View source for Vyjayanthimala

{{Short description|Indian actress, dancer and parliamentarian (born 1933)}}
{{for|the garland in Hindu mythology|Vaijayanti}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| image              = Vyjayantimala profile.jpg
| caption            = Vyjayanthimala, {{circa|2024}}
| name               = Vyjayanthimala
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1933|08|13|df=y}}
| birth_name         = Vyjayanthimala Raman
| birth_place        = [[Triplicane]], [[Madras]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br />(present-day [[Thiruvallikeni]], [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]])
| height             = 
| occupation         = [[Actress]], [[Indian classical dance]]r, [[Carnatic music|Carnatic singer]], [[politician]]
| works              = [[Vyjayanthimala filmography|Full list]]
| awards             = [[List of awards and nominations received by Vyjayanthimala|Full list]]
| honours            = {{ubl|[[Padma Vibhushan]] (2024)|[[Padma Shri]] (1968)|[[Kalaimamani]] (1979)|{{nowrap|[[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]}} (1982)<ref>{{cite news |title=Many told me that I had gotten the award too late, but I believe I'm just getting started: Bala Kondala Rao |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/many-told-me-that-i-had-gotten-the-award-too-late-but-i-believe-im-just-getting-started-bala-kondala-rao/articleshow/62836065.cms |access-date=1 August 2018 |work=The Times of India}}</ref>}}
| years_active       = 1949–1970
| homepage           = 
| mother             = [[Vasundhara Devi]]
| spouse             = {{marriage|Chamanlal Bali|1968|1986|reason=died}}
| children           = [[Suchindra Bali]]<ref>{{cite news |title=An ageless icon |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/641014/an-ageless-icon.html |access-date=1 August 2018 |work=Deccan Herald |date=4 November 2017 |language=en}}</ref>
| relatives          = 
| signature          = M 215124a.jpg
| signature_alt      = "Vyjayanthimala Bali"
| module             = {{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| office = [[Member of Parliament]] [[Lok Sabha]]
| termstart = 1984
| termend = 1991
| constituency = [[Chennai South (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chennai South]]
| predecessor = [[Ramaswamy Venkataraman]]
| successor = R. Sridharan
| office1 = [[Member of Parliament]], [[Rajya Sabha]]
| termstart1 = 27 August 1993
| termend1 = 26 August 1999
| party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (1999–''present'')
| otherparty = [[Indian National Congress]] (1984–1999)
}}
}}

'''Vyjayanthimala Bali''' ({{née}} '''Raman'''; born 13 August 1933<ref>{{cite web |title=The President of India confers Padma Vibhushan to Dr. Vyjayantimala Bali in field of Art from Tamil Nadu during Civil Investiture Ceremony|url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2020144 |website=pib.gov.in |publisher=Press Information Bureau|access-date=30 June 2025}}</ref>), known mononymously as '''Vyjayanthimala''', is an Indian [[Member of parliament|parliamentarian]], dancer and former actress. Regarded as one of [[Hindi cinema]]'s greatest actresses and dancers, she is the recipient of [[List of awards and nominations received by Vyjayanthimala|several accolades]], including four [[Filmfare Awards]] and two [[BFJA awards|BFJA Awards]]. Considered the first female superstar of [[Cinema of India|Indian Cinema]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=#ETimesTrendsetters: Vyjayanthimala, the 'first female superstar' of Indian cinema whose grace paved new era in fashion and beauty {{!}} Photogallery - ETimes |url=https://photogallery.indiatimes.com/etimestrendsetters-vyjayanthimala-the-first-female-superstar-of-indian-cinema-whose-grace-paved-new-era-in-fashion-and-beauty/articleshow/93477706.cms |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=photogallery.indiatimes.com}}</ref> she made her screen debut at the age of 16 with the [[Tamil cinema|Tamil film]] ''[[Vaazhkai (1949 film)|Vaazhkai]]'' (1949), and followed this with a role in the [[Telugu film]] ''[[Jeevitham (1950 film)|Jeevitham]]'' (1950). Her first work in [[Bollywood|Hindi cinema]] was the [[social guidance film]] ''[[Bahar (film)|Bahar]]'' (1951), which she headlined, and achieved her breakthrough with the [[Romance film|romance]] ''[[Nagin (1954 film)|Nagin]]'' (1954).

