Amrita Singh: Amrita’s parentage is Sikh-Muslim. Her dad’s name is Shivinder Singh, and her mom’s maiden name was Rukshana Sultana. She is the great-grand daughter of Sobha Singh, who knighted and had his prefixed by ‘Sir’. She is the niece of writer/author Khushwant Singh, who was also known for his column in leading Indian newspapers. She is one of the most attractive actresses of her time, and perhaps the only one who had a lead role with both Dharmendra and his son, Sunny Deol, and has proved to an actress who is not afraid of doing negative roles.
Birthday: 9th February, 1958 in Hadali, Punjab (Pakistan).
Debut Film: Betaab (1983).
Major Impact: Betaab (1983).
Successful Films: Sunny (1984), Mard (1984), Saaheb (1985), Chameli Ki Shaadi (1986), Naam (1986), Khudgarz (1987), Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman (1992), Aaina (1993), Kalyug (2005).
Awards: She won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Aaina.
Facts we didn’t know:
Her mother was Rukhsana Sultan who was famous for being Sanjay Gandhi’s friend and influence peddler during the Emergency years in the 70’s.
Her parents were divorced when she was very young.
She went to Modern School in New Delhi.
Amrita’s paternal great-grandfather, Sir Sobha Singh, was a noted civil contractor who not only made a substantial fortune during the building of New Delhi in the early decades of the 20th century, but also received a knighthood for his efforts.
His younger son, and Amrita’s paternal grand-uncle, is the renowned littérateur Khushwant Singh.
Amrita was initially a belly dancer, but then tried out with cinema.