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A name that would never be forgotten in the golden years of Hindi cinema Achala Sachdev played iconic roles that audiences remember to this day. The actress born on 3 May 1920 in Peshawar had her life shaped by hardship early on. After losing her father at just six her mother raised three daughters single-handedly. Achala vowed to marry only once she became financially independent a promise she kept. How did she begin her journey? Achalas artistic roots lay in radio. She began her career with All India Radio Lahore and later moved to Delhi post-Partition. At 20 she landed her first film role in Fashionable Wife playing a mother. The film’s success gave her a break but also boxed her into the “mother figure” for decades to come. What made her a household name? It was Yash Chopra’s 1965 classic Waqt that became a turning point. As Balraj Sahni’s onscreen wife she was part of the unforgettable romantic number Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen. The song immortalised her image in the minds of generations. But Achala’s legacy wasn’t built on a single role. She appeared in films like Sangam Mera Naam Joker Andaz Daag and Chandni working with the likes of Raj Kapoor Rajesh Khanna and Sridevi. What was her personal life like? Off-screen her life was far from cinematic. She married director Gyan Sachdev and had a son Jyotin. But the marriage was turbulent leading to divorce. Her son eventually settled abroad leaving Achala to navigate life alone. What happened in her last few years? Despite working with legends from Raj Kapoor to Karan Johar Achala’s last years were lonely. She distanced herself from the film world. Tragically when she passed away not a single soul from the industry came to bid her farewell.