Geeta Bali

She started her career as a child artist with The Cobbler (1942) and had her first success with Sohag Raat (1948). After working in Badi Bahen (1949), Bali went onto establish herself as a leading lady of the 50s with films such as Bawre Nain (1950), Albela (1951), Baazi (1951), Jaal (1952), Anand Math (1952), Vachan (1955), Milap (1955), Faraar (1955), Jailor (1958) and Mr. For Vachan, she was nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She married actor Shammi Kapoor in 1955, with whom she has two children including actor Aditya Raj Kapoor. Bali died in 1965 due to small pox.

• Name — Geeta Bali • Birth Name — Harikirtan Kaur • Born — 30 November 1930 • Birthplace — Amritsar, Punjab Province, British India (present-day Punjab, India) • Died — 21 January 1965 • Place of death — Bombay, Maharashtra, India • Years Active — 1942–1964 • Children — 2, including Aditya Raj Kapoor • Family — Kapoor family (by marriage)

Geeta Bali was born as Harkirtan Kaur in Amritsar in the Punjab Province of British India on 30 November 1930. She had an elder sister Hardarshan Kaur, whose daughter is former film actress Yogeeta Bali. Bali was trained in classical dance, horse riding and Gatka. Her father, Pandit Kartar Singh was a religious preacher. As a child, Geeta was selected to sing for a programme at the All India Radio, Lahore. Her family would travel to Burma, Sri Lanka where Bali and her sister used to give stage performances. She was noticed by Pt. Gyan Shankar, a choreographer who selected her for a documentary film, "The Cobbler" (1942) which was her debut film.

Bali started her film career as a child actress, at the age of 12, with the film The Cobbler (1942). She made her debut as a lead actress in Badnaami (1946). Bali went onto act in over 75 films. Sohag Raat (1948) and Badi Bahen (1949) were her early successes. She became a star in the 1950s. She worked with her future brother-in-law Raj Kapoor in Bawre Nain (1950) and with her future father-in-law Prithviraj Kapoor in Anand Math, both of which were successful. Unlike other actresses who gave up films after marrying into the Kapoor family, Bali continued her career until her death. Bali helped Surinder Kapoor become a producer. Bali was widely known for her comic timing and her range as an actor. Bali had her best onscreen pairing with Dev Anand, with whom she worked in several successful films including Baazi (1951), Jaal (1952), Ferry (1954), Milap (1955), Faraar and Pocket Maar (1956). She received a Filmfare Award for Best Actress nomination for Vachan (1955). She worked with her husband Shammi Kapoor in films such as Miss Coca Cola (1955), Rangeen Raaten (1956), in which she sang a song and Coffee House (1957). Her other notable films are Dulari (1949), Nishana (1950), Albela (1951), Albeli (1955), and Kavi (1955). Her last film was Jab Se Tumhe Dekha Hai in 1963.

• Illustration — Shammi Kapoor and Geeta Bali after their wedding Bali met actor Shammi Kapoor in 1955, during the film Miss Coca Cola. They fell in love during the shooting of the film Rangeen Raaten, where he was the leading actor and she played a male character. Four months later, the couple got married on 23 August 1955 at Banganga Temple, near Malabar Hill of Mumbai. They had a son, Aditya Raj Kapoor, on 1 July 1956, at Shirodkar's Hospital, Mumbai, a year after they were married. Five years later, on 8 August 1961, they had a daughter, Kanchan Kapoor née Desai. Bali contracted smallpox around December, 1964 while shooting for the film "Rano" in Amritsar. In January, she returned to Bombay where she fell severely ill and subsequently died on 21 January 1965, at the age of 34, due to illness from smallpox. She was cremated at the Banganga crematorium. Ironically, it was near the same place where she had married 10 years prior. After her death, Kapoor married Neila Devi, from Bhojapara, Gujarat, on 27 January 1969, who also took care of Bali's children.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. • 1942 — The Cobbler — Child artist • 1946 — Badnaami • Kahan Gaye • 1948 — Sohag Raat — Kamini "Kammo" • Jalsa • Nai Reet • 1949 — Neki Aur Badi — Baby • Dulari — Kasturi • Badi Bahen — Kiran • Bansariya • Garibi • Bholi — Bholi • Dil Ki Duniya • Girls' School — School student • 1950 — Nishana — Chanda • Chhai — Gujri — Punjabi film • Bawre Nain — Tara • Bhai Bahen — Bahen • Gulnar • Shadi Ki Raat — Dulhan • Balo • 1951 — Baazi — Leena • Ghayal • Albela — Asha • Nakhare • Bedardi • Johari • 1952 — Jaal — Maria • Raag Rang • Anand Math — Shanti Dev Sharma • Betaab • Jalpari • Najariya • Neelam Pari — Pari • Zalzala • 1953 — Bahu Beti • Baaz — Nisha • Jhamela • Firdaus • Gunah • Naina — Naina • 1954 — Kashti / Ferry — Juhi • Daku Ki Ladki • Suhaagan • Ameer • Chora Chori • 1955 — Jawab — Geeta • Vachan — Kamla — Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Actress • Sau Ka Note • Miss Coca Cola — Ganga • Milap — Asha Dayal • Albeli — Geeta • Faraar — Kitty — Also producer • Kavi — Basanti — Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress • Bara Dari — Gauri • 1956 — Hotel • Inspector — Varsha • Pocket Maar — Shukal • Sailaab — Kanchan • Rangeen Raaten — Gulu • Lalten • 1957 — Coffee House • 1958 — Jailor — Chhaya • Aji Bas Shukriya — Geeta Kumar • Do Mastane — Geeta Kumar • 10 O'Clock — Geeta • Mujrim — Hotel Dancer — Special appearance in song "Chanda Chandni Mein Jab Chamke" • 1959 — C. I. D. Girl — Chand • Nai Raahen • Mohar • 1960 — Bade Ghar Ki Bahu — Lata • 1961 — Mr. India — Bembi • Sapne Suhane — Jamuna • 1963 — Jab Se Tumhe Dekha Hai — Mohini — Last film • 1965 — Rano — Filming abandoned

• Year — Award — Category — Work — Result — Ref. • 1956 — 3rd Filmfare Awards — Best Actress — Vachan • Best Supporting Actress — Kavi

Geeta Bali is recorded as a citizen of Dominion of India. Recorded with the occupation film actor.