She garnered widespread critical acclaim for her role in the [[Historical drama|period drama]] ''[[Devdas (1955 film)|Devdas]]'' (1955), where she played [[Chandramukhi (character)|Chandramukhi]], a [[Hooker with a heart of gold|''tawaif'' with a heart of gold]]. The film and her acting was highly praised, later considered to be her [[magnum opus]]. For ''Devdas'', she won the [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress]] which she refused, stating that she played a leading role equal to that of [[Suchitra Sen]], her co-star, and so she could not accept the award for a supporting role. She went on to star in series of commercial successes, which include the romance ''[[New Delhi (1956 film)|New Delhi]]'' (1956), the [[Social film|social drama]] ''[[Naya Daur (1957 film)|Naya Daur]]'' (1957) and the [[comedy film|comedy]] ''[[Aasha (1957 film)|Aasha]]'' (1957). Her roles in the social drama ''[[Sadhna (film)|Sadhna]]'' (1958) and the [[paranormal romance]] ''[[Madhumati]]'' (1958), each earned her a nomination for the [[Filmfare Award for Best Actress|Filmfare Awards for Best Actress]], winning for the former which makes her the first ever actor to receive dual nominations in an acting category in the [[6th Filmfare Awards|same year]]. The nominations also makes her the first-ever multi-nominee across all categories. This win makes her the first performer in Filmfare history to win in both leading and supporting categories.

In the 1960s, the [[Crime film|crime drama]] ''[[Gunga Jumna]]'' (1961) saw Vyjayanthimala playing a rustic village belle, Dhanno, a role which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She won the award again for the musical romantic drama ''[[Sangam (1964 Hindi film)|Sangam]]'' (1964). She went on reinvent her image, earning a mixed reception after notably appearing in a [[one-piece swimsuit]] in a film role. She later achieved acclaim for her performance in the [[historical drama]] ''[[Amrapali (film)|Amrapali]]'' (1966) which was based on the life of [[Nagarvadhu]], royal [[courtesan]] of [[Vaishali (ancient city)|Vaishali]], [[Amrapali]]. Her notable successes following were the [[swashbuckler film]] ''[[Suraj (1966 film)|Suraj]]'' (1966), the [[heist film]] ''[[Jewel Thief (1967 film)|Jewel Thief]]'' (1967), the [[Bengali language|Bengali]] [[art film]] ''[[Hatey Bazarey]]'' (1967), the [[Action film|action]] [[drama film]] ''[[Sunghursh]]'' (1968) and the [[epic film]] ''[[Prince (1969 film)|Prince]]'' (1969).

In 1968, she was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] by the [[Government of India]], the fourth-highest civilian honor. After a starring role in the film ''[[Ganwaar]]'' (1970), Vyjayanthimala retired from the acting industry. She has since gained popularity for her dancing, particularly for her work in [[Bharata Natyam]], a form of [[Indian classical dance]], and was later given the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]], the highest Indian recognition given to practising artists. In 2024, she was awarded the [[Padma Vibhushan]], the second-highest civilian honor granted by the Government of India.

== Background and personal life ==
[[File:vyjayanthi child2.jpg|thumb|197x197px|left|Vyjayanthimala at the age of five in 1938]]She was born in Chennai : [[Triplicane]] near [[Parthasarathy Temple]] in a [[Tamils|Tamil]] [[Iyengar]] [[Brahmin]] family to Mandyam Dhati Raman and [[Vasundhara Devi]].<ref name="mangama">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/cp/2007/11/23/stories/2007112350421600.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201090231/http://www.hindu.com/cp/2007/11/23/stories/2007112350421600.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 December 2007 |title=Blast from the past: Mangamma Sapatham |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=23 November 2007 |author=Randor Guy |access-date=26 February 2011 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> She was raised primarily by her grandmother, Yadugiri Devi. Her mother tongue is [[Tamil language|Tamil]]. Her mother was a leading actress in [[Tamil Cinema]] in the 1940s where her ''[[Mangamma Sapatham (1943 film)|Mangama Sabatham]]'' was the first Tamil film to be declared a "colossal" hit at the box office.<ref name="mangama" />

At the age of 7, Vyjayanthimala was chosen to perform a classical Indian dance for [[Pope Pius XII]] while her mother was an audience in 1940 at [[Vatican City]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/article586613.ece |title=Sruti Foundation awards presented |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=22 August 2010 |access-date=20 April 2011 |location=Chennai, Tamil Nadu}}</ref> Vyjayanthimala attended Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Presentation Convent, Church Park, Chennai.<ref name="child">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2001/04/19/stories/13190782.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719113253/http://www.hindu.com/2001/04/19/stories/13190782.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 July 2009 |title=Bali uncensored |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=19 April 2001 |author=Sudha Umashanker |access-date=6 March 2011 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> She learned [[Bharatnatyam]] from [[Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai]] and [[Carnatic music]] from  [[D. K. Pattammal]], [[K. V. Narayanaswamy]], [[M. S. Subbulakshmi]], [[K. P. Kittappa Pillai]] and [[Thanjavur K. P. Sivanandam]], and Manakkal Sivaraja Iyer.<ref>{{cite web |last=Charukesi |first= |date=24 March 2016 |title=Vyjayanthimala’s ode to her gurus |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/vyjayanthimalas-ode-to-her-gurus/article8393278.ece |website=The Hindu |location=Chennai, India |publisher=The Hindu Group |access-date=19 April 2025}}</ref> She had her [[arangetram (dance)|arangetram]] at the age of 13 and started performing in all over [[Tamil Nadu]] later.<ref name="child" /> Her maternal uncle is [[Y. G. Parthasarathy]]. In 1938, her grandfather, Mandyam Dhati Gopalacharya, started a nursing home on Narayan Shastri Road, Mysore.

