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Leela Mishra Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth1 January 1908

Age80 (at time of death)

BirthplaceJais, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India (present-day Uttar Pradesh, India)

ProfessionActor

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseRam Prasad Misra

FamilyTwo daughters

Leela Mishra Biography

Leela Mishra was an Indian character actress best known for maternal and aunt-like roles across more than 200 Hindi films. Her memorable turn as Mausiji in

Early life and background

Leela Mishra was born on 1 January 1908 in Jais, in the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh during British India (present-day Uttar Pradesh). She came from a conservative zamindar family. Married at a young age, she became a mother in her teens and later moved to Bombay with her husband, actor Ram Prasad Misra, in 1934.

Career

Mishra began working in films in the 1930s. Her first significant screen role came in the 1937 film Gangavataran, in which she played Parvati. Prior to that she appeared in earlier productions and was associated with studios including Kolhapur Cinetone. Early in her career she encountered the era’s strict social expectations: on more than one occasion she declined actions on set that clashed with her traditional beliefs, and that shaped the kinds of parts she accepted.

Over the following decades Mishra became one of Hindi cinema’s most familiar character actresses, frequently cast as mothers, aunts, and other maternal figures. A box-office hit in 1942, Kisi Se Na Kehna, helped establish her as a go-to performer for such roles. Her filmography eventually grew to include well over 200 titles.

Among her notable screen appearances was the widely remembered role of Mausiji in the 1975 blockbuster Sholay. She also worked with acclaimed director Satyajit Ray, appearing in Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977); records note she did not take a fee for that film. Her career continued across many years, with credits ranging from the 1930s into later decades; one listed final film credit appears as Aatank (1996).

Public profile

Mishra’s persona on screen was defined by the warmth and immediacy she brought to parental and avuncular roles. Industry accounts highlight that casting shortages in early Indian cinema helped create steady work for dependable character players like her, and that she was paid comparatively well in some early studio contracts. She retained a private disposition about certain aspects of the moviegoing and filmmaking experience: she reportedly preferred to spend her resources on everyday comforts and family life rather than attending theatrical screenings.

Personal life

Leela Mishra was married to actor Ram Prasad Misra. The couple moved to Bombay in the mid-1930s as their film careers developed. She practiced Hinduism and held Indian nationality.

Later years and death

Leela Mishra died in Bombay (now Mumbai) on 17 January 1988 at the age of 80. The reported cause of death was a heart attack.

Legacy

Across a long career, Mishra became synonymous with the motherly supporting roles that form a staple of classic Hindi cinema. Her work in films such as Gangavataran, Kisi Se Na Kehna, Sholay, and Shatranj Ke Khilari exemplify the range and durability of a performer who was a regular presence on screen for generations of moviegoers.

Latest updates

Available records list her last film credit as Aatank (1996). No further updates are provided in the available material.

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 Leela Mishra, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Sholay

Played the role of Mausiji in the 1975 blockbuster.

1975
Shatranj Ke Khilari

Appeared in Satyajit Ray's film; reportedly did not take payment for this role.

1977
Gangavataran

Cast as Parvati in what was her first major role.

1937
Kisi Se Na Kehna

Box-office hit that helped cement her reputation for motherly roles.

1942
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Career Highlights

  1. Debut in films during the 1930s and first major role in Gangavataran (1937).
  2. Became known for motherly and aunt-like characters across more than 200 Hindi films.
  3. Memorable performance as Mausiji in Sholay (1975).
  4. Worked with Satyajit Ray in Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977), reportedly without charging a fee.
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Leela Mishra born?

Leela Mishra was born on 1 January 1908.

What is Leela Mishra known for?

Leela Mishra is known for actor.

What is Leela Mishra’s marital status?

Leela Mishra's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Leela Mishra married to?

Leela Mishra is publicly listed as married to Ram Prasad Misra.