Bharat Bhushan, born Bharat Raibahadur Motilal Gupta on June 14, 1920, hailed from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Despite his family’s initial disapproval, he pursued acting and moved first to Calcutta and then to Bombay, where he eventually became a celebrated actor. Known for his soulful portrayals in classic films like Baiju Bawra (1952) and Barsaat Ki Raat (1960), Bharat Bhushan became an icon of Hindi cinema’s Golden Age.
Bhushan married Sarla, the daughter of the prominent zamindar Raibahadur Budha Prakash from Meerut. They had two daughters, Anuradha and Aparajita. Tragically, his wife Sarla passed away due to complications during childbirth in the early 1960s, shortly after the release of Barsaat Ki Raat. Bharat Bhushan later married his co-star from that film, actress Ratna, in 1967.
Aparajita, his younger daughter, followed in her father's footsteps into the world of acting, building an extensive career with over 50 films and TV serials. She initially began her career as a dubbing artist, lending her voice to Japanese and Chinese films being dubbed in Hindi. It was through this work that she came to the attention of Ramanand Sagar. Originally visiting Sagar’s home for a dubbing role in his iconic series Ramayan, Aparajita was instead cast as Mandodari, the virtuous wife of Ravana. Her portrayal of Mandodari brought her widespread recognition and solidified her place in Indian television history.
Today, Aparajita lives a quiet life in Pune, away from the limelight. Having stepped back from acting, she now works as a writer, embracing a more introspective and creative phase of her career. Her life reflects a blend of resilience and adaptability, much like her father’s legacy in the Hindi film industry.
