Lesser known facts about Deepti Naval

The dusky doe-eyed diva of Bollywood, Deepti Naval is celebrating her birthday today. The actress who featured in several successful flicks like 'Chashme Baddoor' (1981), 'Mirch Masala', 'Saath Saath', 'Angoor' and many more is regarded as one of the most talented actresses of all times. Deepti Naval has not just established herself as an actress but has also accomplished herself as a painter and photographer. Read on to know the lesser known facts about Deepti Naval.

Deepti Naval was very close to Farooq Sheikh not just on screen but off screen too. The two worked together in several films with their first common film being ‘Chashme Buddoor’. Their other popular films were ‘Saath Saath', 'Listen...Amaya' and ‘Katha’. She called Farooq a big flirt but he never flirted with her. On inquiring, he told her that he has a different rapport with her. However, he was always pulling her leg and cracking jokes on her. Still, she found him cute and charming.

Deepti Naval is not just a renowned actress but also a painter. Her father wanted her to become a painter while she loved acting. But she continued to pursue both arts and has several noted paintings of nuns, Kumaon region, landscapes and much more. Her works have been displayed at several exhibitions. She finds herself best at making self portraits and paints the faces which are hard, lonely and morbid. Her ‘Pregnant Nun’ painting was the most talked about, which forced her to explain its significance.

Prakash Jha and Deepti Naval’s adopted daughter Disha aspires to be a singer. She calls her separated parents a family and is learning the industry skills from her father. She has also worked as a costume supervisor for her father's hit film 'Raajneeti' starring Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif. After growing up in a boarding school in Panchgani, she was introduced to Padmini Kolhapure's father Pandit Pandharinath Kolhapure by her father Prakash Jha. She then started learning music under Archana Shah.

Deepti Naval was last year dragged into an ugly controversy which questioned her dignity. The diva was giving interviews along with Farooq Sheikh at her terrace apartment ahead of the release of the 'Chashme Baddoor' remake. The members of her residential society objected to the activity and warned her of stopping the ‘naatak’. The actress was shocked to read the other day that the newspapers had accused her of running a prostitution den. Feeling insulted, she too warned of taking an action against the media for the same.

Deepti Naval not just worked in front of the camera but was also fascinated by filmmaking. Her directorial debut - ‘Do Paise Ki Dhoop, Chaar Aane Ki Baarish’ starring Manisha Koirala is a critically acclaimed film. Manisha Koirala plays an aging prostitute who has to take care of a handicapped son played by Deepti Naval’s nephew Sanaj Naval. The film which also features Rajit Kapoor and Milind Soman, has won several awards at international film festivals and was also premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009. However, it is yet to release in India.

Deepti Naval was briefly married to filmmaker Prakash Jha for two years and also has an adopted daughter named Disha with him. However, the two continue to be friends post the split and watch films together every now and then. Not only this, Deepti and Prakash also went for dinner after their divorce with their daughter Disha and Deepti’s then love interest Vinod. As told to a leading daily, Deepti did not have any bitterness against him and was glad to have him in his life.