THE UNFORGETTABLES

In today’s digital world, the only thoughts that come to mind when one mentions the word ‘icon’ would be that of a graphic symbol of an app, a file, or even a function as seen on a computer screen. However, the said word has another meaning that is not lost to the world yet. We are referring to a person who is widely admired for having great influence or significance in a particular domain. Among the many icons we know of in India, are the yesteryear actresses who ruled the Indian cinema industry for over four decades.
Let’s start with Devika Rani—the First Lady of Indian Cinema. The grand-niece of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore schooled in England, locked lips with her husband, Himanshu Rai, in the 1933 film Karma in what was then the longest kiss, and relocated to India the following year to set up Bombay Talkies Studio with him. Through the ’30s and ’40s, Rani starred in socially relevant films such as Jeevan Naiya (1936), Achhut Kanya (1936), and Jeevan Prabhat (1937), turning the spotlight on issues such as prostitution, casteism, and childlessness, and introducing several emerging talent, which included Ashok Kumar and Dilip Kumar.
Devika Rani remained the studio boss even after Rai’s untimely demise in 1940, till she sold her shares, married Russian painter Svetoslav Roerich in 1945, and moved to Manali to make wildlife documentaries. She was a Padma Shri awardee (1954) and was also the first recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1970), which is the country’s highest honour for cinema.
Esta historia es de la edición September 2023 de Harper's Bazaar India.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición September 2023 de Harper's Bazaar India.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar

TASTE OF LUXURY
Delve into the world of flavour and heritage with Khoya.

BRIDGING LEGACY AND MODERNITY
Founder of Gallery G in Bengaluru, Gitanjali Maini is at the forefront of artistic excellence and innovation. In an exclusive conversation, she talks about creating a dynamic space for artists, collectors, and enthusiasts.

Rising Above
Four women let us in on the heart-dropping feeling of failure and how they conquer the imposter syndrome when it overstays its welcome.

Perfume Diaries
In a unique social experiment, we find out if a fragrance can change the way you experience the world and vice versa.

Carry On Screaming!
We investigate why women are drawn to horror, and celebrate the genre's feminist renaissance.

Young Blood
The emerging South Asian designer edit.

Celestial Canvas
MAC Cosmetic transforms faces into ethereal masterpieces at Gaurav Gupta's Spring/Summer '25 couture show in Paris.

Crafting Connections
In conversation with Subodh Gupta on the first Bukhara Biennial and revitalising a cultural pulse through art.

BAZAAR BUZZ
All that is trending in the art, entertainment, and culinary world.

The Turning Page
This year’s Women’s Day theme—Rights, Equality, and Empowerment—feels more urgent than ever.