Durgabai Kamat

Durgabai Kamat is the first ever actress to emerge in Indian cinema.She was born in an orthodox Marathi brahmin family in 1899 in Assonora, Bardez. She continued her education up to7th standard after which she was married off to a history teacher in Mumbai. Thebeginning of Indian cinema witnessed the use of male actors for female roles, like in the first ever Indian film “Raja Harishchandra” which was directed by Dadashaheb Phalke. Dadashaheb Phalke chose todebunk the taboo of women acting in films by casting Durgabai and her daughter in his second movie called “Mohini Bhasmasur” in 1913. Durgabai obliged to take up this job as she was desperate to find one.

She portrayed the leading role of Lady Parvati in that movie and her daughter played the role of Mohini. Durgabai became the first ever Indian actress while her daughter became the first ever Indian child actress. After this revolutionary event, women became more comfortable to work in the film industry.Durgabai worked with a travelling theatre company afterwards which gave her the opportunity to perform in different parts of the country.

Her career went strong spanning to over 70 years. Her last movie is supposed to be “Gehrayee” in 1980. Durgabai’s grandchildren and great grandchildren like Chandrakant Gokhale(grandchild), Vikram Gokhale Vikram Gokhale is one of the very promising actors >> Read More... and Mohan Gokhale(great grandchildren) became veterans in the Marathi Film Society. She died in Pune, Maharashtra at the age of 98 on 17 May, 1998.