Durga Khote Biography, Age, Death, Husband, Children, Family, Wiki & More

Durga Khote debuted in a minor role in the obscure 1931 silent film Farebi Jaal, by the Prabhat Film Company, followed by Maya Machindra the following year. She was soon promoted to play heroine in the 1932 double version (Hindi and Marathi) Ayodhyecha Raja, another Prabhat film, which was the first ever Marathi talkie, and proved to be a runaway hit, where she played the role of Rani Taramati. Despite working closely with the Prabhat Film Company, she broke away from the "studio system" then in vogue and became one of the first "freelance" artistes of that era by working occasionally with the New Theatres, East India Film Co. (both at Calcutta), and Prakash Pictures.

 

She played Saudamini in Amar Jyoti, which is one of her most memorable roles. In 1937, she produced and directed a film titled Saathi, making her one of the first women to step into this role in Indian cinema. The decade of the 1940s opened for her in a big way, with award-winning performances in Aachary Atre's Payachi Dasi (Marathi) and Charnon Ki Dasi (Hindi). Durga Khote remained active in the theatre circuit for many years, especially the Marathi theatre in Mumbai. She was active in the industry for over 5 decades and one of her film which needs a special mention is Mughal E Azaam. She was actively associated with the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and worked in several plays for the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh. In 1954, she famously performed the role of Lady Macbeth in V.V. Shirwadkar's Marathi adaptations of Macbeth, as Rajmukut, The Royal Crown, along with Nanasaheb Phatak.