Reena Roy
Reena Roy is an Indian actor, best known for Tamil cinema. Reena Roy began their career in 1979 and has been a prominent figure in the industry for over 47 years. With 30 credits to their name, Reena Roy remains one of the most prolific and celebrated talents in the industry. Spanning 40+ years, Reena Roy's career remains one of the longest and most celebrated in Tamil cinema.
- Born
Biography
Reena Roy was a famous leading lady of Hindi films from 1972-1985. She came from a broken home, a Muslim father and Hindu mother, who separated after having four children together. Reena is their third child, and she started films in her early teens. Her career in films started off inauspiciously with B.R. Ishara's \"Nayi Duniya Naye Log\" (1973) with another newcomer Danny Denzongpa, which was shelved temporarily. B.R. Ishara cast both actors again in \"Zaroorat\" (1972), along with another newcomer Vijay Arora, and the racy film became a hit. Reena was now called the \"Zaroorat Girl.\" She had to wait a while for her next break with Jaise Ko Taisa (1973), where her rain-soaked dance to the song \"Abke Sawan\" with Jeetendra raised temperatures. She was a working actress with films like Jangal Mein Mangal, Rani Aur Lalpari, Madhosh, Goonj, and Umar Qaid, but most didn't make an impact, until the mid-1970s, when Zakhmee (1975) and \"Kalicharan\" (1976) made her more popular among directors and audiences. Initially, there was low expectations with Kalicharan, since Subhash Ghai, a failed actor, was making his directorial debut, and Shatrugan Sinha, an actor known for his villainous roles, was making his first mark as the lead hero. But the film defied everyone's expectations and became a surprise hit, and Reena as Shatrugan's love interest got attention from audiences. They became a off-screen pair as well, and they signed several films together. Her pairing with Sunil Dutt was also popular with audiences. The successes of \"Zakhmee\" and \"Kalicharan\" led to her star vehicleNagin(1976). Playing the title role of the deadly 'Nagin', she avenges the death of her lover by ruthlessly murdering five leading male-stars. The film became a huge hit, and Reena received her first Filmfare nomination as Best Actress. She was now one of the top heroines in Hindi films. Raj Kumar Kohli worked with Reena and churned out greatest multi-starer blockbusters Nagin, Jaani Dushman (1979), Muqabla (1979) and Raaj Tilak (1984).
Personal Info
Career Milestones
Iconic Roles
Naseeb
Played a supporting role in this ensemble cast blockbuster starring Amitabh Bachchan.
Sanam Teri Kasam
Played the female lead in this romantic drama opposite Kamal Hassan.
Defining Moments
Filmfare Award Win
Won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in 'Apnapan'.
Marriage and Hiatus
Married actor Mohsin Khan and largely retired from the film industry.
Filmography
See all 30 credits →
Career Analytics
Language Distribution
Films by Decade
Top Co-Actors
See all →
Did You Know?
Reena Roy was born on January 7, 1957, in Karachi, Pakistan, before moving to India.
She made her film debut in the 1972 film 'Zaroorat'.
She won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 'Apnapan' (1977).
She was known for her on-screen pairings with actors like Jeetendra and Mithun Chakraborty.
She retired from acting after her marriage to actor Mohsin Khan in 1983, though she made a brief comeback later.
Legacy & Influence
Reena Roy was a prominent and versatile leading actress in Hindi cinema during the 1970s and early 1980s. She entered the industry as a teenager and, despite an initially slow start, rose to significant fame through her performances in a diverse range of roles, from dramatic parts to glamorous portrayals. Her career trajectory is marked by a notable shift from early supporting roles to becoming a leading lady who often starred opposite major heroes of the era. Roy was particularly recognized for her strong screen presence and ability to perform in both intense dramatic scenes and lighter, romantic fare. A significant contribution was her work in films that blended action with social themes, such as 'Andha Kanoon' and 'Ghulami', where she held her own alongside powerhouse actors. Her performance in 'Sanam Teri Kasam' is also fondly remembered for its romantic appeal. While her career at its peak was relatively brief, ending with her marriage and subsequent retirement from films in the mid-1980s, she left a distinct mark. She represented a certain archetype of the heroine who could transition between traditional and modern roles, often playing characters with a sense of resilience. Her exit coincided with a changing era in Bollywood, but her films from that period remain part of the cinematic landscape, appreciated for their entertainment value and her charismatic performances.