Lalita Pawar was born on April 18, 1916. She was a prolific Indian actor, who was famous as character actress and appeared in over 700 films in Hindi and Marathi cinema. Her best films include films like Netaji Palkar (1938), made by Bhalji Pendharkar, Navyug Chitrapat`s Amrit, written by VS Khandekar, New Hana Pictures` Sant Damaji, and Chhaya Films` Gora Kumbhar. Her other memorable performances were in the film, Anari (1959), Shri 420 and Mr & Mrs 55. Her performance as Manthara, in Ramanand Sagar`s television epic serial, Ramayan is still unforgettable.
Lalita Pawar was born as Amba Laxman Rao Sagun in an orthodox family in a village, Yevle in Nashik. Her father Laxman Rao Shagun was a rich silk and cotton piece goods merchant. She started her acting career began at age nine, as a child artist in the film, `Raja Harishchandra` (1928), and later progressed to play lead roles in silent era films and 1940`s Hindi cinema. She continued to act in films and other productions until the end of her life, spanning seven decades.
Lalita Pawar first married G.P. Pawar, a stunt film director, who directed most of her later silent, and initial sound films. She waqs the co producer and also actress in a silent film, Kailash (1932), and later also produced another film, Duniya Kya Hai in 1938, a talkie. In 1942, film actor Bhagwan Dada slapped her, during a film shoot, which unfortunately resulted in facial paralysis and a burst in a left eye vein. Even after three years of treatment, she was left with a defective left eye.
Finally, Lalita Pawar left doing lead roles, and switched to character roles, which got her much of her fame. She was particularly known for playing maternal figures, especially impious matriarchs or mothers-in-law. She also notably played the role of the stern but kind, Mrs. L. D`Sa in Anari (1959) with Raj Kapoor, working under Hrishikesh Mukherjee`s direction. In this film she gave performance of a lifetime, for which she received Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award. Her performances in Professor (1962) and the hunchback Manthara in Ramanand Sagar`s television series Ramayan are still loved and remembered by the audience. Lalita Pawar played the lead role in the film, `Himmat-e-Marda` (1935).
Lalita Pawar later married, film producer husband Rajprakash Gupta, of `Ambika studios after her first marriage broke up. She died on February 24, 1998 in Aundh, Pune and left behind her husband, Rajprakash Gupta, a son and daughter-in-law, who stay in Mumbai. In 1959, she was awarded the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for her role in Anari and in 1961; she received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for her performances.