Smita Patil

Smita Patil was an Indian actress whose performances helped define India’s New Indian Cinema, particularly through roles portraying working-class and marginalized women. She worked across Hindi and Marathi films with directors including Shyam Benegal, and earned National Film Awards for her performances in Bhumika and Chakra. Her work also extended into mainstream Hindi cinema, demonstrating a notable range during a career cut short in 1986.