Mala Sinha, born on November 11, 1936 in Kolkata, West Bengal, is a legendary Indian Gorkha actress who left an indelible mark on Hindi, Bengali, and Nepali cinema. She began her career as a child artist in Bengali films such as Jai Vaishno Devi.
later in Bollywood with unforgettable performances in classics like Pyaasa (1957), Dhool Ka Phool (1959), Gumrah (1963), and Ankhen (1968).
She also became part of history by starring in Maitighar, a film directed by B.S. Thapa, the first Nepali language film made by Nepal’s private sector in 1966. This film is considered as a classic in Nepali cinema.
Known for her expressive eyes and powerful performances, Mala Sinha worked with industry greats including Guru Dutt, Dharmendra, Shashi Kapoor, Manoj Kumar, and was even the leading lady of Yash Chopra’s first directorial venture. However, behind the glamorous façade, a painful chapter unfolded that nearly destroyed her career.
In 1978, Mala Sinha’s home was raided by the Income Tax department, during which INR 12 lakh in undeclared money was discovered hidden in her bathroom. To recover the seized money, her father Albert Sinha filed a case, but lawyers advised that there was only one way to reclaim it, Mala had to appear in court and declare that she had other sources of income beyond films. Under immense pressure, she admitted in court that she was earning money from pros****tion, a statement she later confessed was a lie.
This shocking revelation came years later when her close friend Tabassum recalled the painful incident on her YouTube channel. Mala herself had admitted that while she managed to get the INR 12 lakh back, the humiliation and regret of making such a false confession haunted her for life. “I said this in court and I got my money back, but I will always regret that I admitted to something that I never did,” Mala had told Tabassum.
The scandal cast a long shadow over her illustrious career, and she appeared in fewer films thereafter. Once one of the brightest stars of the golden era of Bollywood, Mala Sinha’s story serves as a reminder of how fragile stardom can be and how one incident can overshadow decades of brilliance.
