Few actresses have etched such distinct personas in Bollywood folklore as Shoma Anand. Real name Neelam Arora, this Mumbai native born February 16, 1958, blended dance training with raw talent to chase her cinematic dreams.
Her 1976 entry via ‘Barood’ with Rishi Kapoor was a smash hit, drawing eyes to her lead potential. She built momentum with ‘Jaagir’ and ‘Kuli’, embodying the era’s glamorous heroines.
Lead opportunities waned, but Shoma reinvented herself brilliantly in antagonistic family roles. As the stubborn, manipulative bahu or bhabhi in ‘Ghar Ek Mandir’, ‘Ghar Dwar’, ‘Swarg Se Sundar’, ‘Bade Ghar Ki Beti’, and ‘Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharni’, she delivered performances that sparked endless debates among viewers.
Television offered fresh pastures in the 90s. Her standout in ‘Hum Paaunch’ brought comic relief to Indian homes. Subsequent hits included ‘Bhabhi’, ‘Shararat’, ‘Maayka’, ‘Jeannie Aur Juju’, and ‘Khelti Hai Zindagi Ank Micholi’, cementing her TV icon status.
Who can forget her uproarious Anjali in ‘Hungama’ (2003), paired with Paresh Rawal? It became her signature. She sprinkled magic in ‘Kya Kool Hai Hum’ and ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’ too.
Though off-screen now, Shoma Anand’s spirited characters keep her alive in collective memory, inspiring actors even today.