=== Relationships ===
In her heyday, Vyjayanthimala was the subject of many controversies, particularly for her misconstrued relationships with her co-stars. In the early 1960s, actor [[Raj Kapoor]] had commenced the filming of ''[[Sangam (1964 Hindi film)|Sangam]]'' with Vyjayanthimala playing the female lead along with [[Rajendra Kumar]] and Kapoor himself as the male lead. The filming took four years to finish. During this time Vyjayanthimala is said to have been romantically involved with Kapoor and almost married him. Initially, she was vexed with him and kept him at a distance. However, Kapoor did not give up over her attitude. However, Vyjayanthimala in her autobiography mentioned that it was a publicity stunt by newspapers in North India to link her with Raj Kapoor and that she was never in any relationship with him.

Vyjayanthimala married the already married Chamanlal Bali, a [[Punjabi Hindu]] [[Arya Samaji]] from Delhi but lived in [[Anna Salai]], [[Chennai]] in 1968. After marriage, she gave up her acting career and moved to Chennai. However, between 1968 and 1970, she shot for those films which she had signed before her marriage, such as ''Pyar Hi Pyar'', ''Prince'' and ''Ganwaar''. They have a son, [[Suchindra Bali]]. In 2007, she published her autobiography, titled ''Bonding'', with Jyoti Sabarwal as a co-writer.

=== Religious views ===
Vyjayanthimala is a devout [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnava]] [[Hindu]] and a vegetarian.<ref name="statesmen" />{{cite news |url=http://cineplot.com/vyjayanthimala/ |access-date=1 October 2011 |publisher=Cineplot.com |title=Vyjayanthimala |date=20 May 2010}}</ref> She grew up listening to [[holy]] [[chant]]s and [[devotional song]]s.<ref name="story">{{cite news |last=Kumar |first=Divya |title=All the city is a stage |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jg0fAQAAMAAJ&q=vyjayanthimala+1936 |access-date=17 June 2011 |newspaper=The Hindu |date=25 February 2009}}</ref> She is an admirer of [[Aandaal]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/age-is-just-a-number/article7354076.ece |title=Age is just a number |last=Vedantam |first=Vatsala |date=25 June 2015 |work=The Hindu |access-date=14 April 2019 |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> one of the 12 [[Alvars|Alvar]] saints of Hinduism.<ref name="statesmen" /> She prays to [[Goddess Saraswati]] before any public performance to gain her blessing.<ref name="statesmen" /> In February 2024, at age 90, she took part in ''Raag Sewa'' performance series at [[Ram Mandir]], Ayodhya, with a Bharatnatyam dance recital, and its video soon became viral on social media.<ref>{{cite news|title=90-year-old actress Vyjayanthimala surprises fans with her her dance performance at Ayodhya's Ram Mandir |url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/108148004.cms?|date= Mar 2, 2024| website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/90-year-old-vyjayanthimala-performs-bharatanatyam-in-ayodhya-watch-9191874/|title=90-year-old Vyjayanthimala performs Bharatanatyam in Ayodhya, fans say 'age is just a number'. Watch |date=March 2, 2024 |website= Indian Express}}</ref>

== Acting career ==
=== 1949-1954: Early success in South Indian films ===
When director [[M. V. Raman]] was looking for a new face to cast in [[AVM Productions]]'s ''[[Vaazhkai (1949 film)|Vazhkai]]'' (1949), he saw Vyjayanthimala performing Bharata Natyam in Chennai's Gokhale Hall.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/01/20/stories/2007012000970200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629044546/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/01/20/stories/2007012000970200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 June 2011 |title=A golden innings |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=20 January 2007 |author=Anjana Rajan |access-date=6 March 2011 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> He tried to convince her grandmother, who was apprehensive about Vyjayanthimala joining films as she felt her grand daughter was too young to act in the films and also it would come in the way of her education and dance.<ref name="child" /> Vyjayanthimala barely at 13 played a college girl named Mohana Shivashankaralingam and acted along with senior actors [[S. V. Sahasranamam]], M. S. Draupadi, [[T. R. Ramachandran]] and K. Sankarapani. The movie was a big success and was remade in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] after one year as ''[[Jeevitham]]'' (1950) with a slightly different cast, namely [[C. H. Narayana Rao]], [[S. Varalakshmi]] and [[C. S. R. Anjaneyulu]]. This film enjoyed great success upon release.