Sudha Malhotra

Biography:

Sudha Malhotra, born on November 30, 1936, is a renowned Indian playback singer and actress. She made significant contributions to the Bollywood music industry during the 1950s and 1960s, lending her voice to popular films such as Arzoo, Dhool Ka Phool, Ab Dilli Door Nahin, Girl Friend, Barsaat Ki Raat, Didi, and Dekh Kabira Roya. Her last known song was in Raj Kapoor’s Prem Rog (1982), where she sang “Yeh Pyar Tha Ya Kuch Aur Tha.” In addition to Hindi songs, Sudha Malhotra collaborated with Arun Date to sing many popular Marathi songs (Bhavgeet).

Born in New Delhi to a Punjabi Hindu family, Sudha Malhotra spent her childhood in various cities, including Lahore, Bhopal, and Firozpur. She is the eldest among four siblings – Arun, Vijay, Kiran, and herself. She pursued her graduation in music from Agra University.

Discovered as a child artist by the prominent music director Ghulam Haider, Sudha Malhotra made her debut in the movie Arzoo. She later retired from the film industry in 1960 after marrying businessman Giridhar Motwani, whose family owned the Chicago Radio Mike Company. Despite her retirement, she continued to record for albums, including Jagjit Singh’s “In a Mood of Love,” and made a comeback in Raj Kapoor’s Prem Rog in 1982.

Some of her popular Marathi songs (Bhavgeet) include “Shukratara Mandwara,” “Haat Tuza Haataat,” and “Divas Tujhe he Fulayche,” all of which are duets with Arun Date. Sudha Malhotra has contributed her voice to 264 songs in 155 films.

In her personal life, Sudha Malhotra married Giridhar Motwani, and after their marriage, photographs of her with lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi were published in Blitz magazine. Although there were speculations about their relationship, Sudha Malhotra consistently denied it. It is believed that Ludhianvi wrote the song “Chalo Ek Baar Phir Se” when Malhotra’s marriage was finalized.

Sudha Malhotra received recognition for her artistic contributions and was honored with the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2013.