For anyone who has watched Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, the image of Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan’s affectionate grandmother may come to mind. If not that, then surely the kind-hearted daadi to Kajol’s character in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge will strike a chord. And even if those don’t ring a bell, fans of Yash Chopra’s timeless classic Waqt will remember the elegant woman who played Balraj Sahni’s wife, the one for whom the iconic song “Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen” was picturised. That woman was none other than veteran actress Achala Sachdev, a stalwart of Indian cinema whose career spanned decades and who shared the screen with some of the biggest names in the industry.
Born on May 3, 1920, in Peshawar, Achala’s life was marred by the loss of her father when she was just six years old. Achala grew up watching her single mother struggle to educate and marry off her three elder sisters in trying circumstances. However, Achala made a vow: she would marry only when she becomes independent and self-reliant. Her journey into the world of performance began with All India Radio in Lahore, where she participated in radio dramas. After the Partition, she relocated to Delhi with her relatives and joined AIR Delhi.
At Bombay Studios, director Rakhan rehearses an emotional scene with stars Padmini and Achala Sachdev for Ashok Productions’ film Kalpana.(Photo: Express Archives)
At the age of 20, she was offered a role in the film Fashionable Wife, in which, coincidentally, she played the role of a mother. Despite her youth, she accepted the part, making it her debut in cinema. Achala’s first performance was well received, but it came with a caveat, she was quickly typecast in motherly roles. Reluctant but committed to her craft, she continued taking on such roles while maintaining her job at All India Radio. The 1950s saw her work in critically acclaimed films like Mother, Rahi, Footpath, Chandni Chowk, Naukri, Azad, Miss Mary, and Adalat. But it was in 1965, with Yash Chopra’s Waqt, that her career reached a defining moment. The song “Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen”, picturised on her, became a cultural touchstone, immortalising her presence in the annals of Indian cinema.
Over the years, she collaborated with legendary filmmakers and co-stars: Raj Kapoor in Sangam and Mera Naam Joker, Rajesh Khanna in Andaaz and Daag, and later Sridevi in Chandni. While she found success professionally, Achala’s personal life was far from smooth. She married Gyan Sachdev, an assistant director, and they had a son, Jyotin. But the marriage was troubled, marked by frequent fights. Eventually, the couple divorced, and Jyotin later moved abroad, leaving Achala to face solitude.
Achala Sachdev and Rajendra Nath in a film together. (Photo: Express Archives)
She found comfort in close friendships within the industry, with Kalpana Kartik, Sunil Dutt, and Raj Kapoor. She was also said to share a deep bond with actress Meena Kumari. However, when rumours surfaced accusing her of being interested in Meena Kumari’s wealth, Achala distanced herself. Reports also suggest she grew uncomfortable with aspects of Meena Kumari’s personal life, which became a topic of gossip, prompting her to end the friendship. Years later, during the shoot of a Yash Chopra film, Achala met Clifford Douglas Peters, a foreigner who had lost his wife. The two bonded over shared loneliness and eventually got married. Achala moved to Pune, where Clifford ran a factory. Later, they settled in Hadapsar.
Sadly, Clifford passed away a few years into their marriage, once again leaving Achala alone. One of last notable appearances was as Kajol’s grandmother in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. But behind the scenes, Achala was growing increasingly frustrated with the film industry. Despite her punctuality, she often had to wait long hours for lead actors to arrive. Tired of the lack of professionalism and respect, she made the decision to quit acting.
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Achala Sachdev with actress Deepti Naval in her later years (Photo: Express Archives).
As her health declined, Achala took a final step toward securing her future. She donated her flat to the Janseva Foundation, with the condition that they care for her until her last breath. In 2011, she suffered a fall in her kitchen, fracturing her leg and sustaining head trauma. A CT scan revealed multiple blood clots in her brain. She was left paralyzed and blind. On April 30, 2012, just days before her 92nd birthday, Achala Sachdev passed away.
Despite her decades-long contribution to Indian cinema, not a single film industry personality attended her last rites. Only her son flew in from the US to bid her farewell, accompanied by around 40 people, including a few relatives and friends. Amitabh Bachchan and Ekta Kapoor paid tribute to her publicly, but beyond that, her departure was met with an unsettling silence from the industry she had devoted her life to.
