Leela Mishra

Her career's best performance was in Naani Maa in 1981, for which she received Best Actress award at the age of 73.

• Name — Leela Mishra • Born — 1 January 1908 • Birthplace — Jais, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India (present-day Uttar Pradesh, India) • Died — 17 January 1988 • Place of death — Bombay, Maharashtra, India (present-day Mumbai) • Spouse — Ram Prasad Misra • Children — 3 • Other Names — Leela Misra • Known for — Mausi in Sholay (1975) • Years Active — 1936–1986 • Occupation — actress Leela Mishra (1 January 1908 – 17 January 1988) was an Indian actress. She worked as a character actor in over 200 Hindi films for five decades, and is best remembered for playing stock characters such as aunts (Chachi or Mausi). She is best known for her role of "mausi" in the blockbuster Sholay (1975), Dil Se Mile Dil (1978), Baton Baton Mein (1979), Rajesh Khanna films such as Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein, Aanchal, Mehbooba, Amar Prem and Rajshri Productions hits such as Geet Gaata Chal (1975), Nadiya Ke Paar (1982) and Abodh (1984). Her career's best performance was in Naani Maa in 1981, for which she received Best Actress award at the age of 73.

Leela Mishra was married to Ram Prasad Mishra, who was a character artist, then working in silent films. She got married at the very young age of 12. By the time she was 17, she had two daughters. She hailed from Jais, Raebareli, and she and her husband were from zamindar (landowners) families.

Leela Mishra was discovered by a man called Mama Shinde, who was working for Dadasaheb Phalke's Nasik Cinetone. He persuaded her husband to make her work in films. During those days there was a severe scarcity of women actors in films; this was evident in the paychecks that the Mishras received when they went to Nasik for the shooting. While Ram Prasad Mishra was hired on a salary of Rs. 150 per month, Leela Mishra was offered Rs. 500 per month. However, as they fared poorly in front of the camera, their contracts were cancelled. The next opportunity that came their way was an offer to work in the movie Bhikarin, which was being produced by a company owned by the Maharaja of Kolhapur. However, Leela Mishra lost out on this opportunity too, as the role required her to put her arms round the actor (who was not her husband) while delivering a dialogue, which she flatly refused to do. She faced a similar problem while working in another film titled Honhaar. She was cast opposite Shahu Modak as a heroine, and was supposed to hug and embrace him, which she again refused steadfastly. Since the company was legally in a weak position, they couldn't turn her out of the film, which proved to be a blessing in disguise for her. She was offered the role of Modak's mother in the film and it clicked instantly. This opened the doors for her to play mother roles at the young age of 18.

Early on in her career she acted in films such as the musical hit Anmol Ghadi (1946), Raj Kapoor's Awaara (1951) and the Nargis-Balraj Sahni starrer Lajwanti (1958), which was nominated for the Palme d'Or for Best Film at the 1959 Cannes Film Festival. She acted in the first Bhojpuri film, Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo (1962), which also starred Kumkum, Helen and Nazir Hussain. Her roles varied from mothers, benign or evil aunts, to comic roles.

