Nirmala Devi

For the Indian freestyle wrestler, see Nirmala Devi (wrestler).

Nirmala Devi (7 June 1927 – 15 June 1996) also known as Dulari, was an Indian actress in the 1940s and a Hindustani classical vocalist of the Patiala Gharana.^[1][2][3][4] Bollywood actor Govinda is her son.

Nirmala Devi
Born	(1927-06-07)7 June 1927 Benares, Benares State, British India (present-day Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India)
Died	15 June 1996(1996-06-15) (aged 69) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Occupation(s)	Vocalist, Actress, Singer
Spouse	Arun Kumar Ahuja
Children	5 (including Govinda)
Relatives	Krushna Abhishek (grandson)

In January 2025, Nirmala Devi was honored with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, by the Government of India.^[5][6]

Personal life

Nirmala Devi was born as Nazim on 7 June 1927, in Varanasi (then known as Banares), Uttar Pradesh, in a Muslim family.^[7] Actress Kumkum was her half-sister.^[8]

In 1942, a 15 year-old Nazim converted to Hinduism, adopted the name Nirmala Devi, and married actor Arun Kumar Ahuja.^[9] They went on to have five children: three daughters and two sons, including actor Govinda and film director Kirti Kumar. Nirmala took to acting during the period of her betrothal and her first film to be released was Savera (1942), with husband Arun Kumar Ahuja as co-star.

Death

Nirmala Devi died on 15 June 1996, at the age of 69, in Mumbai.

Playback singer

Credited as Nirmala

• Savera (1942)
• Sharda
• Kanoon
• Geet
• Gaali (1944)
• Sehra
• Janamashtami

Credited as Nirmala Devi

• Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985)
• Bawarchi (1972)
• Zara Bachke (1959)
• Shama Parwana (1954)

Soundtrack

• Bawarchi (1972) – one of the performers on the track "Bhor Aai Gaya Andhiyara"

Filmography

Credited as Nirmala

• Savera (1942)
• Sharda
• Kanoon
• Geet
• Gaali (1944)
• Chalis Karod (1946)
• Sehra
• Janamashtami
• Anmol Ratan (1950)

Music albums

Genre: Hindustani Classical / Music Label: His Master's Voice

Singles:

• Banaa Banaa Ke Tamanaa & Gham Ki Nishani (Ghazal)
• Jaadu Bhare Tore Nainava Ram & Mori Baali Umar Beeti Jaye (Thumri)

Full Albums:

• Saavan Beetaa Jaye (Thumri) (With Ms Laxmi Shankar, contemporary singer)
• Weekend Pleasure (Thumri)
• Thumriyan by Nirmala Devi (Thumri)
• Laakhon Ke Bol Sahe (Thumri)
• Ghazals by Nirmala Devi (Ghazal)