Mala Sinha (born 11 November 1936 in Calcutta, India) is a Nepali Indian actress who has worked in Hindi, Bengali and Nepali films. Recognised for her talent and beauty, she went on to become a popular leading actress in Hindi films from the early 1950s until the late 1970s. Sinha has starred in over a hundred film productions: popular ones include Pyaasa (1957), Dhool Ka Phool (1959), Anpadh, Dil Tera Deewana ( both 1962), Gumrah (1963), Himalaya Ki God Mein (1965) and Aankhen (1968).

 

Sinha was born in a Bengali descent Nepalese Christian family in Calcutta. Mala Sinha claimed herself a Bengali descent Nepali many years ago in a T.V. interview. They named her Alda. Her friends at school used to tease her by calling her Dalda (a brand of vegetable oil), so she changed her name to Mala. In her childhood she learnt dancing and singing.

 

Although she was an approved singer of All India Radio, she has never done playback singing in films. But as a singer she has done stage shows in many languages from 1947 to 1975.