Bindu Desai
Acting • Born 1951-01-17
Biography
Bindu had early successes with Ittefaq and Do Raaste in 1969. From here she went on to write her success story with Shakti Samanta's Kati Patang (1970), where she had a sizzling cabaret dance, "Mera Naam Shabnam" to her credit; a number which is even today remembered as one of the highlights of the film. Bindu's mesmerising performances in 1974 as a seductress in Imtihan, and as a nymphomaniac in Hawas, left audiences asking for more. With a string of hits behind her, she successfully managed to break out of the myth that married actresses usually do not go to become sex symbols, especially in the Hindi film industry. She is the third point in the 'holy trinity' of item number queens. Along with Helen and Aruna Irani, Bindu defined the Bollywood 'cabaret' dance number and the role of the 'Vamp'. Her acting ability was seen in films like Hrishikesh Mukherjee's films Arjun Pandit and Abhimaan, where she won raves for playing a very sympathetic character. She proved to be just as convincing as the crippled woman in Chaitali and as the deglamorised role of wife to Ashok Kumar, in Arjun Pandit. She played the villain's moll in Zanjeer and became famous as Mona Darling. An impending pregnancy, followed by a miscarriage, brought about a lull in her career and on the advice of her doctors she had to end her stint as the glamorous 'vamp' – dancing and all. However, she did not stay away for long and returned to the silver screen with character roles – Hero, Biwi Ho To Aisi and Kishen Kanhaiya and with many other such movies she managed to re-establish herself as the unmerciful and cruel mother-in-law, or the cynical aunt. In the later stages of her career, she made fewer on-screen appearances, like the ones in Shola Aur Shabnam, which highlighted her comic side, and followed with other light and funny performances in Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Main Hoon Na, and Om Shanti Om.
Filmography
122 credits
Ghar Ho To Aisa
Movie • 1990
Durga
Shaan
Movie • 1980
Maharani of Kamalpur
Haseena Maan Jaayegi
Movie • 1999
Shakuntala
Amar Prem
Movie • 1972
Kamla
Kabeela
Movie • 1976
Bijli
Nafrat
Movie • 1973
Ashoo Kumar
Haqeeqat
Movie • 1985
Laxmi
Raja Shiv Chhatrapati
Movie • 1974
Angaaray
Movie • 1986
Hirabai - courtesan
Parde Ke Peechey
Movie • 1971
Abhimaan
Movie • 1973
Chitra
Laawaris
Movie • 1981
Kamini
Aankhen
Movie • 1993
Anuradha
Shola Aur Shabnam
Movie • 1992
Girls Hostel Principal
Zanjeer
Movie • 1973
Mona
Trishna
Movie • 1978
Vidya
Kishen Kanhaiya
Movie • 1990
Kamini
Shankar Shambhu
Movie • 1976
Munnibai
Rahu Ketu
Movie • 1978
Sheela
Imtihan
Movie • 1974
Rita
Krantiveer
Movie • 1994
Banarasi Babu
Movie • 1997
Lily Chaubey
Hawas
Movie • 1974
Kamini Singh
Sharafat Chod Di Maine
Movie • 1976
Maha Badmaash
Movie • 1977
Reena
Do Chehere
Movie • 1977
Dancer
Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye
Movie • 1973
Lily
Dus Numbri
Movie • 1976
CBI Officer Roopa Sharma
Shankar Dada
Movie • 1976
Bindiya
Aaj Ka Daur
Movie • 1985
Bijli, Laundry Women
Bandie
Movie • 1978
Vimla
Bin Maa Ke Bachche
Movie • 1980
Kamla
Muqaddar Ka Faisla
Movie • 1987
Mona
Sarfarosh
Movie • 1985
Item Dancer
Naalayak
Movie • 1979
Rita
Aaj Ka Mahatma
Movie • 1976
Julie
Zorro
Movie • 1975
Nisha
Lohe Ke Haath
Movie • 1990
Bindu Devi
Sreekrishna Parunthu
Movie • 1984
Lakshmikkutty
Pyar Ke Kabil
Movie • 1987
Dil Ka Raaja
Movie • 1972
Rani of Beenapur
Udhaar Ki Zindagi
Movie • 1994
Garam Khoon
Movie • 1980
Pummy
Biwi Ho To Aisi
Movie • 1988
Kamla Bhandari
Gehri Chaal
Movie • 1973
Shobha Shankar
Ittefaq
Movie • 1969
Renu
Aarop
Movie • 1974
Kanchan
Kati Patang
Movie • 1971
Shabnam 'Shaboo'
Do Raaste
Movie • 1969
Neela Alopee Prasad
Main Hoon Na
Movie • 2004
Mrs. Kakkad
Prem Nagar
Movie • 1974
Shamsher's wife
Chor Ho To Aisa
Movie • 1978
Seema
Pyar Jhukta Nahin
Movie • 1985
Kamini Pratap
Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!
