Today, November 7, is Nandita Das’s 55th birthday. She is regarded as one of India’s most gifted and imaginative actor-directors. Throughout her career, Nandita chose to steer clear of mainstream Bollywood productions and instead concentrate on creative and socially conscious ventures that showcased her acting abilities.

Nandita started out as a theater performer and has been in a number of groundbreaking movies, including Fire, Earth, and I Am. She established herself in Bollywood not only as an actress but also as a producer and director.

As we commemorate Nandita Das’ special day, let’s examine her incredible career in more detail, including some of her successful movies and her transition from actor to director and producer. As an advocate for equality and social rights, Nandita often expresses her opinions on relevant subjects in international fora.

NANDITA DAS: PROFESSIONAL

Nandita Das made her Bollywood debut in the movie Parinati, but her breakthrough performance came in the 1996 film Fire. It was a daring move for Indian film to address the delicate subject of same-sex couples.

This supported Nandita’s idea to appear in unusual, socially conscious films. She then appeared in a number of delicate movies, including Earth and Bawandar. She collaborated with renowned filmmaker Mira Nair on the 2008 film Firaaq, which was based on the Gujarat riots of 2002. She also won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her performance.

She also worked as a director’s assistant for Nair on Firaaq before directing her own movie Manto in 2018. Nawazuddin Siddiqui played the protagonist in the movie, which was based on the life of famous short story author Sadat Hasan Manto.

Zwigato, her third directing endeavor, examines the day-to-day struggles of a food delivery driver and his family. The film, which had its international debut at the 47th Toronto Film Festival, had Kapil Sharma and Shahana Goswami as its protagonists.

5 OF NANDITA DAS’S BEST MOVIES

Fire (1996)

Due to its exploration of the forbidden topic of same-sex couples, Deepa Mehta’s trailblazing film sparked controversy. Nandita Das portrayed Sita, a lady stuck in a miserable marriage who confides in Shabana Azmi’s character, her sister-in-law Radha. The movie received positive reviews at overseas film festivals despite negative reviews in India.

Earth (1998)

The film, which was also directed by Deepa Mehta, focused on a lady in the midst of the upheaval caused by India’s 1947 split. Aamir Khan, Rahul Khanna, and Nandita Das all had significant parts in the film. Viewers were enthralled with the compelling performances and storyline, which became India’s Academy Awards submission.

Bawandar (2000)

Nandita Das portrayed the primary role, Bhanwari Devi, a brave woman who battles for justice after being raped, in this real tale. She received praise and several honors for her stirring performance, including the Best Actress prize at the 2001 Santa Monica Film Festival.

Aks (2001)

Nandita Das was a key character in this supernatural thriller, which was released in 2001. Although Amitabh Bachchan and Manoj Bajpayee were the main stars, Nandita was praised for her outstanding performance.

Firaaq (2008)

The aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat riots and its impact on people’s lives were examined in the movie. The film received a lot of attention for depicting community strife in a compassionate way. Nandita Das received a national award for her part as well.