Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff on 22 September 2026 paid homage to legendary actress Durga Khote on the occasion of her 35th death anniversary, sharing a vintage black-and-white portrait on social media accompanied by the message: 'Durga Khote ji Always in our hearts!' The post also noted her birth and death dates — 14 January 1905 to 22 September 1991.

The Post and the Portrait

The image shared by Shroff features Khote dressed in a traditional sari, adorned with a necklace and earrings — a classic frame that captured her dignified screen presence. The heartfelt tribute from a contemporary star underscores the enduring legacy she left on Indian cinema across more than five decades of work in roughly 200 films.

A Pioneer Who Broke Social Barriers

Born Vita Laud on 14 January 1905 in Bombay (now Mumbai), Durga Khote came from a well-regarded family and entered films at a time when acting was widely considered an unsuitable profession for educated women from traditional households. Personal circumstances — she was widowed young with two sons, Bakul Khote and Harin Khote, to support — shaped her decision to enter the industry. She later took her husband Vishwanath Khote's surname professionally.

Her screen career began in the early 1930s, with Farebi Jaal (1931) marking her debut, followed by Maya Machhindra and Ayodhyecha Raja in 1932. In the latter, she played Taramati, a role in what is regarded as an important early Marathi talkie. Over the following decades, she appeared in films including Seeta, Amar Jyoti, Pratibha, Charnon Ki Dasi, Bharat Milap, and Prithvi Vallabh, among many others.

Mughal-e-Azam and Other Iconic Roles

One of the most enduring performances of her career came in K. Asif's 1960 classic Mughal-e-Azam, where she played Jodhabai, the mother of Salim. The film, which also starred Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, and Prithviraj Kapoor, remains one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated productions and is home to iconic songs including Lata Mangeshkar's 'Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya', composed by Naushad and written by Shakeel Badayuni.

Her other memorable portrayals included Kaikeyi in Bharat Milap, as well as roles in Mirza Ghalib, The Householder, Bawarchi, Anand, Abhimaan, Bobby, Bidaai, and Karz. Her final screen role was in Bimal Rawal's Daulat Ke Dushman (1983), in which she played Sunil's mother.

Filmmaker, Producer and Television Pioneer

Notably, Durga Khote was also among the earliest women in Indian cinema to step behind the camera. In 1937, she produced and directed Saathi, and subsequently established production ventures working on short films, advertising films, and documentaries. Her production company was also associated with the television series Wagle Ki Duniya, demonstrating a versatility that extended well beyond performance. Actors Shubha Khote and Viju Khote are her niece and nephew respectively.

Legacy and Remembrance

Durga Khote passed away on 22 September 1991, aged 86. Three and a half decades on, tributes from figures like Jackie Shroff reflect a recognition that her contribution went far beyond the roles she played — she helped legitimise the idea of women from respectable families pursuing careers in the arts. Her story remains a reference point in any serious account of Indian cinema's formative years.