Uma Bhende

{{Short description|Indian actress (1945–2017)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Uma Bhende | image = | caption = | birth_name = Anusaya Sakarikar<ref>{{cite web|title=Actress Uma Bhende passed away| work=Dainik Bhaskar | date=19 July 2017 |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/news/MH-PUN-HMU-infog-marathi-actress-uma-bhende-passes-away-5650190-PHO.html?ref=hf|publisher=Daink Bhaskar|accessdate= 19 July 2017}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date|1945|05|31|df=y}} | birth_place = Bombay, Bombay State, India | death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|07|19|1945|05|31|df=y}} | death_place = Mumbai, Maharashtra, India | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | other_names = | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1960–2000 | spouse = {{Marriage|Prakash Bhende|1974}} | partner = | children = Prasad Bhende & Prasanna Bhende | parents = | website = | awards = Chitrabhushan }}

'''Uma Bhende''' (31 May 1945 – 19 July 2017)<ref>{{cite web|title=Actress Uma Bhende passed away|work=Maharashtra Times|date=19 July 2017|url=http://maharashtratimes.indiatimes.com/maharashtra/mumbai-news/veteran-actress-uma-bhende-passes-awary-at-72/articleshow/59664936.cms|publisher=Maharashtra Times Online|accessdate=19 July 2017|archive-date=22 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722053825/http://maharashtratimes.indiatimes.com/maharashtra/mumbai-news/veteran-actress-uma-bhende-passes-awary-at-72/articleshow/59664936.cms|url-status=dead}}</ref> was an Indian actress who worked in Marathi films, television and theatre. She made her debut in Marathi film ''Aakshganga'' (1960). She is known for appearing in movies ''Aamhi Jato Amchya Gava'' (1968), ''Angai'' (1968), ''Bhalu'' (1980). Bhende was felicitated by Chitrabhushan Award for her contribution towards Marathi film industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.loksatta.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=236007:2012-07-04-16-19-15&catid=166:2009-08-11-13-00-15&Itemid=166|title=सचिन पिळगावकर आणि उमा भेंडे यंदाचे'चित्रभूषण'|trans-title=Sachin Pilgaonkar and Uma Bhende gets awarded|language=Marathi|accessdate=19 July 2017|publisher=The Indian Express|work=Loksatta|location=Pune|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305024316/http://archive.loksatta.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=236007:2012-07-04-16-19-15&catid=166:2009-08-11-13-00-15&Itemid=166|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Early life== Uma was born on 31 May 1945 as Anusaya Shrikrishna Sakarikar in Mumbai, though her childhood was spent in a middle-class household in Kolhapur. Her father, Shrikrishna Sakarikar, was a writer and playwright, while her mother, Ramadevi, was employed with the Prabhat Film Company.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=भेंडे, उमा प्रकाश |url=https://www.maharashtranayak.in/Encyc/2025/8/6/okra-uma-prakash.html |access-date=2026-05-18 |website=www.maharashtranayak.in |language=en}}</ref>

During her youth, she participated in local cultural gatherings and performance troupes, where her work was noticed by the prominent filmmaker Bhalji Pendharkar. This exposure led to her first minor appearance on screen, featuring in a song sequence picturized on actress Sulochana Latkar in Pendharkar's film ''Akashganga''.<ref name=":0" />

==Career== While preparing for her first leading role in Madhav Shinde’s film ''Thoratanchi Kamala'', she discovered on the day of the premier in Kolhapur that her birth name, Anusaya, was missing from the promotional posters. The film's producer, Lata Mangeshkar, subsequently informed her that she had been given the screen name "Uma."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=ज्येष्ठ अभिनेत्री उमा भेंडे – Marathisrushti Articles |url=https://www.marathisrushti.com/articles/senior-actress-uma-bhende/ |access-date=2026-05-18 |website=www.marathisrushti.com}}</ref>