<ref name="child" /> For the [[Telugu language|Telugu]] version, Vyjayanthimala did her own voice dubbing with a little assistance from her father who knew [[Telugu language|Telugu]] well and coached her during the filming process.<ref name="child" /> Vyjayanthimala also did a guest appearance in the 1950 film ''Vijayakumari'' which had actress [[T. R. Rajakumari]] in a [[dual role]].<ref name="guest" /> She danced for the song "laalu...laalu...laalu" which was choreographed by [[Vedantam Raghavayya]].<ref name="guest">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article43760.ece |title=Blast from the past: Vijayakumari (1950) |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=5 November 2009 |author=Randor Guy |access-date=10 March 2011 |location=Chennai, India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024040445/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article43760.ece |archive-date=24 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Though the film was not a commercial success, her western-style of dance became popular and was considered one of the major highlights of the film.<ref name="guest" /> The success of her Tamil film ''[[Vaazhkai (1949 film)|Vazhkai]]'' in South India inspired [[AVM Productions]] to remake it in Hindi as ''[[Bahar (film)|Bahar]]'' in 1951. In their first Hindi venture, they decided to cast Vyjayanthimala again in the lead role with Karan Dewan, [[Om Prakash]] and [[Pandari Bai]] (who was credited as Padmini in the film).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2003/02/14/stories/2003021401030300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030604193712/http://hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2003/02/14/stories/2003021401030300.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=4 June 2003 |title=Actress who glowed with inner beauty |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=14 February 2003 |author=Randor Guy |access-date=6 March 2011}}</ref> She learned [[Hindi language|Hindi]] at the Hindi Prachar Sabha to dub her own voice for her character in the film.<ref name="child" /> Upperstall.com in their review, wrote that "She does bring the film to life with her dances though, something which was new then for the North Indian audience".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.upperstall.com/films/1951/bahar |title=Bahar |publisher=Upperstall.com |access-date=6 March 2011}}</ref> The film became sixth highest-grossing film of 1951 with a verdict of box office hit.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=156&catName=MTk1MQ== |title=Box Office 1951 |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=6 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121001128/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=156&catName=MTk1MQ== |archive-date=21 January 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After the success of her debut films in all three languages, Vyjayanthimala again acted in a [[multilingual]] film which was produced by [[Avichi Meiyappa Chettiar]] of [[AVM Productions]].<ref name="child" /> The first version was in Tamil as ''[[Penn (film)|Penn]]'' (1954) where she co-starred with actor [[Gemini Ganesan]], [[S. Balachander]] and [[Anjali Devi]]. "Kalyanam...venum" sung by [[J. P. Chandrababu]] for Balachander became an instant hit.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/10/02/stories/2009100250670400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091106120522/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/10/02/stories/2009100250670400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 November 2009 |title=A voice that mesmerised |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=5 October 2011 |author=Randor Guy |access-date=6 March 2011 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> The second version was in Telugu titled ''[[Sangham (1954 film)|Sangham]]'' (1954) which was released in the same year with [[N. T. Rama Rao]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2004/05/14/stories/2004051401350100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040701202509/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2004/05/14/stories/2004051401350100.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=1 July 2004 |title=Finger on people's pulse |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=26 February 2006 |author=S. R. Ashok Kumar ki |access-date=6 March 2011}}</ref> Vyjayanthimala, S. Balachandran and Anjali Devi in the lead. The Tamil and the Telugu films were big successes across South India.