Sushma Seth

Sushma Seth (born 1936) is an Indian stage, film and television actress. She started her career in the 1950s, and was a founder member of the Delhi-based theatre group Yatrik. Her first film was Junoon in 1978. She is known for playing a mother and grandmother role in movies and on television, and notable for her role as Dadi in the pioneering TV soap Hum Log (1984–1985). She received a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Ameena Bai in B. R. Chopra's drama Tawaif (1985). She has worked with famous directors like Dev Raj Ankur, Ram Gopal Bajaj, Manish Joshi Bismil and Chander Shekhar Sharma.
Early and personal life
Brought up in Delhi she completed her schooling at Convent of Jesus and Mary, New Delhi. Thereafter Sushma did a teachers training diploma in home science, Lady Irwin College, New Delhi, Associate in Science diploma, Briarcliff College, New York, and later, Bachelor of Fine Arts, from Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, United States.
Sushma Seth and her husband, businessman Dhruv Seth, have three children. Among them is actress Divya Seth, who acted alongside her mother in Hum Log and Dekh Bhai Dekh.
Career
Seth started her career on stage in the 1950s. With Joy Michael, Rati Bartholomew, Roshan Seth and others, she was one of the founders of the Delhi-based theatre group Yatrik in 1964. In addition to acting, she has directed many plays. In the 1970s, she founded and ran the Children's Creative Theatre, an ensemble that put up plays and conducted workshops for children.
She made her big screen debut with Shyam Benegal's 1978 period film Junoon, in which she played Shashi Kapoor's aunt. She has starred in some of the biggest hits in the Indian industry including Silsila, Prem Rog, Ram Teri Ganga Maili, Chandni, Deewana, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... and Kal Ho Naa Ho. She also appeared in the Punjabi film Chann Pardesi (1980).
She received a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Ameena Bai in B. R. Chopra's drama Tawaif (1985). She has played the mother and grandmother of many Bollywood performers including Rishi Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Shahrukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Anil Kapoor and Preity Zinta.
Seth appeared in the TV sitcom Dekh Bhai Dekh (1993), directed by Anand Mahendroo, where she played the matriarch of the Divan family. She has also worked with theatre directors like Ram Gopal Bajaj and Manish Joshi Bismil. She is notable for her performance on the TV soap Hum Log, telecast in the early 80s on Doordarshan, in which she played Daadi (the grandmother). Seth was so popular that her character, who was shown suffering from throat cancer, had to be extended on viewer's demand.
Since the early 2000s, Seth has been working with an NGO called Arpana, directing plays and dance dramas. She has written a play called Sitaron Ke Paas inspired by the life of astronaut Kalpana Chawla.
Filmography
Junoon (1978) as Javed's chachi
Chann Pardesi (1980) as Jassi (Punjabi movie)
Kalyug (1981) as Savitri
Silsila (1981)
Swami Dada (1982) as Seema's mom
Prem Rog (1982) as Badi Maa
Romance (1983) as Mrs. Roy
Naukar Biwi Ka (1983) as Sandhya's foster mom
Salma (1985) as Mrs. Bakar Ali
Khamosh (1985) as Leela
Tawaif (1985) as Nadira
Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985) as Naren's Grandmother
Meraa Ghar Mere Bachche (1985)
Wafadaar (1985) as Mrs. Namdev
Faasle (1985)
Alag Alag (1985) as Neeraj's mom
Maa Kasam (1985) as Thakurain
Palay Khan (1986) as Fatima Khalim
Nagina (1986) as Rajiv's mother
Kala Dhanda Goray Log (1986) as Mrs. Durga
Janbaaz (1986) as Laxmi Singh
Pyar Kiya Hai Pyar Karenge (1986) as Annapurnadevi
Naache Mayuri (1986)
Mard Ki Zabaan (1987)
Khudgarz (1987) as Sita Sinha
Avam (1987) as Durga Jagrathan
Apne Apne (1987) as Mrs. Kapoor
Dharamyudh (1988) as Kundan's mother
Aurat Teri Yehi Kahani (1988) as Jamunabai
Aakhri Adaalat (1988) as Mrs. Kaushal
Hum Farishte Nahin (1988) as Supriya
Waaris (1988) as Paro's mom
Suryaa: An Awakening (1989) as Salma Khan
Mitti Aur Sona (1989) as Mrs. Yashoda Bhushan
Gharana (1989) as Shraddha
Kasam Suhaag Ki (1989)
Bade Ghar Ki Beti (1989) as Mrs. Din Dayal
Toofan (1989) as Devyani
Chandni (1989) as Mrs. Gupta
Jawani Zindabad (1990) as Sharda Sharma
Jaan-E-Wafa (1990)
Amiri Garibi (1990) as Sona's Aunt
Shankara (1991) as Rani Maa
First Love Letter (1991) as Uma Devi
Khoon Ka Karz (1991) as Savitri Devi
Ajooba (1991) as Zarina Khan
Do Matwale (1991) as Amar's Mother
Maa as Heerabai
Heer Ranjha (1992) as Heer's mom
Suryavanshi (1992) as Rajmata
Sarphira (1992) as Mrs. B.K. Sinha
Inteha Pyar Ki (1992) as Mrs. Shankar Dayal Walia
Deewana (1992) as Laxmi Devi
Bol Radha Bol (1992) as Sumitra Malhotra
Dil Aashna Hai (1992) as Mrs. Baig
In Custody (1993) as Safiya Begum
Pyaar Ka Tarana (1993)
1942: A Love Story (1993) as Gayatridevi Singh
Tejasvini (1994) as grandma
Daraar (1996) as Mrs. Malhotra
Kareeb (1998) as Lata
Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998) as Seema's mother
Daag: The Fire (1999) as Dai
Taal (1999) as Mrs. Mehta
Chal Mere Bhai (2000) as Grandmother
Dhadkan (2000) as Ram's stepmother
Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke (2000) as Yogi's mom
Shikari (2000) as Rajeshwari's mother
Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya (2000) as Manisha's Mother
Moksha: Salvation (2001) as Ritika's grandmother
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001) as Kaur, Nandini's mother
Tujhe Meri Kasam (2003) as grandmother
Rasikan Re (2003)
Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) as Lajoji
Pal Pal Dil Ke Ssaat (2009)
Student Of The Year (2012)
Shaandaar (2015)
Tamasha (2015)
Noor (2017)
Mehram (2018) as Noor Bibi, short film released on ZEE5
Television
Staying On (1980) as Codcod Menektara
Hum Log (1984) as Dadi
Dekh Bhai Dekh (1993) as Sarla Diwan
Amma and Family (1995) as Ammi
Miilee (2005)
Kash-m-Kash
Ret Par Likhe Naam
Qaid
Kaun
Yeh Hui Na Baat
Dard ka Rishta (2014) as Ganga Dindyal Sharma
Alibaba
Vansh
Aradhana
Tanha
Zanjeerein
Star Bestsellers
References
External links
Official website
Living people
Actresses from Delhi
Carnegie Mellon University College of Fine Arts alumni
Delhi University alumni
Indian film actresses
Indian television actresses
Indian soap opera actresses
Indian stage actresses
Actresses in Hindi cinema
Actresses in Hindi television
20th-century Indian actresses
21st-century Indian actresses
1936 births