Sandhya Shantaram

Sandhya Shantaram
Nationality	Indian
Other names	Sandhya Shantaram
Occupation	Actress

Sandhya is an Indian film actress. She is best known for her appearances in various Hindi and Marathi films directed by her husband V. Shantaram, in 1950s-1960s, most notably Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955), Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1958), Navrang (1959) and Marathi film Pinjra (1972).

Sandhya was discovered by V. Shantaram. She later married him after Jayashree left him. In 1952 Sandhya debuted as an actress in his Marathi film Amar Bhoopali in the role of a vocalist, the object of poet Honaji Bala's desire. She went on to feature in most of Shantaram's films. In her next film Teen Batti Char Raasta (1953) she played an impoverished girl who is considered unattractive because of her dark skin, but who is secretly a radio star with a beautiful singing voice. For the role Sandhya wore dark makeup.

As she had no formal dance training, she underwent intensive instruction in classical dance from co-star Gopi Krishna for the film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje. The two play Kathak dancers who are preparing for an important competition, but face opposition from their dance guru when they fall in love. The film was very successful and went on to win four Filmfare Awards as well as the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. Sandhya starred opposite her husband in the film Do Aankhen Barah Haath where she played Champa, a toyseller who fascinates the warden and inmates as she walks outside their jail. In Navrang she played the plain wife of the titular character, a poet, who creates a fantasy image of her as his beautiful and sensuous muse. The film contained the Holi song "Arreh Jaa Reh Hat Natkhat" where Sandhya dances with an elephant wearing ghungroo.

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