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/26/stories/2006022606720200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214085503/http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/26/stories/2006022606720200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 February 2008 |title=Commemorative postage stamp on Gemini Ganesan |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=26 February 2006 |access-date=6 March 2011 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> The film was once again remade in Hindi as ''[[Ladki]]'' (1953) starring [[Kishore Kumar]] and [[Bharat Bhushan Bhalla|Bharat Bhushan]], while Vyjayanthimala, along with Anjali Devi, reprised her role from the original film. Her performance was described by ''Upperstall.com'' as, "Vyjayanthimala's dances are the film's saving grace although it is unintentionally funny now to see how deliberate and obviously tacky the sequences are which lead into her dances... Ladki too makes no real demands on "feminist" tomboy Vyjayanthimala histrionically".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.upperstall.com/films/1953/ladki |title=Ladki |publisher=Upperstall.com |access-date=6 March 2011}}</ref> The film emerged as the second highest-grossing film of 1953.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=159&catName=MTk1Mw==== |title=Box Office 1953 |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=6 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708090519/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=159&catName=MTk1Mw==== |archive-date=8 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 1954, Vyjayanthimala acted in the romance ''[[Nagin (1954 film)|Nagin]]'' (1954) with [[Pradeep Kumar]]. The film got favourable responses from the audience and became the highest-grossing film of 1954 where it was labelled as a [[blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster]] at the box-office.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=160&catName=MTk1NA== |title=Box Office 1954 |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=10 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030025327/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=160&catName=MTk1NA== |archive-date=30 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Her performance as the [[Nāga|Nagi]] tribe's chief got Mala favourable reviews from critics, as in 1955, a critic from ''[[Filmfare]]'' magazine had said that "Vyjayanthimala in the title role puts over a commendable performance besides looking ravishingly beautiful as the belle of the hills. Her dancing, too, is very graceful, specially in those eye-filling colour sequences and delightful ballets towards the finish", while in ''[[The Hindu]]'' review Vijay Lokapally similarly praised her portrayal: "The ethereal Vyjayanthimala, barely 18, illuminates the screen with her stunning beauty, moving around daintily from one song to the other... The close-up shots of Vyjayanthimala highlight her ability to convey so much with so little effort... Nagin was a precursor to her rise in Hindi cinema as an iconic actor, who combined her talents, performing and dancing, to rule the screen on her terms... biggest recall values of Nagin are Vyjayanthimala".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://cineplot.com/nagin-1954/ |title=Nagin (1954) |publisher=[[Filmfare]] via Cineplot.com |date=20 November 2010 |access-date=6 March 2012}}</ref><ref name="Blast From The Past: Nagin (1954)">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/05/07/stories/2010050750260400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629051646/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/05/07/stories/2010050750260400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 June 2011 |title=Blast From The Past: Nagin (1954) |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=7 May 2010 |author=Vijay Lokapally |access-date=10 March 2011 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Post ''Nagin'', Vyjayanthimala had established herself as one of the leading actresses in Hindi films because of the film's nationwide success.<ref name="Blast From The Past: Nagin (1954)" /><ref name="Top actress">{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=top_actress |title=Top Actress |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=10 March 2011}}</ref> [[Hemant Kumar]]'s music and her dance on the song, "Man Dole, Mera tan dole", rendered by [[Lata Mangeshkar]] was one of the highlights of the film.<ref name="Blast From The Past: Nagin (1954)" /> In the same year she acted in ''Miss Mala'' with [[Kishore Kumar]], which was a box office success. Vyjayanthimala debuted in [[Cinema of Karnataka|Kannada cinema]] through a film called ''Asha Nirasha'' which was produced by G. D. Venkatram.