Ruby Myers popularly known as Sulochana was the First Lady Super Star of the Silent Era. Since Indian women resisted from acting in films. Hence there was a huge demand for the Jewish Community-women who had a fair complexion and were bold and beautiful.
Mohan Bhavnani of Kohinoor Film Company spotted Ruby, a telephone operator. Her exceptional beauty bowled him over, and he signed her for his film, Typst Girl (1926). They reschristened Ruby as Sulochana for Indian audiences to accept her. Ruby’s stunning beauty worked miracles on cine buffs; Typist Girl became a huge hit, opening floodgates for more successes such as Balidaan (1927) and Wildcat of Bombay (1927).
Sulochana’s Top Three Hit Films
Sulochana achieved stardom in the years 1928 -29 after she gave a hat-trick of hits films. All the 3 films were romantic super hits viz. Madhuri (1928), Anarkali (1928) and Indira B.A. (1929). The success of these films took her to dizzy heights of stardom and made her Highest-Paid Actress!!
With the advent of Talkie, Sulochana took a break. She mastered the art of talkie and made a spectacular comeback with the Re-Make of her super hit film Madhuri in talkie version 1932!! She cashed-upon the idea of Re-Making her past hit films into Talkie like Anarkali (1935) and Bombay ki Billi (1936). Interestingly she re-made her Indira B.A. as Indira M.A. in 1934 and all Re-Make films were hit!!
Sulochana held a true Hollywood Stars like celebrity images. The actress moved in High Style cars like Chevrolet (1935) and had the first Rolls Royce in India!! She drew a hefty salary of Rs 5000/- per month from Imperial Pictures. She lived life King Size style. However, after she left Imperial Pictures, she lost stardom as new actresses had spread their charm. She tried making a comeback with character roles but failed.
The government of India saluted her contribution to the film by awarding her India’s highest cinema award, the Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1973. She died in 1983 in her flat in Mumbai. Indian Government issued a commemorative postage stamp, in her honor, after her demise in 1983.
Leave a Comment