Reena Roy

Debut and breakthrough (1970–76)

In 1971, Roy was cast by director B. R. Ishara in Nayi Duniya Naye Log opposite Danny Denzongpa, but the film was temporarily shelved and eventually released in 1973. Ishara offered Roy the leading role in another directorial venture, Zaroorat. Roy was initially reluctant to select the project due to its risque subject and potentially controversial scenes. Zaroorat was theatrically released in 1972, failing at the box office, but Roy's sensual performance was noticed. Roy's initial roles focused on her sex appeal, such as in Jaise Ko Taisa (1973), which became known for the track "Ab Ke Sawan Mein Jee Dare" in which the lead couple dance in rain. The film was a box-office hit,^[4]as also was jer next release Zakhmee (1975),^[5] where she had a supporting role, prompting filmmakers to approach her for more roles in several significant films.^[6]

Subhash Ghai's action thriller Kalicharan (1976) made her popular among directors and audiences. Initially, there was low expectation with Kalicharan, since Subhash Ghai, a failed actor, was making his directorial debut, and Shatrugan Sinha, an actor known for his villainous roles, was making his first mark as the lead hero but the film turned out to be a surprise hit, and established Reena and Shatrugan'as a hit-pair on- screen and off-screen. n a mixed review, The Illustrated Weekly of India lamented that Roy was used in the film for aesthetic purposes,^[7] but the film emerged as a major commercial success,^[8] turning Roy as well as Sinha into Bollywood stars.

She also starred in another hit family drama Udhar Ka Sindur alongside Jeetendra. Roy's career-turning point was complete with Rajkumar Kohli's thriller Nagin, which featured her in the title rrole along with an ensemble cast that included Sunil Dutt, Jeetendra, Rekha and Mumtaz. The film became a huge hit and was also appreciated by critics.^[8] Analysing the film, writer Meheli Sen commented, "Reena Roy as the nagin is unabashed in her sexuality; [...] she embodies a kind of feral sexuality that remains remarkable in its directness."^[9] Roy also received a nomination for Filmfare Award for Best Actress at the 24th Filmfare Awards.^[10] Box Office India published that Roy established herself as a leading actress of Bollywood with the success of Kalicharan and Nagin.

Stardom and establishment (1977–1985)

In 1977, Roy garnered critical acclaim for playing Kamini, a gold-digger who abandons her husband (Jeetendra) for an older and richer manIfthekar in J. Om Prakash's Apnapan. Vijay Lokapally of The Hindu stated that Roy "lives the role" and rated her performance superior to that of Jeetendra and Sulakshana Pandit. However, when Roy won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 25th Filmfare Awards,^[10] she refused to accept it, citing that her role was parallel to Pandit's.

1978 saw Roy collaborating with Subhash Ghai for the second time on the action film Vishwanath opposite Sinha. In 1979 she reunited with Rajkumar Kohli for the horror film Jaani Dushman (1979). Both films emerged as box-office hits.^[11][12] Regarding her performance in the latter, Film World remarked, "Reena Roy is easy on the eye and acts with effortless ease in a role which demands nothing.".^[13] IShe also starred in Raj Kumar Kohli's Muqabla alongside her then rumoured boyfriend Shatrughan Sinha.The film was successful at box office.

In 1980, Roy appeared as a rebellious daughter-in-law of Lalita Pawar in Vijay Sadanah's melodrama Sau Din Saas Ke. Although the film was only a moderate financial success, Roy's work was picked up by critics for praise.^[14] Her most significant release was the musical hit Aasha (1980) alongside Jeetendra, in which she played the title role. She received a second nomination for Filmfare Award in the Best Actress category for her portrayal.^[10] In 1981 she met success with Naseeb, a "masala" film directed by Manmohan Desai, which featured Roy alongside Sinha, Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor and Hema Malini. India Today described the film as "enjoyable but terrible for your health",^[15] but Shahid Khan of Planet Bollywood commented that Roy nevertheless, "leaves a mark in her few dramatic scenes."^[16] Roy also appeared in a parallel role with debutante Sanjay Dutt and Tina Munim in Sunil Dutt's Rocky (1981).

Her off-screen relationship with Shatrugan ended when he got married which helped Reena Roy concentrate more on her career, and stayed in the top league. In 1982 she had thirteen releases, by far more than any of her contemporaries.Her off-screen relationship with Shatrugan ended when he got married and Reena Roy concentrated more on her career, and stayed in the top league.

After the box office success of Aasha, Reena Roy became a leading lady in demand for heroine-oriented movies and she appeared in Box Office India's " Top Actresses" list from 1976 to 1983 and ranked first one time (1980). In 1982 she had thirteen releases, by far more than any of her contemporaries. Top directors like Prakash Mehra, Raj Khosla and Sultan Ahmad offered her good roles. Her characters became more versatile. She played the defiant widow who reforms the egotistical Rajesh Khanna in Dhanwan (1981 film); the beautiful 'actress' that dies on stage performing her last 'mujra' for Dharmendra in Naukar Biwi Ka (1983); the talented psychiatrist determined to cure Vinod Khanna in Jail Yatra (1981). She acted in many multi-heroine movies like Prem Tapasya (1983) and Asha Jyoti. Her characters became more versatile, as did her dances, and she effortlessly shifted from classical 'natyam' (Rocky (1981)) to "Disco Station" Haathkadi (1982 film). The sophisticated, glamorous model of Karishmaa, 1984 was equally seductive as the village belle of Dharam Kanta in 1982. Her profile was further enhanced with a double role in the Muslim social, Ladies Tailor (1981), opposite Sanjeev Kumar. Reena's desire to prove herself found expression in a number of female-oriented films. With an author-backed role in Bezubaan (1982), she gives a realistic portrayal of a woman whose past returns to threaten her present married life. But it was Roy's presentation, Lakshmi (1982) that glorified the presence of Reena Roy in Bollywood cinema. Playing the role of a misfortune tawaif she dances to her never-ending tragedies. Reena, anguished by the commercial failure of Lakshmi, found solace in the sensational success of her other home production - the musical comedy, Sanam Teri Kasam (1982), opposite upcoming Kamal Hasan and produced by her sister Barkha Roy. This series of successful films continued in 1983 with Prakash's drama Arpan, also starring Jeetendra and Parveen Babi. And finally, her screen image as a sacrificing symbol of Indian womanhood is glorified in the immensely popular Arpan. Roy also appeared in T. Rama Rao's action film Andha Kanoon (1983) and the comedy Naukar Biwi Ka (1983), Kohli's epic Raaj Tilak (1984) and Dasari Narayana Rao's melodrama Asha Jyoti (1984).

In 1985 she announced a sabbatical from films after marrying Mohsin Khan. In the following years, a number of Roy's previously completed films were released, notably J. P. Dutta's action-drama Ghulami, B. S. Glaad's Hum Dono and Satpal's Do Waqt Ki Roti (1988).

Reena Roy-Shatrugan Sinha have delivered 9 hits out of the 16 tfilms hey did together as the lead pair. Reena's chemistry with Jeetendra in 17 marital dramas like Badaltey Rishtey (1978) and Pyaasa Sawan (1982) also helped ber soaring career. Jeetendra-Reena Roy have worked in 22 films together and in 17 movies they were paired romantically. The duo produced three well-known films together: Apnapan (1977), Aasha (1980) and Arpan (1983). Reena's dance in "Aasha" to the melody of "Shisha Ho Yah Dil" characterized her as an icon of desire and tragedy. Her dark-shaded role in "Apnapan", as the selfish gold-digger that abandons her husband and child, won her the Best Supporting Actress Filmfare Award, beating out Nutan and Asha Parekh. (This was similar to the role that Meryl Streep played in "Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)).

Sabbatical and sporadic work (1992—present)

Roy returned to Bollywood in 1992, taking up a supporting role as a sister-in-law (bhabhi) in Aadmi Khilona Hai (1993) but could not repeat her success of the early days of her career. Her last film appearance was in J. P. Dutta's Refugee (2000). She then turned to acting in television serials, such as Eena Meena Deeka produced by her sister Barkha. After the serial ended, the sisters opened an acting school in 2004. Roy has also campaigned for the Indian National Congress.^[17]