8 Bollywood Actresses Who Got Typecast For Playing Sisters
Posted On: 03 Sep 2021 | Last Updated : 18 Aug 2022 | Views : 1.9k
An actor gives life to the character. It could be difficult for an actor to play versatile roles. However, it becomes much more difficult when they have to portray the same character in most of the movies of their career. There have been many Bollywood actors, who played a character with so much passion that it became difficult to get off that image. Typecasting is common in Bollywood, some examples are Alok Nath as Babuji, Nirupa Roy as Mother, Lalita Pawar as the wicked mother-in-law, etc. These actors got remarkably deep into the skin of the character that it became too difficult to break the mold. Similarly, there have been many Bollywood actresses known for playing sister’s roles on screen in most of their movies. Bollywood never fails to commend the relationship of siblings and portray the brother-sister saga with high regard. Bollywood's sister character is usually a bubbly girl who thinks highly of her brother, while the brother character is a man who is overly protective of his sister and will do anything for her happiness. Let’s check these top 8 Bollywood actresses who got typecast in Bollywood sister’s roles.
1. Nanda
Nanda, daughter of actor-director Master Vinayak, was one of the leading actresses of the 1960s. She started her acting career in Bollywood at the young age of 9 and appeared in several movies as a child artist. She got a big break from her paternal uncle, V. Shantaram’s Toofan Aur Diya (1956) which was about the orphaned brother and sister. The movie was a big hit and the start of Nanda’s success. She is mostly remembered for playing a sister’s role in movies like Bhabhi (1957), Chhoti Bahen (1959), Kala Bazar (1960), Kanoon (1960), Aaj Aur Kal (1963), Beti (1969), Badi Didi (1969), etc.
2. Aruna Irani
Aruna Irani is an Indian actress, who usually appeared in supporting roles or character roles. She was one of the Bollywood actresses who mostly played sister’s roles and she, like all the actresses on the list, got typecast as a Bollywood sister. Movies featuring her in the role of lead’s sister include Anpadh (1962), Naya Zamana (1971), Lakhon Me Ek (1971), Charas (1976), Qurbani (1980), Waqt Ke Shehzade (1982), Insaaf Main Karoonga (1985), and Dilwaala (1986). Her roles then progressed from sister to a wicked stepmother or mother-in-law.
3. Madhu Malini
Madhu Malini was one of the actresses of the 1970s and 1980s. Many might not recognize her today, as she appeared in small roles in the movies starring superstars like Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, and Mithun Chakraborty. She was one of the actresses who got typecast in the male lead’s sister’s role, she played Dharmendra’s sister in Pratiggya (1975), Amitabh Bachchan’s sister in Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Laawaris (1981), Khud-daar (1982) and Raj Babbar’s sister in Shapath (1984).
4. Nazima
Nazima was one of the leading actresses of the 1960s. She started her career as a child artist in Bollywood with Biraj Baju (1954). As an adult, she made her Bollywood debut with a stunt film Princess Saaba (1958). Nazima often appeared in a supporting role or as a second lead, usually the sister of the lead character. She came to be known as ‘Resident Sister’ of Bollywood, movies featuring her in sister’s role include Ziddi (1964), Ghazal (1964), Arzoo (1965), Aurat (1967), Raja Aur Rank (1968), Mere Bhaiya (1972), etc.
5. Farida Jalal
Farida Jalal, an Indian actress, made it to Bollywood after winning a talent contest sponsored by Filmfare. She usually played the sister or rejected lover of the male. Her roles progressed from girlfriend to male lead’s sister. She has appeared in the sister’s role alongside superstars like Dilip Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Feroz Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Jeetendra, etc. Once in an interview, she was asked about her thoughts for getting typecast as a hero’s sister, to which she responded positively and said, “Why would I want to be a heroine when I was getting the stronger parts as the sister?” Movies featuring her in the sister’s role include Gopi (1970), Paras (1971), Majboor (1974), Dharmatma (1975), Uljhan (1975), Bundalbaaz (1976), Kasam Khoon Ki (1977), Dhongee (1979), and Chambal Ki Kasam (1980), etc.
6. Naaz
Salma Baig, popularly known as Baby Naaz, started her acting career as a child artist. Later, she matured as a character actress and appeared in many good roles. She played Rajesh Khanna’s physically challenged sister in comedy-drama Sachaa Jhutha (1970). This role made her get typecast as a Bollywood sister and she bagged several roles as the lead’s sister. She appeared in the sister’s roles in movies like Dushmun (1971), Shor (1972), Samjhauta (1973), etc.
7. Rita Bhaduri
Rita Bhaduri was an Indian actress who appeared as a supporting actress in several Bollywood movies during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. She often appeared as the best friend of the lead actress or a sister of the lead character in the movies. Movies featuring her in the sister’s role were Udhar Ka Sindur (1976), Aaina (1977), Vishwanath (1978), Ghar Ho Toh Aisa (1990), and many more.
8. Shraddha Verma
Shraddha Verma, a lesser-known actress, started her career in Bollywood with the 1984 film Kanoon Kya Karega. She was usually seen playing the supporting roles in movies, especially the role of sister of the lead character. She portrayed the role of a sister in movies like Pyar Ka Mandir (1988), Mera Pati Sirf Mera Hai (1990), Pyar Ka Devta (1991), Balwaan (1992), etc.
