Legendary Actress Smriti Biswas Narang Dies Aged 100

Smriti Biswas Narang, a celebrated actress known for her iconic roles in both Hindi and Bengali films, passed away at her home on Nashik Road last Wednesday evening at 100. Her funeral, conducted in Christian traditions took place on Thursday at 10 am.

Previously a resident of Mumbai with substantial wealth, Smriti had moved to Nashik 28 years ago to live under the care of her sister, a Christian missionary and resided in a modest home there.

Over three decades, from the 1930s to the 1960s, Smriti starred in numerous successful films such as Nek Dil, Aparajita and Modern Girl, making significant contributions to the film industry.

Smriti began her career as a child actress at the age of 10 in the Bengali film Sandhya and went on to act in several films produced in Kolkata, including Hemant Bose’s Dwanda and Mrinal Sen’s Neel Akasher Neechey. She has acted in many Hindi, Marathi and Bengali films. Biswas started her career as a child actress. She worked in the films of Guru Dutt, V Shantaram, Mrinal Sen, Bimal Roy, BR Chopra and Raj Kapoor. She acted with Dev Anand, Kishore Kumar and other notable artists. Biswas retired from acting after marrying film director SD Narang in 1960.

After moving to Bombay, she played pivotal roles in the 1950s in Bimal Roy’s Pehla Admi, AR Kardar’s Bhaagam Bhaag with Kishore Kumar, Bhagwan Dada’s Baap Re Baap, AN Bannerjee’s Humsafar with Dev Anand, Guru Dutt’s Sailaab with Geeta Bali, V Shantaram’s Teen Batti Aur Chaar Raasta, the Raj Kapoor-produced Jagte Raho, BR Chopra’s Chandni Chowk with Meena Kumari in the lead role, and she made a guest appearance in SD Narang’s Dilli ka Thug. She was equally at home in comedies and social and historical dramas.

Before her death, she lived a life of poverty in Nashik. Smriti has two sons, Rajeev and Satyajeet. Smriti Biswas is by no means bitter about the film industry: “I enjoyed my career very much while it lasted.” She has retained her zest for life but adds ruefully that any form of medical and financial help is essential right now to make ends meet, especially while the COVID-19 pandemic rages.