She was married after class 7, was almost beaten half to death: She became India’s first actress in 1913

There was a time when acting was not regarded as a covetuous job, especially for women. Women were barred from working in the film industry or theatres. Decades before the concept of ‘Lady Superstars’ even existed and female stars driving box-office numbers became a reality, the very idea of women participating in showbiz was considered a taboo.

Indian film was only getting started when Dadasaheb Phalke started production on Mohini Bhasmasur in 1913. Raja Harishchandra, his debut picture, was released earlier that year, but the process of creating it revealed one of the filmmaker's greatest obstacles: recruiting actresses. Phalke ultimately cast a man named Anna Salunke as Taramati for Raja Harishchandra. According to historical reports, he had trouble finding a woman who was open to pursuing the novel and socially dubious career. However, Phalke was adamant about using female actors in his next movie. Then, as fate would have it, a mother and her small daughter entered his life.

Around this time, Nashik was visited by the Chittakarshak Natak Company, a touring theatre company. Raghunathrao Gokhale's troupe had female performers, which Phalke sorely required. Durgabai Kamat and her daughter Kamlabai Gokhale were among them.


Dadasaheb Phalke was a frequent theatregoer and music enthusiast, according to Kamlabai's memories in director Reena Mohan's documentary Kamlabai (1992). He went to Raghunathrao as their firm was set to temporarily close, asking if he would let Durgabai and Kamlabai perform in his movie while the theatre company stayed closed. Raghunathrao concurred. In Mohini Bhasmasur, Kamlabai portrayed Mohini, whereas Durgabai was chosen to represent Parvati.

As per an article on Scroll, Durgabai was born into an upper-caste Marathi Brahmin family, and, like, despite being adept at singing and dancing and playing multiple instruments such as the sitar, tabla and veena, she was married off after completing class 7 to a Marathi Brahmin named Anand Nanoskar. He turned out to be an abusive husband. Their daughter Kamlabai was born in 1900. Durgabai made a decision that was considered unimaginable back in the day – she left her home along with her three-year-old daughter and decided to join the theatre to earn a living. Her family members cut all ties with her.

In an interview with Reena Mohan for her documentary Kamlabai, Kamla admitted her father was not a good man and often used to hit her mother and once beat her almost half to death.

Securing a job as a female artiste was not a walk in the park during those days, as men were also hired to play female characters. However, Durgbai managed to secure a job at a theatre house called Chittakarshak Natak Company. Kamla would act as a child artiste while she played the main female parts. They performed Marathi translations of Shakespeare's plays as well as Indian mythological tales. The mother-daughter duo's performance was adored by the audience. Due to the travel, Kamla was unable to attend regular school.

During the interview, Kamlabai revealed how Dadasaheb Phalke, the man who directed India’s first feature-length film, Raja Harischandra, was moved by Durgabai’s performances and offered her the leading role in his second film, Mohini Bhasmasur. Durgabai was cast as Parvati, while Kamlabai, who was only 13 then, essayed the role of Mohini. Durgabai and Kamlabai made history as the first Indian women to be cast as actresses in a film.

Durgabai starred alongside K. Ghaneker, Koregonkar Durgabai, Varne Pandurang, and Gondhaleker in the 1927 film Babanchi Bayko, which was directed by Narayanrao D. Sarpotdar. Following the introduction of sound in motion pictures, she appeared in the 1931 social film Gulami Janjir, which was directed by Prafulla Chandra Ghosh and starring Takle, Rafiq Ghaznavi, Hyder Shah, and Manohar Ghatwani.

It is unknown when Durgabai breathed her last. According to the documentary which was shot in 1988, she had been dead by then.