Ruby Myers, a Jewish actress born in British India, is considered the first true female superstar in Bollywood history.
The title of India’s first female superstar is often debated. Some people say it should go to Sridevi, while others believe Vyjanthimala deserves it. Some think older stars like Naseem Banu or Devika Rani should be recognized. However, one actress who was a big star early in Indian cinema was Ruby Myers, also known as Sulochana.
Today, we will talk about her life:
1. Ruby Myers
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Ruby Myers, a Jewish actress born in British India, is considered the first true female superstar in Bollywood history. She was the first Eurasian actress in Indian cinema and began her career under the screen name Sulochana.
2. Worked as telephone operator
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In the 1920s, as a teenager working as a telephone operator in Calcutta, Myers was approached by Mohan Bhavnani from Kohinoor Film Company to act in films. Although she initially turned down the offer, Bhavnani persisted, and Myers eventually joined the film industry, making her debut with Cinema Queen in 1926 at the age of 19.
3. Became highest-paid actress
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Over the next few years, with hits like Typist Girl, Balidaan, Madhuri, Anarkali, and Bombay Ki Billi, she became the biggest name and face in Indian cinema. During the peak of her fame in the late-1920s and early-30s, she was regarded as a superstar.
4. Became superstar despite not knowing Hindi
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Sulochana, fluent in English and Yiddish but not in Hindi or Urdu, began her career during the silent film era, which helped her gain fame despite this language barrier. When talkies arrived in 1931 with Alam Ara, she faced a challenge but took a year to learn Hindustani. She returned successfully with films like Madhuri and Anarkali and earned over Rs 60,000 per year in the 1930s, one of the highest salaries for any actor in India at the time.
5. When he film was banned
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In the 1940s, Sulochana continued to act in leading roles, though many of her films were not as successful. Her last major film was Jugnu in 1947, which was banned by the Bombay State’s Home Minister Morarji Desai for being deemed morally inappropriate. Afterward, she took on supporting roles in the 1950s and acted in films until the late 1970s. Sulochana passed away in her Mumbai flat in 1983 at the age of 75.