Following this debut, she appeared in a series of Marathi films, including ''Yalach Mhanatat Prem'', ''Shevatcha Malusara'', ''Madhuchandra'', and ''Aamhi Jato Amuchya Gava''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Classic Marathi Film “Aamhi Jato Amuchya Gava” |url=https://kalakrutimedia.com/classic-marathi-movie-aamhi-jato-amucha-gao-marathi-info/}}</ref> She also transitioned briefly into Hindi cinema, debuting in Rajshri Productions' ''Dosti'', directed by Satyen Bose. Her subsequent Hindi film credits included ''Ek Dil Sau Afsane'', ''Ek Masoom'', ''Brahma Vishnu Mahesh'', and ''Har Har Mahadev''. However, due to the logistical challenges of commuting between Kolhapur and Mumbai, she chose to shift her primary focus back to Marathi cinema.<ref name=":1" />

Her filmography also extended to other regional languages, including roles in the Chhattisgarhi film ''Kahi Debe Sandesh'' and the Telugu film ''Khiladi''. For her performance in ''Ashi Hi Sataryachi Tarha'', she was awarded the Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Deshpande |first=Rekha |title=Marathi Chitrapatancha Samagra Itihas |edition=1st |language=Marathi}}</ref>

In 2012, she was honored with the 'Chitrabhushan' Award by the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandala, recognizing her contributions spanning a 55-year acting career.<ref name=":0" />

Following her marriage to filmmaker and actor Prakash Bhende, she relocated to the Sion neighborhood of Mumbai. Professionally, she collaborated extensively with her husband, appearing in several films produced or directed under their banner, including ''Bhalu'', ''Chatak Chandni'', ''Premasathi Vattel Te'', ''Apan Yana Pahilat Ka'', and ''Aai Thor Tujhe Upkar''. Throughout her later years, she and her husband remained active members of the Marathi film fraternity, frequently participating in industry events and maintaining connections with younger generations of filmmakers and artists.<ref name=":0" />

==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" !Year !Film !Role !Language !Notes |- | rowspan="2" |1960 |''Aakashganga'' |Unnamed | rowspan="20" |Marathi |Small role |- |''Antaricha Diva'' |Uma | |- |1962 |''Thoratanchi Kamala'' |Kamala | |- |1964 |''Swayamvar Zale Siteche'' |Sita | |- | rowspan="3" |1965 |''Malhari Martand'' |Kamala | |- |''Shevatcha Malusara'' |Savitri | |- |''Laxmi Aali Ghara'' |Laxmi | |- | rowspan="6" |1967 |''Madhuchandra'' |Malu | |- |''Sudarshan'' | | |- |''Sant Gora Kumbhar'' |Santu | |- |''Kaka Mala Vachwa'' |Vinu | |- |''Deiva Janile Kuni'' |Anu | |- |''Bara Varshe Saha Mahine Saha Divas'' | | |- | rowspan="3" |1968 |''Angai'' |Aai | |- |''Aamhi Jato Amuchya Gava'' |Vaijayanti Pant | |- |''Bai Mothi Bhagyachi'' |Bharti | |- | rowspan="2" |1970 |''Dhartichi Lekara'' |Shevanti | |- |''Ganane Ghungroo Haravale'' |Manjula | |- |1971 |''Naate Jadle Don Jivanche'' | | |- | rowspan="3" |1972 |''Pach Najook Bote'' |Mira | |- |''Be-Imaan'' |Sapna 's friend | rowspan="2" |Hindi | |- |''Har Har Mahadev'' |Paro | |- |1974 |''Ashi Hi Sataryachi Tarha'' |Rangu | rowspan="6" |Marathi |Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress |- |1980 |''Bhalu'' |Jayantrao's Wife | |- |1982 |''Chatak Chandni'' | | |- |1987 |''Premasathi Vattel Te'' |Rama | |- |1992 |''Apan Yana Pahilat Ka'' | | |- |1999 |''Aai Thor Tujhe Upkar'' |Aai | |}

==See also== *Marathi cinema

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb name|5460836}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhende, Uma}} Category:1945 births Category:2017 deaths Category:Marathi actresses Category:Actresses in Marathi cinema Category:Actresses from Mumbai Category:20th-century Indian actresses Category:Indian film actresses Category:Indian stage actresses