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Amrita Singh

Overview

Amrita Singh is an Indian film and television actress, best known for her work in Hindi cinema during the 1980s and early 1990s. She was among the leading female stars of that era, recognised for a strong screen presence and a distinctive deep voice, and later transitioned into character roles in films and television.

Field Details
Name Amrita Singh
Born 9 February 1958
Nationality Indian
Occupation Actress (film and television)
Primary industry Hindi cinema (Bollywood)
Active period 1983 onwards
Debut film Betaab (1983)
Spouse Saif Ali Khan (married 1991; divorced 2004)
Children Sara Ali Khan, Ibrahim Ali Khan

Background

Amrita Singh comes from a Punjabi Sikh family. She was educated in Delhi before moving into the film industry in Mumbai. Her family is connected by marriage to the Pataudi family of the erstwhile princely state of Pataudi following her marriage to actor Saif Ali Khan, son of cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and actress Sharmila Tagore.

Career

Film debut and rise (1983–1980s)

Singh made her film debut opposite Sunny Deol in Rahul Rawail's Betaab (1983), a major commercial success that established her as a leading actress. She followed this with a string of popular films through the 1980s, working with most of the leading male stars of the period.

Notable films

  • Betaab (1983)
  • Mard (1985), opposite Amitabh Bachchan
  • Saaheb (1985)
  • Chameli Ki Shaadi (1986)
  • Naam (1986)
  • Aaj Ka Arjun (1990)
  • Waaris (1988)
  • Thanedaar (1990)

Hiatus and return

After her marriage to Saif Ali Khan in 1991, Singh largely stepped back from leading roles. She returned to acting in character roles after a hiatus, appearing in films such as Kalyug (2005), Aaja Nachle (2007), 2 States (2014) and Badla (2019). She has also appeared in Hindi television serials.

Personal life

Amrita Singh married actor Saif Ali Khan in 1991. The couple have two children: actress Sara Ali Khan, born in 1995, and Ibrahim Ali Khan, born in 2001. The marriage ended in divorce in 2004.

Significance

Singh is regarded as one of the prominent leading actresses of Hindi cinema in the mid-1980s, a period dominated by action and family dramas. Her later return in supporting roles, particularly in Kalyug, 2 States and Badla, established her as a respected character actress. Both her children have since entered the Hindi film industry.

References