<ref name="kannada" /> The film had [[Lata Mangeshkar]], [[Asha Bhosle]] and [[Mohammed Rafi]] as the playback singers,<ref name="kannada" /> but the film was unreleased,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=Entertainment%20-%20South%20Masala&sectid=25&contentid=2010020720100207231114659af8fcc1 |title=South Masala: For the record |publisher=[[Vijay Times|Bangalore Mirror]] |date=7 February 2010 |author=S. Shyam Prasad |access-date=26 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317052953/http://www.bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=Entertainment%20-%20South%20Masala&sectid=25&contentid=2010020720100207231114659af8fcc1 |archive-date=17 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> though the producer's son Srikant Venkatram claimed that the film was released and flopped miserably at box office which made the film obscure.<ref name="kannada">{{cite news |url=http://www.mid-day.com/specials/2010/may/300510-south-indian-filter-coffee-mysore-concerns.htm |title=The Kaapi Diaries |publisher=[[MiD DAY]] |date=30 May 2010 |author=Janaki Vishwanathan |access-date=26 June 2011 |location=Mumbai}}</ref>

=== ''1955-1957: Devdas'' and breakthrough ===
In 1955, Vyjayanthimala acted in five Hindi films. The first one was director [[Abdur Rashid Kardar]]'s ''[[Yasmin (1955 film)|Yasmin]]'' alongside actor Suresh, which won the [[Filmfare Award for Best Cinematography]] for Dwarka Divecha. Besides that, she also starred in three other films, ''Pehli Jhalak'' with [[Kishore Kumar]], ''Sitara'' with [[Pradeep Kumar]] and ''Jashan'' with Karan Dewan. Eventually all her four films released in 1955 failed at the box office. The same year, [[Bimal Roy]] cast her as [[Chandramukhi (character)|Chandramukhi]] opposite [[Dilip Kumar]] in the critically acclaimed ''[[Devdas (1955 film)|Devdas]]'', which was the adaptation of the novel with same [[Devdas|title]] by [[Sharat Chandra Chatterji]]. The industry initially was not in favour of this choice when they heard about Vyjayanthimala being cast in Bimal Roy's film, the response being: "Why don't you take comedian [[Kishore Kumar]] as Devdas?".<ref name="Rediff">{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/may/06dinesh.htm |title=Bollywood's Dancing Queen |author=Dinesh Raheja |date=6 May 2002 |work=[[Rediff]] |access-date=2 January 2011}}</ref> Initially [[Nargis]] was selected for Chandramukhi's role, but she refused to accept the role. The role was later offered to [[Bina Rai]] and [[Suraiya]] but they too turned it down as they wanted to essay the lead role of Paro, which was earlier offered to [[Meena Kumari]].<ref name="devdas2">{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/jul/05ghosh.htm |title=I did not approve of Vyjayanthimala as Chandramukhi |date=5 July 2002 |author=Lata Khubchandani |access-date=11 May 2011 |work=[[Rediff]]}}</ref> Subsequently, the film unit suffered with [[financial crisis]] and at this point Vyjayanthimala offered to do the role of Chandramukhi, where she said to [[Bimal Roy]], "I am ready if you think I can do it".<ref name="devdas2" /> On the other hand, [[Nabendu Ghosh]], the script writer of ''[[Devdas (1955 film)|Devdas]]'', said that, "I did not approve of Vyjayanthimala [as Chandramukhi], but we had no option – no one wanted to play Chandramukhi, and we were committed to our distributors... She was, of course, a very good actress, but she was too young for Chandramukhi, as envisioned by Saratbabu".<ref name="devdas2" /> On her performance, [[Rediff]] wrote: "Vyjayanthimala imbues Chandramukhi with true sympathy. Who better than Chandramukhi would know the pain of a hopeless love?... Vyjayanthimala, a star after the blockbuster Nagin, still had to establish her acting credentials when Roy went against the tide and cast her in the role of Chandramukhi".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/feb/07class.htm |title=An eternal love story: Devdas |date=7 February 2002 |author=Dinesh Raheja |access-date=12 May 2011 |work=[[Rediff]]}}<nowiki>  |publisher=Upperstall.com |access-date=20 March 2011}}</nowiki></ref> Subsequently, she won the [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress]] but refused to accept it, stating that her role was a leading one and in equal importance to the role played by [[Suchitra Sen]] and not [[supporting character|supporting]].