This actress ran away from home to Bombay at age of 13, became first female comedian of Indian cinema, threatened director because of..., she was...

India.com

12-07-2025

If there is no comedy in films, then the fun fades a bit. There are many famous comedians in the Bollywood industry, who bring life to films with their funny style, but do you know about the first female comedian of Hindi cinema? Who Was Uma Devi Khatri?
Here we are referring to the first female comedian of Hindi cinema was Tuntun, whose real name was Uma Devi Khatri. She made people laugh a lot through films. She made a place in the hearts of the audience with her comedy timing in many famous films like Babul (1950), Mr. and Mrs. '55 (1955), Pati, Patni Aur Woh (1978). As cheerful as Tuntun appeared in films, her life was also full of tragedy. She was born in a small village near Amroha in Uttar Pradesh in the year 1923. How Was Uma Devi Khatri's Personal Life?
According to media reports, Uma Devi's family was murdered due to a land dispute and she became an orphan at a very young age. The faces of her parents and brother remained only a vague memory in her mind. When famous film critic Shishir Krishna Sharma interviewed her a few days before her death, Uma said that she did not remember what her parents looked like and one day her brother was also murdered. Let us tell you, after the demise of the family, she was struggling with poverty and loneliness.
After losing her family, Uma was kept by her relatives, who lived with her like a maid. Music was the only solace in Uma Devi's life. She used to listen and sing songs and dreamed of becoming a popular singer. But Uma's life took a turn when she met Excise Duty Inspector Akhtar Abbas Qazi, who inspired her to sing. When Uma Threatened The Music Director
At the age of 13, Uma ran away to Mumbai to try her luck in playback singing and reached the house of music director Naushad Ali. Desperate to prove herself, Uma threatened Naushad Ali that if she did not get a chance to audition and work, she would jump into the sea. After which Naushad was impressed by her voice and gave her a chance to sing. Uma started singing in 1946 with the film 'Vamik Azra', but the song 'Afsana likh rahi hun dil-e-beqarar ka' from the film 'Dard' brought her success. How One Advice Changed Her Life?
In the 1950s, Naushad advised Tuntun to do comedy acting due to her cheerful nature. After which, she never looked back and even today her acting is well remembered. She went on to perform in Guru Dutt's timeless classics like Aar Paar (1954), Mr. & Mrs. '55 (1955), and Pyaasa (1957).[14] During the 1960s and 1970s, she consistently provided comic relief in a multitude of Bollywood films. She passed away on 23 November 2003 in Andheri, Mumbai, after battling a long illness at the age of 80, leaving behind her four children and four grandchildren.