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Nanda's film career spanned from the 1940s to the 1980s. She was born on January 8, 1939, into a Marathi show-business family in Bombay, India. Her father was actor Master Vinayak, and her mother was Sushila. Nanda was the third of seven siblings. At just 5 years old, her father wanted her to act in his film "Mandir" (1948). Although reluctant, her mother persuaded her to take the role. She portrayed a boy in the film, a part that could have been played by one of her brothers. Nanda believed the reason her parents chose her was because she was their favorite child. During the making of "Mandir," her father suddenly passed away, and the film was completed by Dinkar Patil. Nanda then became a child star, credited as Baby Nanda, appearing in films such as "Jaggu" (1952). Her earnings helped support her large family.
As a teenager, Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre asked her to attend a wedding wearing a sari. Upon seeing her, he felt she was ready to move from child roles to sister roles. He cast her in "Toofan Aur Diya" (1956), after which she dropped the "Baby" prefix and was known simply as Nanda. The film's success led to more sister roles, and she gained recognition with "Bhabhi" (1957), earning her first Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Nanda played the lead in "Chhoti Bahen" (1959), which was a major hit and established her as a star known for her skill in tragedienne roles. She won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress award for "Aanchal" (1960) while still a teenager. She impressed Dev Anand when she portrayed his sister in "Kala Bazaar," and also became close friends with his heroine Waheeda Rehman for over 55 years. Anand promised to cast her as his heroine in the next film, "Hum Dono" (1961), which became a hit and led to more leading roles for her.
Known for her generosity and kindness, Nanda agreed to star alongside the then-unknown Shashi Kapoor in "Char Diwari" (1961). Despite the film's failure, she went on to act in seven more films with Kapoor, who regarded her as his favorite leading lady. Their biggest success was "Jab Jab Phool Khile" (1965), where Nanda played a glamorous, Westernized woman in love with a native Kashmiri, portrayed by Kapoor. This film transformed her image from tragedienne to a trendy, fashionable star. That same year, she also starred in the murder mystery "Gumnaam" (1965), which secured her place among top heroines. She continued leading roles for nine years, further evolving her image by portraying an adulteress and murderess in "Ittefaq" (1969), earning another Filmfare nomination for Best Actress. In the 1970s, she gradually reduced her acting commitments, delivering a memorable cameo in "Shor" (1972). Her final lead role was in "Naya Nasha" (1974), where she played a drug addict, a daring choice few actresses dared to make. After a hiatus, she returned in 1982 with three films: "Mazdoor," "Ahista Ahista," and "Prem Rog." The latter two earned her consecutive Filmfare nominations for Best Supporting Actress. In all three films, she coincidentally played the mother of actress Padmini Kolhapure. She then retired from acting permanently.
Shy and introverted, Nanda kept a low profile, staying close to family and friends. In middle age, she became engaged to filmmaker Manmohan Desai in 1992, but before their wedding could occur, he died from a fall. This tragedy, along with the deaths of her mother and brother, led her to retreat further from the public eye.
She maintained close friendships with Waheeda Rehman, Sadhana Shivdasani, Asha Parekh, Shammi, Helen, and Saira Banu until near the end of her life. Nanda passed away suddenly from a heart attack on March 25, 2014. The film industry held a public funeral, mourning the loss of their beloved star, an award-winning actress admired for her talent, versatility, and enduring career. Her family and friends mourned the passing of a kind and wonderful woman.
