first lady super star of Indian cinema.
Devika grew up in London and became a textile engineer, having apprenticed under Elizabeth Arden.
She met her future husband, Himanshu Rai in London. He persuaded her to act with him in the film’Karma.’ It was the first English film made by an Indian and became famous for featuring a kissing scene between the real life husband and wife.
Ashok Kumar made his debut opposite her in the film Jeevan Naiya and they went on to star in 10 films together.
She was also instrumental in giving Dilip Kumar his first break in the film Jwar Bhata.
Most of her films were women-centric and she played the central character with aplomb.
Later she married the Russian painter Nikolai Rohrich in 1945.
Devika Rani Roerich was the first recipient of the Dada Saheb Phalke award in 1969.
– Joy Kallivayalil.