She died of a heart attack in Bombay on 17 January 1988 at the age of 80.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1941 — Chitralekha • 1946 — Anmol Ghadi • 1947 — Elan • 1948 — Rambaan • 1949 — Daulat • 1950 — Sheesh Mahal • 1951 — Aaram • Awaara • 1952 — Daag — Jagat's wife • Aandhiyan • 1953 — Shikast • Ladki — Mrs. Hazurdas • 1955 — Baap Re Baap — Mrs. Jung Bahadur • 1957 — Pyaasa • 1958 — Sahara • Lajwanti • 1959 — Santan • 1960 — College Girl — Ramprasad's Sister • 1961 — Suhaag Sindoor • 1962 — Umeed • Ankh Micholi — Geeta Bhalla, Mala's mother • Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo — Bhojpuri film • 1963 — Ghar Basake Dekho — Kashi, Ganga's mother • 1964 — Leader — Mrs. Khanna • Dosti • 1965 — Chhoti Chhoti Baten • 1966 — Pati Patni • 1967 — Raat Aur Din • Milan • Chhaila Babu • Nasihat • Diwana • Majhli Didi • Ram Aur Shyam — Shyam's mother • Bahu Begum — Kareeman Bua • 1968 — Pyar Ka Sapna • Gauri • 1969 — Dharti Kahe Pukarke • Wapas • Prince • Sambandh • Balak • Do Raaste • Tumse Achha Kaun Hai — Sheela's mother • 1970 — Suhana Safar • Maa Aur Mamta • Deedar • Jawab • Mastana • Ishq Par Zor Nahin • Maa Ka Aanchal • 1971 — Dushman • Lal Patthar • Patanga • Khoj • Purab Aur Pachhim • Tere Mere Aapne • Kangan • Chingari • Kathputli • Umeed • Do Raha • Uphaar • Albela • Mere Apne • 1972 — Parichay • Do Chor • Tangewala • Roop Tera Mastana • Munimji • Dushmun • Amar Prem • Shaadi Ke Baad • Man Jaiye • Samadhi • Annadata • 1973 — Saudagar — Badi Bi • Honeymoon • Vishnu Paran • Intezar • Rocky Mera Naam • Aangan • Bada Kabutar — Bhola's Mother • 1974 — Khote Sikkay • Resham Ki Dori • 1975 — Maa Ka Aanchal • Phanda • Jai Santoshi Maa • Prem Kahani • Sankalp • Pratiggya • Sholay • Geet Gaata Chal • Khushboo • 1976 — Bairaag • Do Shatru • Kalicharan • Mehbooba • Gumrah • Khaan Dost • Rakhe Aur Rifle • Zindagi • Phool aur Insaan • 1977 — Paheli • Tinku • Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein • Kinara • Jadu Tona • Niyaz Aur Namaaz • Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaaye — housekeeper • Shatranj ke Khilari • 1978 — Nasbandi • Heeralaal Pannalal • Dil Se Mile Dil • Aankhein Dekhi • Saajan Bina Suhagan • Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan • 1979 — Sunayana • Ghar Ki Laaj • Naiyya • Ahsaas • Sawan Ko Aane Do • Salaam Memsaab • Raadha Aur Seeta • Sargam • Baton Baton Mein • 1980 — Angaar • Jazbaaz • Abdullah • Saajan Ki Saheli • Men Pansad • Chetna Do Rahe Par • Hum Nahin Sudhrenge • Thodisi Bewafaii • Aanchal • Pathar Se Takkar • 1981 — Nani Maa — Best Actress and Best Comedy Diploma Award – Moscow Film festival – India • Ek Hi Bhool • Ghungroo Ki Awaaz • Daasi • Ahista Ahista • Chashme Buddoor • 1982 — Chorni • Shriman Shrimati • Nadiya Ke Paar • Dil..Aakhir Dil Hai • Prem Rog • Log Kya Kahenge • Bheegi Palkein • Aamne Samne • 1983 — Katha • Sun Meri Laila • Doosri Dulhan • Sajal Da Mang Hamaar — Bhojpuri film • Humse Na Jeeta Koi • Sadma • 1984 — Abodh • Pakhandi • Yeh Ishq Nahin Aasaan • Tohfa • 1985 — Prem Rog • Telephone • Meraa Ghar Mere Bachche • Kuk Doo Doo • Pighalta Aasman • Dil Ek Musafir • 1986 — Tan-Badan • Dada Dadi Ki Kahaniyan — TV Series • Samay Ki Dhaara • Maqaar • 1987 — Buniyaad — TV Series • 1988 — Shiva Shakti • Veerana • Soorma Bhopali • Zakhmi Aurat • 1989 — Daata • Purani Haveli • Kaisan Banaul Sansar — Bhojpuri film