New Delhi:
Bollywood has seen several actresses who won the hearts of audiences with their beauty and acting talent in a remarkably short span of time. Leena Chandavarkar was one of them. Her beauty, grace and simplicity made her one of the most popular actresses of the late 1960s and 1970s. She worked with some of the biggest stars of Hindi cinema, including Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Vinod Khanna, Dilip Kumar and Sunil Dutt. However, her life was not limited to the glamour of films. Her personal journey was marked by several dramatic twists and tragedies that could easily have been part of a film script.Leena Chandavarkar was born on August 29, 1950, in Dharwad, Karnataka. Her family belonged to a Konkani background, and her father was an officer in the Indian Army. She had never planned to enter the world of films and glamour, but circumstances gradually brought her in front of the camera.Before entering Bollywood, Leena worked in advertisements. She later participated in the nationwide Filmfare Fresh Face competition and emerged as one of the runners-up. This opened the doors of the Hindi film industry for her.Her debut film was 'Man Ka Meet', which was released in 1968. Directed by Sunil Dutt, the film featured Leena opposite Som Dutt. The movie performed well and brought her instant recognition. Soon, she began receiving offers from several filmmakers.The 1970s proved to be the most significant phase of her career. She appeared alongside several leading stars of the era. In 'Mehboob Ki Mehndi', she shared the screen with Rajesh Khanna, and her performance was well received. At the time, Rajesh Khanna was the biggest superstar in Hindi cinema, and working opposite him was considered a major opportunity for any actress.Leena also worked with Dharmendra in 'Rakhwala' and 'Ek Mahal Ho Sapnon Ka'; with Jeetendra in 'Humjoli', 'Bidaai' and 'Nalayak'; with Vinod Khanna in 'Qaid' and 'Zalim'; and with Sanjeev Kumar in 'Manchali' and 'Anhoni'. She also appeared alongside Dilip Kumar in 'Bairaag'. There were hardly any major leading men of that era with whom Leena did not share the screen.However, while her professional career was flourishing, her personal life took an unexpected turn. Leena's first marriage was to Siddharth Bandodkar, who belonged to a prominent political family in Goa. He was the son of Dayanand Bandodkar, Goa's first Chief Minister. Just a few days after their marriage, Siddharth died after suffering a gunshot wound in an accident. Leena was only 25 years old at the time. Losing her husband at such a young age was a devastating blow.A few years later, legendary singer and actor Kishore Kumar entered her life, and the two eventually got married. Their relationship attracted considerable attention at the time. Kishore Kumar had already been married three times and was considerably older than Leena. As a result, her father initially opposed the marriage. However, the couple eventually tied the knot and later had a son, Sumit Kumar.Tragedy struck Leena once again when Kishore Kumar passed away in 1987. She was only 37 years old at the time.After marrying Kishore Kumar, Leena gradually distanced herself from films. Although she did not disappear from the screen completely, her film appearances became rare. She acted in 'Sarfarosh' in 1985, while 'Mamta Ki Chhaon Mein', released in 1989, is regarded as her final film. She appeared alongside Rajesh Khanna in the movie.Even after stepping away from Bollywood, Leena Chandavarkar maintained a connection with the entertainment industry. In later years, she appeared on television as well. In 2007, she featured as a guest judge in the opening episodes of the music reality show 'K for Kishore', which celebrated the legacy of her late husband, Kishore Kumar.
