Kalpana Kartik turns 94: Jackie Shroff leads Bollywood birthday wishes
Synopsis
At 94, Kalpana Kartik — born Mona Singha in Lahore, screen-named by Chetan Anand, and forever paired with Dev Anand both onscreen and in life — received a heartfelt social media birthday tribute from Jackie Shroff, bringing fresh attention to a golden-era star whose songs still resonate decades later.
Key Takeaways
Kalpana Kartik turned 94 on 19 September 2026 , born Mona Singha in Lahore on 19 September 1931 .
Jackie Shroff shared a vintage black-and-white photo tribute on social media, accompanied by Geeta Dutt's song from her 1951 debut film Baazi .
She debuted under filmmaker Chetan Anand and director Guru Dutt after winning the Miss Shimla contest.
She starred in five iconic films opposite Dev Anand between 1951 and 1957 , and later married him; they remained together until his death in 2011 .
Memorable songs from her films — including 'Jayen To Jayen Kahan' and 'Teri Duniya Mein Jeene Se' — continue to be celebrated as golden-era Hindi film classics.
Veteran Hindi film actress Kalpana Kartik celebrated her 94th birthday on 19 September 2026, with Bollywood star Jackie Shroff marking the occasion by sharing a vintage black-and-white photograph of the actress on his social media account. The tribute shone a renewed spotlight on one of 1950s Hindi cinema's most recognisable leading ladies.
The Birthday Tribute
Shroff's post featured a photograph of a young Kalpana Kartik, her arms resting on a railing, dressed in a traditional outfit and adorned with earrings and bangles. The post was accompanied by the song 'Aaj Ki Raat Piya Dil Na Todo', rendered by the legendary Geeta Dutt, from Kalpana Kartik's 1951 debut film Baazi. The caption read: 'Wishing Kalpana Kartik ji good health and happiness always! Happy Birthday!'
The song was composed by S.D. Burman with lyrics penned by Sahir Ludhianvi and was picturised on Kalpana Kartik alongside Dev Anand.
From Lahore to the Silver Screen
Born Mona Singha on 19 September 1931 in Lahore, the actress relocated to Shimla with her family following the Partition of India. It was during her college years in Shimla that she won the Miss Shimla contest, an achievement that drew the attention of filmmaker Chetan Anand. He introduced her to Navketan Films and gave her the screen name Kalpana Kartik.
Her acting debut came with Baazi in 1951, directed by Guru Dutt — a film that immediately established her as a compelling screen presence.
A Legacy Defined by Iconic Pairings
Kalpana Kartik went on to appear in a selective but memorable body of work across the decade, including Aandhiyan (1952), Humsafar (1953), Taxi Driver (1954), House No. 44 (1955), and Nau Do Gyarah (1957). In each of these films, she was paired opposite Dev Anand, forging one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated onscreen romantic partnerships of that era.
The onscreen chemistry translated into real life — the two eventually married and remained together until Dev Anand's passing in 2011. They are parents to two children, the late Suniel Anand and Devina Anand.
Songs That Outlived the Era
Several numbers from Kalpana Kartik's filmography have endured as classics of Hindi film music. Beyond 'Aaj Ki Raat Piya Dil Na Todo' from Baazi, the Taxi Driver soundtrack gifted listeners the evergreen 'Jayen To Jayen Kahan', while House No. 44 is remembered for the soulful 'Teri Duniya Mein Jeene Se'. These compositions remain part of the curated nostalgia that defines golden-era Bollywood.
As Kalpana Kartik marks her 94th year, tributes such as Shroff's serve as a reminder that her contribution to Hindi cinema, though brief in duration, has proven remarkably durable in cultural memory.
Point of View
Was rechristened by a filmmaker, and built a legacy across just five films. Her story is as much about post-Partition social mobility as it is about cinema. At 94, she is also a living link to an India that produced Guru Dutt, S.D. Burman, and Sahir Ludhianvi in the same creative breath — a confluence that is unlikely to recur.
NationPress
19 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kalpana Kartik?
Kalpana Kartik is a veteran Hindi film actress from the 1950s, born Mona Singha on 19 September 1931 in Lahore. She made her debut with the 1951 film Baazi, directed by Guru Dutt, and is widely remembered for her onscreen pairing with Dev Anand, whom she later married.
Why did Jackie Shroff wish Kalpana Kartik on social media?
Jackie Shroff shared a birthday tribute on social media to mark Kalpana Kartik's 94th birthday on 19 September 2026. His post featured a vintage black-and-white photograph of the actress alongside the song 'Aaj Ki Raat Piya Dil Na Todo' by Geeta Dutt from her debut film Baazi.
What films did Kalpana Kartik appear in?
Kalpana Kartik appeared in a selective but iconic set of films including Baazi (1951), Aandhiyan (1952), Humsafar (1953), Taxi Driver (1954), House No. 44 (1955), and Nau Do Gyarah (1957). She was paired with Dev Anand in all of them.
How was Kalpana Kartik discovered for Bollywood?
She was discovered after winning the Miss Shimla contest while studying in college in Shimla, to which her family had relocated after the Partition of India. Filmmaker Chetan Anand noticed her, introduced her to Navketan Films, and gave her the screen name Kalpana Kartik.
What was Kalpana Kartik's relationship with Dev Anand?
Kalpana Kartik and Dev Anand were among Hindi cinema's most celebrated onscreen pairs in the 1950s, appearing together in all five of her major films. They eventually married and remained together until Dev Anand's passing in 2011; they had two children, the late Suniel Anand and Devina Anand.
