Overview
Debashree Roy (born 8 August 1962), also spelt Debasree Roy, is an Indian actress, dancer, choreographer, politician and animal rights activist. She is regarded as one of the leading figures of Bengali cinema during the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, and has received over forty awards across her career, including a National Film Award, three BFJA Awards, five Kalakar Awards and an Anandalok Award.
Roy made her screen debut as a child artiste in Hiranmoy Sen's Bengali devotional film Pagal Thakur (1966), in which she played the infant Ramakrishna Paramhansa. Her first leading role came with Arabinda Mukhopadhyay's Nadi Theke Sagare (1978). She gained wider recognition for her performance in Aparna Sen's National Award-winning directorial debut 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981) and in Kanak Mishra's Jiyo To Aise Jiyo (1981) under the Rajshri Productions banner. Her other Hindi-language work includes Bura Aadmi (1982), Justice Chaudhury (1983), Phulwari (1984), Kabhie Ajnabi The (1985), Seepeeyan (1986) and Pyar Ka Sawan (1989).
Following the box-office success of Troyee (1982), Roy focussed largely on Bengali cinema. Notable films from this phase include Bhalobasa Bhalobasa (1985), Lalmahal (1986), Chokher Aloy (1989), Jhankar (1989), Ahankar (1991) and Yuddha (2005). She received her first BFJA Award for Best Actress in 1992 for her performance in Indar Sen's Thikana (1991), and was later conferred the National Film Award for Best Actress in 1995.
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