Aruna Irani is an Indian actress. An accomplished actress and dancer of her time, Aruna Irani has acted in about 300 movies, with many memorable acting performances to her credit. Irani is the sister of film-maker Indra Kumar and actor Adi Irani (one who became her son in movie Beta). She is married to film director Kuku Kohli.Born in 1952 Irani into an parsi family and made her debut in the movie Gunga Jumna (1961) at nine years old playing Azra's character as a child. After doing several small roles in films like Jahanara (1964), Farz (1967), Upkar (1967) and Aaya Sawan Jhoomke (1969), and pairing with comedian Mehmood in films like Aulad (1968), Humjoli (1970), and Naya Zamana (1971), she finally shot to fame with her brilliant performance as an aggressive gypsy woman in the super hit Caravan (1971). By that time, however, she was emotionally involved with Mehmood and did not focus fully on her career. Their relationship also ruined the chances of her getting the heroine's roles. Yet, Mehmood gave her lead roles opposite the likes of Amitabh Bachchan and Vinod Mehra in the films that he made: Bombay To Goa (1972), Garam Masala (1972), and Do Phool (1973).
The success as a heroine still eluded her, and ironically, the newer actors and actresses that she supported became stars while acting with her: Jeetendra in Farz(1967), Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia in Bobby (1973), Jayaprada in Sargam (1979), Kumar Gaurav in Love Story (1981), Sanjay Dutt in Rocky (1981). She ended up doing vampish and supporting roles, mainly because her memorable performance in Caravan had already typecast her in such roles. To her credit, however, Aruna Irani seriously took each role and delivered nice performances, thus endearing herself to filmmakers and creating a niche for herself. Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s she appeared in several supporting roles, notably Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974), Do Jhooth (1975), Khel Khel Mein (1975), Bhanwar (1976), Fakira (1976), Laila Majnu (1976), Sargam (1979), Qurbani (1980), Aas Paas (1980), Love Story (1981)and Kudrat (1981). She finally won her first Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Pet Pyaar Aur Paap (1984). In the late 1980s and 1990s she switched to playing motherly roles, notably in Beta (1992) for which she won her second Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award.She has also acted in the Kannada remake of the same film and the same role. She also got very famous acting in many Gujarati and Marathi films and some way changed trend and played as main protagonist. Some of her Marathi films are Changu Mangu, Bol Baby Bol.
Partial filmography
- Ganga Jamuna (1961)
- Jahanara (1964)
- Ganga ki lahren (1964)
- Farz (1967)
- Patthar Ke Sanam (1967)
- Upkar (1967)
- Aaya Sawan Jhoomke (1969)
- Anjaan Hai Koyee (1969)
- Humjoli (1970)
- Aan Milo Sajna (1970)
- Naya Zamana (1971)
- Ek Paheli (1971)
- sanjog (1971)
- Johar Mehmood in Hong Kong (1971)
- Ek Naari Ek Brahmchari (1971)
- Caravan (1971)
- Buddha Mil Gaya (1971)
- Andaz (1971)
- Garam Masala (1972)
- Bombay to Goa (1972)
- Bobby (1973)
- Do Phool (1973)
- Prem Nagar (1974)
- Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974)
- Mili (1975)
- Do Jasoos (1975)
- Khel Khel Mein (1975)
- Deewaar (1975) (uncredited)
- Bhanwar (1976)
- Charas (1976)
- Sangram (1976)
- Fakira (1976)
- Zindagi (1976)
- Laila Majnu (1976)
- Duniyadaari (1977)
- Shalimar (1978)
- Jaani Dushman (1979)
- Surakshaa (1979)
- Aas Paas (1980)
- Doodh KaKarz (1980)
- Karz (1980)
- Qurbani (1980)
- Rocky (1981)
- Love Story (1981)
- Yaarana (1981)
- Angoor (1982)
- Kudarat (1981)
- Bemisal (1982)
- Bade Dilwaala (1983)
- Pet Pyaar Aur Paap (1984)
- Shahenshah (1988)
- Chaalbaaz (1989)
- Phool Aur Kaante (1991)
- Beta (1992)
- Raja Babu (1994)
- Bewafa Saman (1995)
- Indian (1996)
- Chhote Sarkar (1996)
- Hamesha (1997)
- Dil To Pagal Hai (1997)
- Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999)
- Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam (2002)
- Khatta Meeta (2010)
Television
- Sanjog Se Bani Sangini on Zee TV
- Jhansi Ki Rani (TV series) on Zee TV
- Saas v/s Bahu as Judge on Sahara One
- Naaginn on Zee TV
- Babul Ki Bitiya Chali Doli Saja Ke on Sahara One
- Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki on Star Plus
- Rabba Ishq Na Hove on Zee TV
- Vaidehi (TV series) on Sony TV
- Zameen Se Aassman Tak on Sahara One
- Tum Bin Jaaoon Kahaan on Zee TV
- Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand on STAR Plus
- Mehndi Tere Naam Ki on Zee TV
- Zamana Badal Gaya on DD Metro
Awards
- Wins
- Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award - Pet Pyaar Aur Paap (1984)
- Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award - Beta (1992)
- Nominations
- Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actress - Caravan (1971)
- Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actress - Bobby (1973)
- Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actress - Do Jhoot (1975)
- Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actress - Khoon Pasina (1977)
- Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actress - Rocky (1981)
- Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actress - Suhaag (1994)
- Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actress - Kartaavya (1995)
- Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actress - Ghulam-E-Mustafa (1997)