Movie • 1994
Aunt
Meharbaani
Movie • 1982
Mere Jeevan Saathi
Movie • 1972
Kamal
Des Pardes
Movie • 1978
Sylvia
Balidaan
Movie • 1985
Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja
Movie • 1993
Yashudhara Devi
Besharam
Movie • 1978
Manju
Nehle Pe Dehla
Movie • 1976
Phool Bane Angaray
Movie • 1991
Mrs. Singh
The Gold Medal
Movie • 1969
Ganga Ki Saugand
Movie • 1978
Jayshree
Prem Rog
Movie • 1982
Chamiya
Pyar Ke Do Pal
Movie • 1986
Paro
Rang
Movie • 1993
Suchitra Madhav Singh
Saveray Wali Gaadi
Movie • 1986
Sukhdai
Joshila
Movie • 1973
Rani
Alag Alag
Movie • 1985
Dushman
Movie • 1972
Chamelibai
Amar Deep
Movie • 1979
Hira Aur Patthar
Movie • 1977
Roopa Bai
Dhoti Lota Aur Chowpatty
Movie • 1975
Allah Rakha
Movie • 1986
Banoo
Saajan Ka Ghar
Movie • 1994
Mrs. Dhanraj
Shreemaan Aashique
Movie • 1993
Prem Shastra
Movie • 1974
Badmaash
Movie • 1998
Apna Khoon
Movie • 1978
Sumi
Chakkar Pe Chakkar
Movie • 1977
Munnibai
Maan Gaye Ustaad
Movie • 1981
Jaikishan's Assistant
Ahsaas
Movie • 1979
Bandhan Kuchchey Dhaagon Ka
Movie • 1983
Dr. Shobha
Phandebaaz
Movie • 1978
Judwaa
Movie • 1997
Sundari Batwani
Jaanam Samjha Karo
Movie • 1999
Chandini's Aunt
Neeyat
Movie • 1980
Farishta Ya Qatil
Movie • 1977
Dastaan
Movie • 1972
Mala
Mehbooba
Movie • 2008
Karan's aunt
Anokha Andaaz
Movie • 1995
Reema's step-mother
Jai Hind
Movie • 1999
Bindiya
Garam Masala
Movie • 1972
Neelima
Chori Chori
Movie • 1972
Meena
Shaque
Movie • 1976
Bandh Honth
Movie • 1984
Naseeb
Movie • 1981
Self
Aasoo Bane Angaarey
Movie • 1993
Mrs. Durgadevi Verma
Agni Rekha
Movie • 1973
Arjun Pandit
Movie • 1976
Sooryavansham
Movie • 1999
Radha's mother
Raja Jani
Movie • 1972
Vandana
Movie • 1975
Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum
Movie • 1979
Cabaret dancer
Ek Phool Char Kaante
Movie • 1960
(uncredited)
Tyaag
Movie • 1977
Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi
Movie • 1974
Maphicha Sakshidar
Movie • 1986
Daku Aur Jawan
Movie • 1978
Adhikar
Movie • 1986
Khazana
Movie • 1987
Sonam
Bangarada Panjara
Movie • 1974
Reshma
Divorce
Movie • 1984
Jayant's wife
Anpadh
Movie • 1962
Chambal ki rani
Movie • 1979
Ek Bechara
Movie • 1972
Kala Pani
Movie • 1980
Dancer
Comedy Nights Bachao
TV • 2015
Self
The Kapil Sharma Show
TV • 2016
Herself
Indian Idol
TV • 2004
Self
The Kapil Sharma Show
TV • 2016
Self