Priya Tendulkar
Born	October 19, 1954(1954-10-19)
Died	September 19, 2002 (aged 47) Mumbai, India

Priya Tendulkar (Marathi: प्रिया तेंडुलकर) was an actress, social activist and a writer of Marathi origin, who is most known for her eponymous role in the television series Rajani.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Selected filmography 3 Bibliography 4 Books 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Biography

Priya was inclined towards art and culture from her childhood as her father was the eminent popular writer Vijay Tendulkar. Her first appearance was as a doll in a stage play called Haya Vadan (1969) along with Kalpana Lajmi. Later she shuffled between different jobs as a hotel service receptionist in a 5 star hotel, an air hostess, and a part time model.

Her debut film appearance was in Shyam Benegal's Ankur (1974)where she played Anant Nag's submissive wife. Thereafter she switched her interest towards Marathi films and played stellar roles in nearly a dozen Marathi family socials, opposite actors like Ashok Saraf, Ravindra Mahajani and Mahesh Kothare.

She rose to national fame with her TV series Rajani (1985) where she played a housewife who can't stand any injustice and solves public social issues. Her portrayal of Rajani made her a household name all over India. Later she played another feminist role in Gulzar's TV series, Swayamsiddha.

She married her Rajani co-star, Karan Razdan, in 1988 but separated from him in 1995 due to marital unfaithfullness. Priya led a freestyle life wherein she spoke about social issues openly without fear and always expressed her feelings without a bias or prejudice.^{[citation needed]} This side of her fiery personality reflected in her talk shows like Priya Tendulkar Talk Show and Zimmedar Kaun.^{[citation needed]}

After a point she stopped being a part of social circles and confined herself only to close friends and associates.^{[citation needed]} She was occasionally seen in Bollywood films like Mohra, Trimurti, and Gupt, in roles playing a mother.

Besides acting she also wrote short stories and novels in Marathi like Asahi, Panchatarankit and others.

Priya was suffering from cancer and led a dignified life fighting the disease and continuing her fight against injustice till her very end.^{[citation needed]} She died on 19 September 2002 ^[1], and is still remembered as the fiery socially active and politically aware 'Rajani.

[edit] Selected filmography

(also includes her role as an Anchor/Talk show host)

• 1974- Ankur
• 1978- Devata
• 1980- Minchina Ota (Kannada)
• 1983- Maherchi Manase, Ranine Daav Jinkala
• 1984- Gondhalat Gondhal
• 1985- Mumbaicha Fouzdar, Rajani (TV series)
• 1987- Kaalchakra
• 1988- Kisse Miyan Biwi ke (TV series)
• 1989- Ek Shunya Shunya (TV series)
• 1990- Ghar (TV series)
• 1994- Mohra
• 1995- Trimurti
• 1996- The Priya Tendulkar Talk Show (TV series)
• 1997- Aur Pyar Ho Gaya, Zimmedar Kaun (TV series), Gupt, Hum Paanch (TV series)
• 2000- Raja ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya
• 2001- Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat
• 2002- Devata

[edit] Bibliography

• First Person, Popular Prakashan Ltd, India, 2005. ISBN 8179911187.

[edit] Books

• Panchatarankit - (language Marathi)
• Aasahi - - (language Marathi)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Priya Tendulkar at the Internet Movie Database