Alka Nupur

Alka Nupur Varshney
Nupur in arabasque after completion of a toda
Born	1957 (age 66–67) Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1979–1989
Notable work	Laawaris (1981) Brij Bhoomi (1982) John Jani Janardhan (1984) Mohabbat Ke Dushman (1988)
Spouse	Banwari Lal Varshney

Alka Nupur^[1] is a former Indian actress who was best known for her contributions to Hindi cinema throughout the 1980s. She appeared in many films throughout her career,^[2] including Laawaris (1981), Brij Bhoomi (1982), John Jani Janardhan (1984), and Mohabbat Ke Dushman (1988).^[3]

Career

In her early years, Nupur first began her career as a Kathak dancer. She had also been taught by Birju Maharaj and Rani Karnaa, professional dancers. She received Government's National Cultural Scholarship at the age of 21.^[4] Throughout her career, she would sometimes be credited as "Alka Noopur", "Alka Napoor" (in Mr. X) and "Alka Kapoor" (in Yaadon Ki Kasam).

She made her first appearance in films with Ek Aur Suhagan in 1979, and then went to make guest appearances in films such as Chashme Buddoor (1 minute's appearance). In 1981, she made an uncredited appearance dancing in Laawaris for "Apni To Jaise Taise." She gained fame for her dancing as the song and movie were hits. In 1982, she had her first starring role in Brij Bhoomi as Radha. Following this, she went and starred in other films such as Purana Mandir and John Jani Janardhan.

She made more guest and side appearances in films like Zakhmi Sher, and also starred as Chitkari in Pataal Bhairavi.

In 1988, she starred in a major role as Amina Bai in Mohabbat Ke Dushman. She had starred as another main role in Chintamani Surdas.

In the final years of her career, she was cast in Jaadugar, and appeared in Mil Gayee Manzil Mujhe as Sonia, which was her last film before she retired from the film industry.

Her major association was with music director, lyricist and singer Ravindra Jain. Both of them belonged to the same city. Together they did 6 films:- Brajbhoomi, Mr. X, Mhara Peehar Sasra, Harishchandra Shaibya, Jai Karoli Maa and Chintamani Surdas.

Presently, she is married to Banwari Lal Varshney and runs Noopur Centre of Performing Arts in Gurgaon which is affiliated to IGNOU where CPABN(Certificate of Performing Arts-Bharatnatyam) and CPAKT(Certificate of Performing Arts-Kathak) courses are taught.^[1] She lives in Delhi. She was awarded 'Braj Ratn' award in 2016.^[5]

Filmography

Alka Nupur in 1970s

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1979	Ek Aur Suhagan		Credited as Alka Nupoor
1981	Chashme Budoor
1981	Laawaris	Guest Dancer in "Apni To Jaise Taise"	Uncredited
1982	Brij Bhoomi	Radha	Lead role
1984	Purana Mandir	Bijli
1984	John Jani Janardhan	Asha/Cheryl
1984	Zakhmi Sher
1984	Harishchandra Shaibya	Menaka	Bengali Film
1985	Pataal Bhairavi	Chitkari Nalini	Double Role
1985	Jaago	Nurse Mary
1985	Yaadon Ki Kasam	Khanna Office Receptionist	Credited as Alka Kapoor
1985	Paathar
1986	Jwala		Music by Jagjit Singh
1985	Durgaa		Credited as Alka Nupoor
1985	Mahara Pihar Sasra	Soni	Haryanvi film
1986	Zindagani		Guest Dancer in "pyar ka hoon mein diwanwa"
1986	Swarthi
1987	Mr. X	Credited as Alka Napoor	Special Appearance in song "Parda Gazab Dhaye Parda"
1988	Jai Karoli Maa	Mangala	Lead role
1988	Mohabbat Ke Dushman	Amina
1988	Chintamani Surdas	Chintamani	Lead role
1989	Jaadugar
1989	Mil Gayee Manzil Mujhe	Sonia

References

1. "NOOPUR PERFORMING ARTS & RESEARCH CENTRE - 38003P IGNOU Study Centre RC Delhi 3". ignouportal. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
2. "Alka Noopur".
3. Kothari, Sunil (1 January 1989). Kathak, Indian Classical Dance Art. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 9788170172239 – via Google Books.
4. "Nupur - Expressive Language". India Today. 28 February 1978. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021.
5. "17 हस्तियों को मिलेगा ब्रज रत्‍‌न अवार्ड". m.jagran.com (in Hindi). Retrieved 26 December 2021.

External links

• Alka Nupur at IMDb