By Hindustan Times
Veteran actress Zohra Sehgal, whose spirited performance in lots of a movie and stage production has entertained audiences during the last seven decades, turned 100 on Friday.
Sehgal, who has starred in films like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Dil Se and Cheeni Kum, was last seen in Sanjay
Leela Bhansali's Sawariyaa (2007).
She was born on April 27, 1912, in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, third of her seven siblings - and grew up in Chakrata, now in Uttarakhand (near Dehradun).
She began her career as a dancer with Uday Shankar in 1935 and performed across Japan, Egypt, Europe and the U.S.. She married scientist, painter and dancer Kameshwar Sehgal in August 1942. The couple had two children, Kiran and Pavan.
Considered the doyenne of theatre, Sehgal acted with Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and Prithviraj Kapoor's Prithvi Theatre for fourteen years.
She was active in theatre mostly, but in addition did a couple of films in between. She choreographed for a couple of Hindi films as well, including Guru Dutt's Baazi (1951) and the dream sequence song in Raj Kapoor's film Awaara.
Sehgal moved to London on a drama scholarship in 1962, where she appeared in lots of TV productions including The Jewel within the Crown, Tandoori Nights and My Beautiful Laundrette.
Returning to India within the mid-1990s, Sehgal acted in numerous films, plays and television series.
Her film credits include Masala (1991), Dillagi (1999), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Bend it Like Beckham (2002), and Veer-Zaara (2004).
Known for her feisty spirit and zest for life, Zohra spread smiles together with her roles in Sawariyaa and Cheeni Kum even on the age of 94.
Sehgal was awarded the Padma Shri in 1998. She was subsequently honoured with the Padma Bhushan (2002) and Padma Vibhushan, the second one highest civilian award in 2010.
In 2008, she was named the Laadli of the Century by the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF)-Laadli Media Awards.
Incidentally, Sehgal's 100th birthday is available in the year when Cinema may be celebrating its completion of a century.
