Bindu Desai
Bindu had early successes with Ittefaq and Do Raaste in 1969. From here she went on to write her success story with Shakti Samanta's Kati Patang (1970), where she had a sizzling cabaret dance, "Mera Naam Shabnam" to her credit; a number which is even today remembered as one of the highlights of the film.
Bindu's mesmerising performances in 1974 as a seductress in Imtihan, and as a nymphomaniac in Hawas, left audiences asking for more. With a string of hits behind her, she successfully managed to break out of the myth that married actresses usually do not go to become sex symbols, especially in the Hindi film industry. She is the third point in the 'holy trinity' of item number queens. Along with Helen and Aruna Irani, Bindu defined the Bollywood 'cabaret' dance number and the role of the 'Vamp'.
Her acting ability was seen in films like Hrishikesh Mukherjee's films Arjun Pandit and Abhimaan, where she won raves for playing a very sympathetic character. She proved to be just as convincing as the crippled woman in Chaitali and as the deglamorised role of wife to Ashok Kumar, in Arjun Pandit. She played the villain's moll in Zanjeer and became famous as Mona Darling.
An impending pregnancy, followed by a miscarriage, brought about a lull in her career and on the advice of her doctors she had to end her stint as the glamorous 'vamp' – dancing and all. However, she did not stay away for long and returned to the silver screen with character roles – Hero, Biwi Ho To Aisi and Kishen Kanhaiya and with many other such movies she managed to re-establish herself as the unmerciful and cruel mother-in-law, or the cynical aunt.
In the later stages of her career, she made fewer on-screen appearances, like the ones in Shola Aur Shabnam, which highlighted her comic side, and followed with other light and funny performances in Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Main Hoon Na, and Om Shanti Om.
Known for
Indian Idol
Self
Main Hoon Na
Mrs. Kakkad
Naseeb
Self
Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja
Yashudhara Devi
Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!
Aunt
Pyar Jhukta Nahin
Kamini Pratap
Balidaan
Judwaa
Sundari Batwani
Shaan
Maharani of Kamalpur
Sooryavansham
Radha's mother
Prem Rog
Chamiya
Do Raaste
Neela Alopee Prasad
Allah Rakha
Banoo
Muqaddar Ka Faisla
Mona
Bandie
Vimla
Prem Nagar
Shamsher's wife
Haseena Maan Jaayegi
Shakuntala
Shola Aur Shabnam
Girls Hostel Principal
Sreekrishna Parunthu
Lakshmikkutty
Zanjeer
Mona
Aankhen
Anuradha
Krantiveer
Kishen Kanhaiya
Kamini
Badmaash
Mehbooba
Karan's aunt
Amar Prem
Kamla
Udhaar Ki Zindagi
Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum
Cabaret dancer
Zorro
Nisha
Laawaris
Kamini
Mere Jeevan Saathi
Kamal
Jaanam Samjha Karo
Chandini's Aunt
Rang
Suchitra Madhav Singh
Besharam
Manju
Abhimaan
Chitra
Biwi Ho To Aisi
Kamla Bhandari
Jai Hind
Bindiya
Dus Numbri
CBI Officer Roopa Sharma
Trishna
Vidya
Imtihan
Rita
Joshila
Rani
Phool Bane Angaray
Mrs. Singh
Dushman
Chamelibai
Haqeeqat
Laxmi
Adhikar
Pyar Ke Do Pal
Paro
Saajan Ka Ghar
Mrs. Dhanraj
Kati Patang
Shabnam 'Shaboo'
Tyaag
Divorce
Jayant's wife
Banarasi Babu
Lily Chaubey
Nehle Pe Dehla
Gehri Chaal
Shobha Shankar
Ganga Ki Saugand
Jayshree
Ahsaas
Angaaray
Hirabai - courtesan
Sarfarosh
Item Dancer
Chakkar Pe Chakkar
Munnibai
Garam Masala
Neelima
Hira Aur Patthar
Roopa Bai
Phandebaaz
Kabeela
Bijli
Apna Khoon
Sumi
Ittefaq
Renu
Prem Shastra
Rahu Ketu
Sheela
Raja Jani
Anpadh
Aaj Ka Daur
Bijli, Laundry Women
Ek Phool Char Kaante
(uncredited)
Chori Chori
Meena
The Kapil Sharma Show
Herself
Aasoo Bane Angaarey
Mrs. Durgadevi Verma
Ghar Ho To Aisa
Durga
Raja Shiv Chhatrapati
Maha Badmaash
Reena
Ek Bechara
Saveray Wali Gaadi
Sukhdai
Bin Maa Ke Bachche
Kamla
Agni Rekha
Bangarada Panjara
Reshma
Farishta Ya Qatil
Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye
Lily
Dastaan
Khazana
Sonam
Naalayak
Rita
Des Pardes
Sylvia
Shaque
Neeyat
Dil Ka Raaja
Rani of Beenapur
Hawas
Kamini Singh
Nafrat
Ashoo Kumar
Dhoti Lota Aur Chowpatty
Bandhan Kuchchey Dhaagon Ka
Dr. Shobha
Aaj Ka Mahatma
Julie
Shreemaan Aashique
Meharbaani
Maan Gaye Ustaad
Jaikishan's Assistant
Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi
Garam Khoon
Pummy
Anokha Andaaz
Reema's step-mother
Pyar Ke Kabil
Sharafat Chod Di Maine
The Gold Medal
Shankar Dada
Bindiya
Alag Alag
Parde Ke Peechey
Daku Aur Jawan
Shankar Shambhu
Munnibai
Lohe Ke Haath
Bindu Devi
Amar Deep
Bandh Honth
Arjun Pandit
Do Chehere
Dancer
Chor Ho To Aisa
Seema
Aarop
Kanchan
Vandana
Kaala Paani
Dancer
Chambal ki rani
Maphicha Sakshidar
Comedy Nights Bachao
Self