indian cinema heritage foundation

Anuradha Patel

Artists
  • Born: 30 August, 1961 (Bombay)
  • Primary Cinema: Hindi
  • Parents: Bharati, Dr Virendra Patel
  • Spouse: Kanwaljit
  • Children: Siddharth Singh, Aaditya
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Granddaughter of veteran actor Ashok Kumar Ganguly, actress Anuradha Patel is known for her work in films such as Utsav (1984), Phir Aayee Barsat (1985), Dharm Adhikari (1986), Sadaa Suhagan (1986), Ijaazat (1987), and Rukhsat (1988). 

Born in Bombay on 30 August, 1961 to parents Bharati and Dr Virendra Patel, she is one of three children. Completing her education in the city’s St Xavier’s College, she followed it up with a course in Interior Design from Nirmala Niketan College. During this time, she received several modelling offers, as well as film offers. Anuradha accepted the offer for the film Khiladi, a story of three sisters, the other two played by Shabana Azmi and Bindiya Goswami. Incidentally, Shabana Azmi was cast opposite Kanwaljit Singh, whom Anuradha would go on to later marry. Unfortunately, the film was shelved mid-way. In 1983 Anuradha signed her first film as heroine, Love In Goa. Her hero was the once popular child actor of the 70s, Master Mayur, in his solo hero role. She went on to sign several films opposite leading heroes of the time such as Govinda and Mithun Chakraborty. Some of her key films include Utsav and Ijaazat. Utsav was an erotic drama film, produced by Shashi Kapoor and directed by Girish Karnad. Based on the play Mrichakatika (The Little Clay Cart) by Śūdraka, the film also starred Shankar Nag, Shashi Kapoor, Rekha, Amjad Khan, Shekhar Suman, Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Annu Kapoor, Sanjana Kapoor and Kunal Kapoor. Ijaazat was a musical romance film directed by Gulzar, based on a Bengali story, Jatugriha by Subodh Ghosh. Also starring Rekha, and Naseeruddin Shah, it followed the story of a couple who are separated and who accidentally meet in a railway station waiting room and discover some truths about their lives without each other. Belonging to the art-house genre known as Parallel Cinema, the film won two National Film Awards in the music category. 

When lead roles in films became scarce, Anuradha explored the medium of television. She featured in popular serials such as Chhapte Chhapte (1985), Katha Sagar (1986), and Mrs Mukhyamantri (2019). She also played cameos in the serials Dekho Magar Pyaar Se and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi opposite Jeetendra.

After a long break from films, she returned to the big screen in the late 2000s, featuring in films such as Rabba Main Kya Karoon (2013), Ready (2011), It's My Life (2010), Aisha (2010), Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na (2008), Dus Kahaniyaan (2007), Hamari Beti (2006), Tujhe Meri Kasam (2003). She also acted in Gujarati cinema in Manvini Bhavai (1994), and made a special appearance in the Marathi film, Eina Mina Dika (1989). 

Anuradha Patel is also the director of Dynamic Finishing Academy for Personality Development, Public Speaking, Grooming and Confidence Building. She had conceptualised the finishing school in 1987. She continues to act in select films and also features in advertisements. 

Besides being nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Ijaazat (1987) among others, she was honoured with the Perfect Achievers Award For Best Personality Development classes (2018). 

On 13 April, 1988, she married actor Kanwaljit Singh. The couple has two children; Siddharth Singh, who is a musician and Aaditya, a painter.