FilmIndia (Jan-Nov 1942)

March 1942 FILM INDIA Her fiance felt that it would be quite safe for her to become an actress because he was in the film business and could keep an eye on her in case she was tempted to stray from the 'paths of righteousness'. SHOBHANA GETS GOING Shobhana's first film was for Kolhapur Cinetone. It was "Orphans of Society" and she played the lead. It wasn't a successful picture but the critics gave Shobhana good writeups. ! Next Shobhana tork time out to get married. She had been engaged for six months and her fiance was beginning to be impatient. Then she returned to work at the Kolhapur studios but they couldn't find a picture for her. In all the 13 months she worked for them she only made one p'cture. After she left Kolhapur Cinetone, Shobhana came to Bombay and joined the Sagar Film Co. where she wasn't able to work for ten months because she was busy having a baby. She made one film for Sagar's with Sabita Devi called "Kokila". Then she joined General Films at the end of 1937 where she made "Industrial India" and "Pati Patni". Next this female rolling-stone joined Hindustan Cinetone and made four pictures, the most important of these being cne called "Mud". After leaving Hindustan Cinetone, Shobhana worked for Asha Pictures, Ranjit, Prakash, and Circo. She is still with Circo and is working under Kardar in "Nai Duniya". None of Shobhana's films have been great successes and yet she is one of the most popular and highly paid stars. She is in great demand and consequently has very little time to spend with her husband, mother and little daughter. When she is with them she is very happy. Her daughter who is six years old is a very clever little dancer and singer. Shobhana has a very beautifu1 and youthful looking mother. Mrs. Shilotri has acted in one film. It was called "Frontiers of Freedom." Mr. Samarth is a very clever director who deserves much more publicity than he is getting at present. Besides being clever he is also handsome and modest which is a most unusual combination. When Shobhara is at home she Is constantly knitting sweaters for her family. When her cook stays away she does the cocking for the family and is always experimenting with new recipes. But Shobhana js not really domesticated. She is first of all a career girl. She loves her wcrk and would like to continue to be an actress all her life. "But", she says "I would hate to have to play the role of an eighteen year-old girl BIRTH CONTROL Advice given iviih guarantee & safety Strictly Confidential Write to: RAPHAELS Bombay 25. when I am over thirty. There is nothing so ridiculous as the sight of a not-so ycung woman trying to appear girlish." When Shobhana is middle-aged she would like to play Marie Dressier roles. At present she likes playing ultra modern and sophisticated roles. Her husband has directed her in one picture. It was '"Ghar Jawai" "MAN-TO-MAN" TYPE TOMBOY She is constantly getting letters from fans and one fan, who thought he was desperately in love with her, wrote to her threatening to kill Prem Adib (with whom she often acts) if she acted with him again. Well, Prem Adib is with Shobhana again in "Bharat Milap" and is still as far as we know, very much alive, so 1 take it the fan has either committed suicide by now or he has fallen out of love with Shobhana. Then there is another fan who phones Shobhana every night at 1 p.m. withe ut fail. When she lived at Worli her fans got to know her address and she was constantly being embarrassed by visits from complete strangers who just dropped in to see her at all hours of the day. Shobhana loves to swim, ride and dance but seldom gets a chance to indulge in these pleasures because she is so busy. She asked me to say especially, that she is pacsionately fond of dogs. She likes s;mple clothes and doesn't wear jewellery. She is an astute business woman and is insured for Rs. 35.800/-. Her husband is insured for Rs. 50.000/and her baby for 19,000/-. These large figures make me dizzy. With so much money about, you'd think the woman would be content to retire. But Shcbhana gets too much fun out of acting to want to turn her back on film work. She is known as the "tom-boy of the industry" because she can be dared into doing any sort of crazy things and because she has a sense of humour which makes her say very witty things. She is the sort of girl men like having "man-tc-man" talks with because she is intelligent and not a prude. Slap her on her back and call her a regular fellow and she'll be more pleased than if you were to tell her how beautiful she is. But, lastly a word of warning: Don't indulge in this back slapping business unless you're a friend of hers, because the girl has spirit and she'd up and slap a stranger back and it wouldn't be a love-tap either! Fans may write to Shobhana Samarth at Shah Baug, Pedder Road, Bombay, which is her residential address. 5;