The face is unmistakable and unique with big round eyes and a toothy grin. It's Laxmi Chhaya who appeared in a number of Bollywood films of the 60s and 70s.

Today she may be the most recognizable Bollywood figure in the West due to her appearance in Terry Zwigoff's "Ghost World" the film based on Daniel Clowes' graphic novel of the same name. Laxmi was the dancer of the Bollywood item dance number "Jaan Pehchan Ho Jeena Aasan Ho " that Mohd Rafi sings in "Gumnaam" [1965].

How ironic is it that it would be Laxmi Chhaya dancing an item number from a second rate Manjol Kumar, Babita, fluff entertainer that would be the first actual Bollywood film footage to be shown in wide distribution on Western movie theater screens?

 

Laxmi Chhaya quite often played bubbly secondary characters and as far as I know she never had a starring role in an A-grade Bollywood film. Her most famous part was in the film "Mera Gaon Mera Desh" [1971] where she was paired with Vinod Khanna. Laxmi had three dance numbers in this film and also does a fair amount of acting.

She also appeared in the Shammi Kapoor, Sadhana, film "Budtameez" [1966] where she had a small part as one of Sadhana's best friends. And she had a fairly large secondary part in "Teesri Manzil" [1966].

I have so far seen Laxmi in four films. All that I know about her is from what I have seen on screen. I am searching far and wide to know more about her. If anyone out there knows more about the life and career of Laxmi please e-mail me? Byronic501@yahoo.com

Laxmi Chhaya Photo Galleries Laxmi from "Mera Gaon Mera Desh" [1971] Laxmi from "Raaz" [1967}

 

Laxmi links:

bollywooda2z.com partial filmography