Nirupa Roy was born Kokila on January 4, 1931, in Valsad, Gujarat, India, to a Gujarati-speaking Balsara family. She was married to Kamal Roy at a young age and, along with her husband, decided to pursue a career in the film industry in 1946. The couple traveled to Bombay, where they both applied to act in movies, but only Kokila was selected for a role in a Gujarati film, Ranakdevi, followed by Amar Raj and Gunsundari in 1948. This marked the beginning of Nirupa Roy's illustrious career.
Initially, Nirupa Roy acted in leading lady roles, but she soon transitioned to playing various roles of Hindu Goddesses, earning her immense popularity. People would often line up to seek her blessings, and she became known for her portrayal of motherly figures. She was typecast to play the role of mother to several leading actors, including Dev Anand, Amitabh Bachchan, and even Dharmendra and his son, Sunny Deol, in different movies.
Born on January 4, 1931, Nirupa Roy was a Capricorn and went on to act in movies like Do Bigha Zameen, Tangewali, and Garam Coat, which were part of the "realistic movies" genre. Her success was reflected in three awards she received between 1955 and 1964 for her roles in Munimji, Chhaya, and Shehnaai.
Nirupa Roy is also known for her trilogy with Bharat Bhushan, consisting of Kavi Kalidas, Samrat Chandragupt, and Rani Rupmati. However, her most memorable role was yet to come in Deewar, opposite Shashi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan, with dialogues that are still remembered and talked about today.
Throughout her career spanning over 60 years, Nirupa Roy acted in more than 250 movies, slowing down significantly in the 1980s but making a comeback in 1999 with Lal Badshah. Her marriage to Kamal Roy resulted in the birth of a son, Kiran, and two daughters, and she was known to be very close to her son.
Nirupa Roy was also close friends with yesteryear actress Shyama and received one more award in 2003. She passed away on October 13, 2004, at the age of 73, due to a cardiac arrest in Bombay. Nirupa Roy will always be remembered as the "mother of Bollywood" for her iconic roles in movies like Gunsundari, Rani Rupmati, Deewar, Amar Akbar Anthony, and many others.