<ref name="Devdas">{{cite news |url=http://www.upperstall.com/films/1955/devdas |title=Devdas |publisher=Upperstall.com |access-date=20 March 2011}}</ref> In 2006, a poll conducted by [[Rediff]] ranked her role of Chandramukhi as one of the best ''[[tawaif]]'' characters in [[Bollywood|Hindi films]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2006/oct/30slid3.htm |title=Bollywood's top tawaifs |date=30 October 2006 |author=Dinesh Raheja |access-date=30 September 2011 |work=[[Rediff]]}}</ref> Subsequently, the same role was listed in [[The Times of India]]'s "10 Celluloid Hookers You Loved" at number six by [[Nikhat Kazmi]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-01-16/news-interviews/28116906_1_prostitutes-heart-myths/3 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709081800/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-01-16/news-interviews/28116906_1_prostitutes-heart-myths/3 |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 July 2012 |title=Tart with a heart |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=16 January 2006 |author=Nikhat Kazmi |access-date=20 March 2011 |author-link=Nikhat Kazmi}}</ref> Though the film was critically successful, it did not garner much support at the box-office and ended up as the tenth highest-grossing film of the year with an average verdict.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=161&catName=MTk1NQ== |title=Box Office 1955 |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=20 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030022739/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=161&catName=MTk1NQ== |archive-date=30 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After being recognised as a capable actress with ''Devdas'', Vyjayanthimala acted in successful movies in 1956, namely ''Taj'', ''[[Patrani]]'' and ''Anjaan: Somewhere in Delhi'' – all three films with [[Pradeep Kumar]] as the hero and ''Kismet Ka Khel'' with [[Sunil Dutt]]. In the same year, she also acted in [[swashbuckler]] film ''[[Devta (1956 film)|Devta]]'', which was a remake of the hugely successful Tamil film ''Kanavaney Kankanda Deivam''.<ref name="devta">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article73473.ece |title=Blast from the past: Kanavaney Kankanda Deivam |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=21 December 2009 |author=Randor Guy |access-date=27 March 2011 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Surprisingly though, she accepted a supporting role as a [[Femme fatale#20th century film and theatre|vamp]] which was originally done by [[Lalitha (actress)|Lalitha]] in the Tamil version. However, according to Upperstall.com, her role was very crucial in the film and her portrayal as the Naag Rani accompanied by her dance is the main attraction of the film.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.upperstall.com/films/1956/devta |title=Devta |publisher=Upperstall.com |date=21 December 2009 |author=Karan Bali |access-date=18 October 2011}}</ref> Also starring in the movie, reprising their lead roles from the original, were [[Gemini Ganesan]] and [[Anjali Devi]].<ref name="devta" /> Meanwhile, she was signed by [[Sohrab Modi]] for his film ''Rajhath'' opposite [[Pradeep Kumar]]. However, due to her scheduling problems she was replaced by [[Madhubala]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://cineplot.com/jabeen-jalil-interview/ |title=Jabeen Jalil – Interview |publisher=Cineplot.com |date=8 July 2012 |author=Sherry Nagpal |access-date=10 July 2012}}</ref>
Vyjayanthimala then acted with [[Kishore Kumar]] again in the [[romantic comedy]] ''[[New Delhi (1956 film)|New Delhi]]'', which became the fifth highest-grossing film of 1956.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=162&catName=MTk1Ng== |title=Box Office 1956 |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=20 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121001052/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=162&catName=MTk1Ng== |archive-date=21 January 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The film showcases a love that sprouts between a [[Punjabi people|Punjabi]] boy, played Kishore Kumar, and a [[Tamil people|Tamil]] girl, played by Vyjayanthimala. Her performance was applauded by fans and critics alike; a review on ''Upperstall.com'' regarding her performance in the film states that: "Vyjayanthimala proves to be the perfect foil for Kishore Kumar...has always had the mandatory dance sequence in practically every film of hers evoking "classical art" associations. She excels in the two main dances in New Delhi&nbsp;– the solo Bharatnatayam Aliruppu number and the Bhangra folk dance in her Punjabi avatar and she is absolutely brilliant in the Bhangra folk dance...in her second avatar. Even Vyjayanthimala played a Punjabi girl and most successfully too".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.upperstall.com/films/1956/new-delhi |title=New Delhi |publisher=Upperstall.com |author=The Third Man |access-date=5 May 2011}}</ref> Subsequently, she did a Tamil film called ''[[Marma Veeran]]'', along with Sriram, [[Rajasulochana]], [[M. N. Rajam]], [[J. P. Chandrababu]] and [[V. Nagayya]]. The film had some of the [[South India]]n established actors such as [[N. T. Rama Rao]], [[Sivaji Ganesan]] and [[Gemini Ganesan]] in a [[guest appearance]].
