Shakuntala Paranjpye

Shakuntala Paranjpye was an Indian Film actress who acted in various Hindi and Marathi movies. She was a multi-talented personality and, later on, became an active social worker as well as a writer. In the year 1991, she was nominated to the Rajya Sabha and also she was given the prestigious Padma Bhushan award by the Government of India. Personal Life: Shakuntala Paranjpye was born on 17th January 1906 and was the daughter of Sir R. P. Paranjpye, who was a renowned mathematician and an educationist and who also served in 1944-47 as India's High Commissioner in Australia. Belonging to this background, Shakuntala’s daughter, Sai received her education in various cities including Pune in India and Canberra in Australia. She married Youra Sleptzoff, who was the son of a Russian general and was also an artist. Soon after the birth of her daughter, Sai, Shakuntala got divorced and as a result, she with her daughter started living with Shakuntala’s father, R. P. Paranjpye. Career: Shakuntala completed her graduation from Cambridge University and also a diploma course from London University in 1930.

After that, she worked with ILO, Geneva and later came up as an actress during 1930-1940. She was a part of both Hindi and Marathi cinema. Bahadur beti was one of her movies that got released in 1935 and Stree in 1938. Ganga Maiya is a renowned one of 1950's film. She did various roles as a lead actress and as well as in supporting role. In 1937, Marathi film Kunku was released and Shankutala appeared in it as Sushila. Later it was also released in Hindi cinema too as 'Duniya na Mane' and the movie was a great success in both these versions. Not only she restricted herself to acting but flourished as a great writer and was also into plays and novels. Sense and Nonsense (English) is one of her writings. She was also an inspirational social worker.