Bindu Desai
- Child actor
- Teen actor
Bindu had early successes with Ittefaq and Do Raaste in 1969. From here she went on to write her success story with Shakti Samanta's Kati Patang (1970), where she had a sizzling cabaret dance, "Mera Naam Shabnam" to her credit; a number which is even today remembered as one of the highlights of the film.
Bindu's mesmerising performances in 1974 as a seductress in Imtihan, and as a nymphomaniac in Hawas, left audiences asking for more. With a string of hits behind her, she successfully managed to break out of the myth that married actresses usually do not go to become sex symbols, especially in the Hindi film industry. She is the third point in the 'holy trinity' of item number queens. Along with Helen and Aruna Irani, Bindu defined the Bollywood 'cabaret' dance number and the role of the 'Vamp'.
Her acting ability was seen in films like Hrishikesh Mukherjee's films Arjun Pandit and Abhimaan, where she won raves for playing a very sympathetic character. She proved to be just as convincing as the crippled woman in Chaitali and as the deglamorised role of wife to Ashok Kumar, in Arjun Pandit. She played the villain's moll in Zanjeer and became famous as Mona Darling.
An impending pregnancy, followed by a miscarriage, brought about a lull in her career and on the advice of her doctors she had to end her stint as the glamorous 'vamp' – dancing and all. However, she did not stay away for long and returned to the silver screen with character roles – Hero, Biwi Ho To Aisi and Kishen Kanhaiya and with many other such movies she managed to re-establish herself as the unmerciful and cruel mother-in-law, or the cynical aunt.
In the later stages of her career, she made fewer on-screen appearances, like the ones in Shola Aur Shabnam, which highlighted her comic side, and followed with other light and funny performances in Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Main Hoon Na, and Om Shanti Om.
Acted in
Mehbooba
2008
as Karan's aunt
Indian Idol
2004
as Self
Main Hoon Na
2004
as Mrs. Kakkad
Haseena Maan Jaayegi
1999
as Shakuntala
Sooryavansham
1999
as Radha's mother
Jai Hind
1999
as Bindiya
Jaanam Samjha Karo
1999
as Chandini's Aunt
Badmaash
1998
Banarasi Babu
1997
as Lily Chaubey
Judwaa
1997
as Sundari Batwani
Anokha Andaaz
1995
as Reema's step-mother
Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!
1994
as Aunt
Krantiveer
1994
Saajan Ka Ghar
1994
as Mrs. Dhanraj
Udhaar Ki Zindagi
1994
Aasoo Bane Angaarey
1993
as Mrs. Durgadevi Verma
Aankhen
1993
as Anuradha
Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja
1993
as Yashudhara Devi
Rang
1993
as Suchitra Madhav Singh
Shreemaan Aashique
1993
Shola Aur Shabnam
1992
as Girls Hostel Principal
Phool Bane Angaray
1991
as Mrs. Singh
Lohe Ke Haath
1990
as Bindu Devi
Ghar Ho To Aisa
1990
as Durga
Kishen Kanhaiya
1990
as Kamini
Biwi Ho To Aisi
1988
as Kamla Bhandari
Muqaddar Ka Faisla
1987
as Mona
Pyar Ke Kabil
1987
Khazana
1987
as Sonam
Allah Rakha
1986
as Banoo
Pyar Ke Do Pal
1986
as Paro
Adhikar
1986
Saveray Wali Gaadi
1986
as Sukhdai
Angaaray
1986
as Hirabai - courtesan
Maphicha Sakshidar
1986
Aaj Ka Daur
1985
as Bijli, Laundry Women
Alag Alag
1985
Balidaan
1985
Haqeeqat
1985
as Laxmi
Sarfarosh
1985
as Item Dancer
Pyar Jhukta Nahin
1985
as Kamini Pratap
Sreekrishna Parunthu
1984
as Lakshmikkutty
Bandh Honth
1984
Divorce
1984
as Jayant's wife
Bandhan Kuchchey Dhaagon Ka
1983
as Dr. Shobha
Prem Rog
1982
as Chamiya
Meharbaani
1982
Laawaris
1981
as Kamini
Naseeb
1981
as Self
Maan Gaye Ustaad
1981
as Jaikishan's Assistant
Shaan
1980
as Maharani of Kamalpur
Neeyat
1980
Bin Maa Ke Bachche
1980
as Kamla
Garam Khoon
1980
as Pummy
Ahsaas
1979
Naalayak
1979
as Rita
Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum
1979
as Cabaret dancer
Amar Deep
1979
Chambal ki rani
1979
Chor Ho To Aisa
1978
as Seema
Apna Khoon
1978
as Sumi
Trishna
1978
as Vidya
Daku Aur Jawan
1978
Phandebaaz
1978
Rahu Ketu
1978
as Sheela
Besharam
1978
as Manju
Bandie
1978
as Vimla
Des Pardes
1978
as Sylvia
Ganga Ki Saugand
1978
as Jayshree
Farishta Ya Qatil
1977
Chakkar Pe Chakkar
1977
as Munnibai
Hira Aur Patthar
1977
as Roopa Bai
Tyaag
1977
Maha Badmaash
1977
as Reena
Do Chehere
1977
as Dancer
Kabeela
1976
as Bijli
Shaque
1976
Shankar Shambhu
1976
as Munnibai
Shankar Dada
1976
as Bindiya
Dus Numbri
1976
as CBI Officer Roopa Sharma
Arjun Pandit
1976
Sharafat Chod Di Maine
1976
Aaj Ka Mahatma
1976
as Julie
Nehle Pe Dehla
1976
Zorro
1975
as Nisha
Vandana
1975
Dhoti Lota Aur Chowpatty
1975
Raja Shiv Chhatrapati
1974
Imtihan
1974
as Rita
Prem Nagar
1974
as Shamsher's wife
Aarop
1974
as Kanchan
Bangarada Panjara
1974
as Reshma
Hawas
1974
as Kamini Singh
Prem Shastra
1974
Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi
1974
Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye
1973
as Lily
Joshila
1973
as Rani
Abhimaan
1973
as Chitra
Gehri Chaal
1973
as Shobha Shankar
Agni Rekha
1973
Zanjeer
1973
as Mona
Nafrat
1973
as Ashoo Kumar
Mere Jeevan Saathi
1972
as Kamal
Garam Masala
1972
as Neelima
Raja Jani
1972
Dastaan
1972
Amar Prem
1972
as Kamla
Dushman
1972
as Chamelibai
Dil Ka Raaja
1972
as Rani of Beenapur
Chori Chori
1972
as Meena
Kati Patang
1971
as Shabnam 'Shaboo'
Parde Ke Peechey
1971
Do Raaste
1969
as Neela Alopee Prasad
Ittefaq
1969
as Renu
The Gold Medal
1969
Anpadh
1962
Ek Phool Char Kaante
1960
as (uncredited)