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Leela Chitnis

Leela Chitnis

Actor · Died July 14, 2003, aged 93 · Dharwad, Bombay Presidency, British India

Leela Chitnis was born on 9 September 1909 in Dharwad, Bombay Presidency, British India. She was an actress and director, known for Kangan (1939), Sadhna (1958) and Chhaya (1936). She was married to Dr. Gajanan Yeshwant Chitnis. She died on 14 July 2003 in Danbury, Connecticut, USA.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
September 9, 1909
Died
July 14, 2003 (aged 93)
From
Dharwad, Bombay Presidency, British India
Works as
Actor
Titles
14 on MovieCove · 72 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 17% in 30 days

What are Leela Chitnis' films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
41%
Morality
31%
Society
9%
Power
7%
Self
6%
Survival
5%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 5 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 6 · Intense 4

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 2 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 5 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Melancholic
7
Romantic
6
Joyful
3
Hopeful
2
Other
9

How their films linger

Hopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet7
  • Tragic2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Leela Chitnis' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 11 of their 14 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Leela Chitnis' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

72 credits, 14 with a MovieCove page.

  • Aangan Ki Kali (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Actor

  • Janta Hawaldar(1979)

    as Naani

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Satyam Shivam Sundaram (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Bade Babu's Wife

  • Jeevan Mrityu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Actor

  • Bhai-Bhai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Actor

  • Man Ki Aankhen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Actor

  • Badi Didi(1969)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Intaquam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • Prince(1969)

    as Mrs. Shanti Singh

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Gunahon Ka Devta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • Majhli Didi(1967)

    as Kishan's Mother

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Aurat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • Phool Aur Patthar(1966)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Waqt(1965)

    as Mrs. Mittal

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Guide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Raju's Mother

  • Guide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Raju's Mother

  • Faraar(1965)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Johar-Mehmood in Goa(1965)

    as Pandit's Wife

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Mohabbat Isko Kahete Hain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Leela

  • Shehnai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Grandmother

  • Pooja Ke Phool (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • Dosti(1964)

    as Mrs. Gupta

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Suhagan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Uma & Vijay Kumar's mom

  • Aap Ki Parchhaiyan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Mrs. Dinanath Chopra

  • Zindagi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • Dil Hi To Hai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Maid-servant

  • Dr. Vidya (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Asli Naqli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Renu's mother

  • Man-Mauji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Bhagwanti

  • Aashiq (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Mrs. Amar Singh

  • Dharmputra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Meena's Mother

  • Gunga Jumna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Govindi

  • Hum Dono (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Capt. Anand's Mother

  • Aas Ka Panchhi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Batwara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Suhagan / Suhagi

  • Char Diwari (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Sunil's mom

  • Kala Bazar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Raghuvir's Mother

  • The Test (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Nivaran's Wife

  • Mehlon Ke Khwaab (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Kanoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Apna Haath Jagannath (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Bewaqoof(1960)

    as Mrs. Leela Rai Bahadur

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Ghunghat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Laxmi's Mother

  • Dhool Ka Phool (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Gangu Dai

  • Kal Hamara Hai(1959)

    as Hiralal's wife

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Barkha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Mrs. Haridas

  • Main Nashe Mein Hoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Mrs. Rajni Khanna

  • Ujala (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Ramu's Mother

  • Phir Subha Hogi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Sohni's Mother

  • Sadhna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Mohan's Mother

  • Naya Daur(1957)

    as Shankar's Mother

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Aawaz(1956)

    as Mrs. Bhatnagar

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Basant Bahar(1956)

    as Gopal's mom

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Funtoosh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • Baadbaan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • Naya Ghar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Actor

  • Sangdil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Dhaai Maa

  • Maa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Bhanu's & Raju's mom

  • Awaara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Leela Raghunath

  • Saiyan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Rani Sahiba

  • Shaheed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Mrs. Dwarkadas

  • Ghazal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Actor

  • Rekha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Actor

  • Jhoola (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Geeta

  • Bandhan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Beena

  • The Rebel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Jamuna

  • Kangan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Actor

  • Sant Tulsidas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Ratnavali

  • Jailor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Actor

  • Beyond the Horizon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Princess Jayanti

  • Gentleman Daku (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Actor

  • Holy Crime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Chhaya

Career shape

Star power in the 65th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 70 titles from 1936 to 1979.

Biggest box office

Dosti (1964)

$1.5M worldwide

Highest rated

Dosti (1964)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Waqt (1965)

Film career

  • 1951Screen debut· Awaara

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting70 of 70: 70 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score70th

By decade

1930s6 · acting1940s6 · acting1950s17 · acting1960s35 · acting1970s6 · acting

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Leela Chitnis' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 14; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 64th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

4thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 14 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

6 of their 14 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser2
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

Aawaz (1956)

83rd percentile spread · 35% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Dosti (1964)

Midcredits 98th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 79/100 in their films, across 4 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 40. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Leela Chitnis work with?

People who share at least 2 of Leela Chitnis' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Mehmood shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers