# Alka Nupur

Alka Nupur is a former Indian actress who was best known for her contributions to Hindi cinema throughout the 1980s. She appeared in many films throughout her career, including Laawaris (1981), Brij Bhoomi (1982), John Jani Janardhan (1984), and Mohabbat Ke Dushman (1988).

## Career

In her early years, Nupur first began her career as a Kathak dancer. She had also been taught by Birju Maharaj and Rani Karnaa, professional dancers. She received Government's National Cultural Scholarship at the age of 21. Throughout her career, she would sometimes be credited as "Alka Noopur", "Alka Napoor" (in Mr. X) and "Alka Kapoor" (in Yaadon Ki Kasam).
She made her first appearance in films with Ek Aur Suhagan in 1979, and then went to make guest appearances in films such as Chashme Buddoor (1 minute's appearance). In 1981, she made an uncredited appearance dancing in Laawaris for "Apni To Jaise Taise." She gained fame for her dancing as the song and movie were hits. In 1982, her debut in the first "Brij Bhasha" movie (Chiefly a Hindi Dialect of the Northern UP i.e. Agra, Mathura, Vrindavan, Aligarh region) film, became the pioneer in North Indian regional blockbuster Her starring role in Brij Bhoomi as the leading lady "Radha". She also launched in this film as a co-producer and co-distributor in Uttar Pradesh and other parts of India. She launched this film making it first Brij-bhasha regional mega hit movie. And she helped make it tax free by the then U.P. Chief minister Shri V.P. Singh in 1980s.
Following this,2nd innings, she went back to Bollywood and starred in many other films such as Purana Mandir and John Jani Janardhan with Actors like Shatrughan Sinha, Mohnish Behl,
She made more guest and side appearances in films like Zakhmi Sher, and also starred as Chitkari in Pataal Bhairavi.
In 1988, she starred in a major role as Amina Bai in Mohabbat Ke Dushman. She had produced & directed and starred in the main role of Chintamani the court dancer in Chintamani Surdas.
In the final years of her Bollywood career, she was cast in Jaadugar, and appeared in Mil Gayee Manzil Mujhe as Sonia, which was her last film before she retired from the film industry in the 1990s to pursue teaching and research initiatives in Kathak Classical Dance school in Gurgaon.
Her major professional association was with the Music director, lyricist and singer Ravindra Jain. Both of them belonged to same Home Town Aligarh. Together they did 6 films:- Brijbhoomi, Mr. X, Mhara Peehar Sasra, Harishchandra Shaibya. And In Jai Karauli Maa & Chintamani Surdas, also as a Producer & Director debut.
Presently, she is married to Mr.Behl and runs Noopur Centre of Performing Arts in Gurgaon which is affiliated to IGNOU where CPABN(Certificate of Performing Arts-Bharatnatyam) and CPAKT(Certificate of Performing Arts-Kathak) courses are taught. She lives in Delhi. She was awarded 'Braj Ratn' award in 2016.

## Filmography

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1979 | Ek Aur Suhagan | | Credited as Alka Nupoor |
| 1981 | Chashme Budoor | | |
| 1981 | Laawaris | Guest Dancer in "Apni To Jaise Taise" | Uncredited |
| 1982 | Brij Bhoomi | Radha | Lead role |
| 1984 | Purana Mandir | Bijli | |
| 1984 | John Jani Janardhan | Asha/Cheryl | |
| 1984 | Zakhmi Sher | | |
| 1984 | Harishchandra Shaibya | Menaka | Bengali Film |
| 1985 | Pataal Bhairavi | Chitkari Nalini | Double Role |
| 1985 | Jaago | Nurse Mary | |
| 1985 | Yaadon Ki Kasam | Khanna Office Receptionist | Credited as Alka Kapoor |
| 1985 | Paathar | | |
| 1986 | Jwala | | Music by Jagjit Singh |
| 1985 | Durgaa | | Credited as Alka Nupoor |
| 1985 | Mahara Pihar Sasra | Soni | Haryanvi film |
| 1986 | Zindagani | | Guest Dancer in "pyar ka hoon mein diwanwa" |
| 1986 | Swarthi | | |
| 1987 | Mr. X | Credited as Alka Napoor | Special Appearance in song "Parda Gazab Dhaye Parda" |
| 1988 | Jai Karoli Maa | Mangala | Lead role |
| 1988 | Mohabbat Ke Dushman | Amina | |
| 1988 | Chintamani Surdas | Chintamani | Lead role |
| 1989 | Jaadugar | | |
| 1989 | Mil Gayee Manzil Mujhe | Sonia | |