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Bollywood actress Bina Rai dies

Starred in such hits as 'Anarkali,' 'Taj Mahal'

Bollywood actress Bina Rai, who starred in such yesteryear hits as “Anarkali” and “Taj Mahal,” died Sunday in Mumbai after a heart attack.

Rai belonged by marriage to the Kapoor clan, Bollywood’s version of the Barrymores. Her late husband, Prem Nath Malhotra, was brother-in-law to Raj Kapoor. Born in Lucknow, Bina Rai Sarin entered showbiz after winning a talent contest. As her parents were unwilling to let her act, she refused food until they relented.

Her first film was 1951’s “Kali ghata.” She shot to fame playing the title role in 1953 historical epic “Anarkali.”

Rai married Malhotra her co-star in “Aurat” that year and subsequently they set up their own production house, P.N. Films making such pics as 1954’s “Shagufa” and “Watan” plus 1957’s “Samundar,” which underperformed at the box office.

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She won a Filmfare award for “Ghunghat” in 1960, while 1963’s “Taj Mahal” was a B.O. hit, both with her “Anarkali” co-star Pradeep.

Her last outing was in L.V. Prasad’s 1966 “Daadi maa.”

Survivors include her sons, TV producer Prem Kishan; and Kailash Nath; granddaughter Akanksha Malhotra, an actress; and grandon Siddharth Malhotra, a TV helmer.

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