Sushma Seth


Sushma Seth is an Indian stage, film and television actress. She started her career in the 1950s, and was a founder member of the Delhi-based theatre group Yatrik. Her first film was Junoon in 1978. She is known for playing a mother and grandmother role in movies and on television, and notable for her role as Dadi in the pioneering TV soap Hum Log. She received a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Ameena Bai in B. R. Chopra's drama Tawaif. She has worked with famous directors like Dev Raj Ankur, Ram Gopal Bajaj, Manish Joshi Bismil and Chander Shekhar Sharma.
WWW sushmaseth.com

Early and personal life

Brought up in Delhi she completed her schooling at Convent of Jesus and Mary, New Delhi. Thereafter Sushma did a teachers training diploma in home science, Lady Irwin College, New Delhi, Associate in Science diploma, Briarcliff College, New York, and later, Bachelor of Fine Arts, from Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, United States.
Sushma Seth and her husband, businessman Dhruv Seth, have three children. Among them is actress Divya Seth, who acted alongside her mother in Hum Log and Dekh Bhai Dekh.

Career

Seth started her career on stage in the 1950s. With Joy Michael, Rati Bartholomew, Roshan Seth and others, she was one of the founders of the Delhi-based theatre group Yatrik in 1964. In addition to acting, she has directed many plays. In the 1970s, she founded and ran the Children's Creative Theatre, an ensemble that put up plays and conducted workshops for children.
She made her big screen debut with Shyam Benegal's 1978 period film Junoon, in which she played Shashi Kapoor's aunt. She has starred in some of the biggest hits in the Indian industry including Silsila, Prem Rog, Ram Teri Ganga Maili, Chandni, Deewana, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Kal Ho Naa Ho. She also appeared in the Punjabi film Chann Pardesi.
She received a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Ameena Bai in B. R. Chopra's drama Tawaif. She has played the mother and grandmother of many Bollywood performers including Rishi Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Shahrukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Anil Kapoor and Preity Zinta.
Seth appeared in the TV sitcom Dekh Bhai Dekh, directed by Anand Mahendroo, where she played the matriarch of the Divan family. She has also worked with theatre directors like Ram Gopal Bajaj and Manish Joshi Bismil. She is notable for her performance on the TV soap Hum Log, telecast in the early 80s on Doordarshan, in which she played Daadi. Seth was so popular that her character, who was shown suffering from throat cancer, had to be extended on viewer's demand.
Since the early 2000s, Seth has been working with an NGO called Arpana, directing plays and dance dramas. She has written a play called Sitaron Ke Paas inspired by the life of astronaut Kalpana Chawla.

Filmography

Junoon as Javed's chachiChann Pardesi as Jassi Kalyug as SavitriSilsila Swami Dada as Seema's momPrem Rog as Badi MaaAparoopa as Rana's motherRomance as Mrs. RoyNaukar Biwi Ka as Sandhya's foster momSalma as Mrs. Bakar AliKhamosh as LeelaTawaif as NadiraRam Teri Ganga Maili as Naren's GrandmotherMeraa Ghar Mere Bachche Wafadaar as Mrs. NamdevFaasle Alag Alag as Neeraj's momMaa Kasam as ThakurainPalay Khan as Fatima KhalimNagina as Rajiv's motherKala Dhanda Goray Log as Mrs. DurgaJanbaaz as Laxmi SinghPyar Kiya Hai Pyar Karenge as AnnapurnadeviNaache Mayuri Mard Ki Zabaan Khudgarz as Sita SinhaAvam as Durga JagrathanApne Apne as Mrs. KapoorDharamyudh as Kundan's motherAurat Teri Yehi Kahani as JamunabaiAakhri Adaalat as Mrs. KaushalHum Farishte Nahin as SupriyaWaaris as Paro's momSuryaa: An Awakening as Salma KhanMitti Aur Sona as Mrs. Yashoda BhushanGharana as ShraddhaKasam Suhaag Ki Bade Ghar Ki Beti as Mrs. Din DayalToofan as DevyaniChandni as Mrs. GuptaJawani Zindabad as Sharda SharmaJaan-E-Wafa Amiri Garibi as Sona's AuntShankara as Rani MaaFirst Love Letter as Uma DeviKhoon Ka Karz as Savitri DeviAjooba as Zarina KhanDo Matwale as Amar's MotherMaa as HeerabaiHeer Ranjha as Heer's momSuryavanshi as RajmataSarphira as Mrs. B.K. SinhaInteha Pyar Ki as Mrs. Shankar Dayal WaliaDeewana as Laxmi DeviBol Radha Bol as Sumitra MalhotraDil Aashna Hai as Mrs. BaigIn Custody as Safiya BegumPyaar Ka Tarana 1942: A Love Story as Gayatridevi SinghTejasvini as grandmaDaraar as Mrs. MalhotraKareeb as LataBade Miyan Chote Miyan as Seema's motherDaag: The Fire as DaiTaal as Mrs. MehtaChal Mere Bhai as GrandmotherDhadkan as Vibha Verma, Ram's stepmother Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke as Yogi's momShikari as Rajeshwari's motherRaja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya as Manisha's MotherMoksha: Salvation as Ritika's grandmotherKabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham as Kaur, Nandini's motherTujhe Meri Kasam as grandmotherRasikan Re Kal Ho Naa Ho as LajojiPal Pal Dil Ke Ssaat Student Of The Year Shaandaar Tamasha Noor

Television

Staying On as Codcod MenektaraHum Log as DadiDekh Bhai Dekh as Sarla DiwanAmma and Family as AmmiMiilee Kash-m-KashRet Par Likhe NaamQaidKaunYeh Hui Na Baat
  • Dard ka Rishta as Ganga Dindyal SharmaAlibabaVanshAradhanaTanhaZanjeereinStar BestsellersRet Par Likhe Naam
  • ''Ret Par Likhe Naam''