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Dina Pathak Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth4 March 1922

Age80 (at time of death)

BirthplaceAmreli, Baroda State, British India

ProfessionActor

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried (at time of death)

SpouseBaldev Pathak

FamilyDaughters: Ratna Pathak, Supriya Pathak

Dina Pathak Biography

Dina Pathak was an Indian stage and film actress whose career spanned six decades. A prominent figure in Gujarati theatre and Hindi cinema, she appeared in

Early life and background

Dina Pathak was born Dina Gandhi on 4 March 1922 in Amreli, Baroda State, then part of British India. She completed a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Bombay (St. Xavier’s College) and became involved in student activism during the independence era. Her engagement with folk and political theatre — including Bhavai from Gujarat and associations with the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) and Indian National Theatre — shaped her early years as a performer and activist.

Career

Pathak began her screen career with the 1948 film Kariyavar (credited as Raju) and went on to build a body of work that exceeded 120 films over roughly six decades. She was active across Gujarati theatre and cinema as well as Hindi films. In Gujarati stage work she was noted for lead performances such as Mena Gurjari and for roles in productions and films including Moti Ba, Malela Jeev, Bhawani Bhavai, Dinglegar, and Doll’s House. She also established her own theatre group called Natmandal.

On the national screen she was remembered for key Hindi film appearances such as Gol Maal (1979) and Khoobsurat (1980). Her filmography also included international projects: The Guru (1969), A Passage to India (1984), and Bollywood/Hollywood (2002). Her final film appearance listed is Pinjar (2003), in which she is credited as Rahim’s Mausi.

Recognition and honors

Dina Pathak’s contributions to theatre were recognized with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1980. She also received the Government of Gujarat’s Merit Award for theatre for 2000–2001.

Public profile

Pathak combined a public artistic life with social engagement. She served as president of the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW). Throughout her career she was known as a bridge between Gujarati theatrical traditions and mainstream Indian cinema, and she continued to work on stage and screen into her later years.

Personal life

Dina married Baldev Pathak, a fashion designer who worked in the film industry; he predeceased her at age 52. The couple had two daughters, Ratna Pathak and Supriya Pathak, both of whom pursued acting careers. Dina shared screen time with her daughter Supriya in the television series Khichdi (2002). Ratna later took on a role in the 2014 film Khoobsurat that had originally been associated with her mother.

Later years and death

Dina Pathak lived in Mumbai during her later life. She died in Mumbai on 11 October 2002 at the age of 80; the reported cause of death was a heart attack.

Latest updates

Posthumous mentions of her work include the continued appreciation of her performances in films such as Gol Maal and Khoobsurat, and references to her last screen credit in Pinjar (2003). Her legacy is reflected in the ongoing careers of her daughters and in the recognition she received from theatrical institutions in India.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Dina Pathak, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Pinjar

Credited as Rahim's Mausi; listed as her last film appearance (2003).

2003
Bollywood/Hollywood

Appeared in the international film.

2002
Khichdi

Shared the screen with daughter Supriya Pathak in the television show.

2002
A Passage to India

Appeared in the international film.

1984
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Career Highlights

  1. Debut film: Kariyavar (1948)
  2. Appeared in over 120 films across six decades
  3. Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1980)
  4. President of the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW)
  5. Established the theatre group Natmandal
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Dina Pathak born?

4 March 1922

What is Dina Pathak known for?

Actor

What is Dina Pathak’s marital status?

Married (at time of death)

Who is Dina Pathak married to?

Baldev Pathak