In 1957, director [[Baldev Raj Chopra|B. R. Chopra]] planned to make ''[[Naya Daur (1957 film)|Naya Daur]]'', with [[Ashok Kumar]] in the lead. However, the actor refused to accept this role and it later went to [[Dilip Kumar]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.upperstall.com/films/1957/naya-daur |title=Naya Daur |publisher=Upperstall.com |access-date=8 May 2011}}</ref> For the female lead, the first choice of the director was the biggest star-actress of those days, [[Madhubala]]. But, as fate would have it, after 15 days of initial shooting at [[Mumbai]], the director wanted the unit to travel to [[Bhopal]] for an extended outdoor shooting. However, Ataullah Khan, the father of [[Madhubala]], objected to this and the role went to Vyjayanthimala. Chopra later sued Madhubala for the cash advance she received from him for the film, saying that she accepted the sum and now had no intention of completing it.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_revisiting-naya-daur-s-purana-memories_1306770 |title=Revisiting Naya Daur's purana memories |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |date=3 November 2009 |author=Prithwish Ganguly |access-date=8 May 2011}}</ref> Vyjyanthimala had previously acted with Dilip Kumar in [[Devdas (1955 film)|Devdas]] and the duo shared an easy chemistry on-screen. The new film, ''Naya Daur'', had a theme of "Man vs. machine", and Vyjanthi's portrayal of village belle Rajni received positive reviews from critics. A review from [[Rediff]] says that: "Vyjayanthimala too is not your average petulant "gaon ki gori". She ably projects a hands-on worker who comes up with ideas on how to ford a stream and risks her life to save the bridge... wonderful scene between two stars whose chemistry is undeniable"<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/aug/31dinesh.htm |title=Naya Daur: A utopian ideal |publisher=[[Rediff]] |date=31 August 2002 |author=Dinesh Raheja |access-date=8 May 2011}}</ref> while reviewer [[Taran Adarsh]] from [[Bollywood Hungama]] mentions that: "Commendable performances come in from Vyjayantimala [natural]...The relationships [Dilip Kumar-Vyjayantimala] are so human and believable".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/review/1875/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202151256/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/review/1875/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 December 2008 |title=Naya Daur (1957) |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |date=3 August 2007 |author=Dinesh Raheja |access-date=8 May 2011}}</ref> At the end of its theatrical run, the film had collected around {{INR}} {{formatnum:54000000}}, thus becoming the second highest-grossing film of 1957,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=163&catName=MTk1Nw== |title=Box Office 1957 |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=2 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918075442/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=163&catName=MTk1Nw== |archive-date=18 September 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> second only to the critically acclaimed ''[[Mother India]]'', which became the [[List of highest-grossing Hindi films|highest-grossing Hindi language film]] ever at the time.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bose |first=Derek |title=Everybody wants a hit: 10 mantras of success in Bollywood cinema |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wv_mmculJ8kC&pg=PA1 |access-date=23 February 2011 |year=2006 |publisher=Jaico Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7992-558-4 |page=1}}</ref> Following that, Vyjayanthimala almost signed for the lead role in [[Filmistan]]'s ''[[Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957 film)|Tumsa Nahin Dekha]]'' opposite [[Dev Anand]] in 1957, but due to the producer [[Sashadhar Mukherjee]]'s promise to actor [[Shammi Kapoor]], he replaced Dev Anand with [[Shammi Kapoor]].<ref name="ameeta">{{cite news |url=http://www.screenindia.com/news/thetalentmine/531900/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201233754/http://www.screenindia.com/news/thetalentmine/531900/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 February 2013 |title=The Talent Mine |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=23 October 2009 |author=Deepa Karmalkar |access-date=3 November 2011}}</ref> However, the director [[Nasir Hussain]] was in a quandary as he had already read the script to Dev Anand and Vyjayanthimala, but Mukerji prevailed and he also replaced Vyjayanthimala with [[Ameeta]], who was the protégée of [[Filmistan]] Studios owner Tolaram Jalan.<ref name="ameeta" /> Vyjayanthimala's next release was ''[[Kathputli (1957 film)|Kathputli]]'', in which she co-starred with actor [[Balraj Sahni]] for the first time.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/sep/20dinesh.htm |title=The immense talent of Balraj Shani |publisher=[[Rediff]] |date=20 September 2002 |author=Dinesh Raheja |access-date=8 May 2011}}</ref> This film was about a young girl named Pushpa who, on account of being a good dancer and singer, assists puppeteer Shivraj in his puppet show. This film was director [[Amiya Chakravarty (director)|Amiya Chakravarty]]'s last film.<ref name="kath">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/article2521576.ece |title=My first break Vyjayanthimala |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |author=Ranjan Das Gupta |date=9 August 2011 |access-date=19 November 2011}}</ref> He died during the filming of ''[[Kathputli (1957 film)|Kathputli]]'' and the remaining project was completed by director [[Nitin Bose]].<ref name="kath" /> ''[[Kathputli (1957 film)|Kathputli]]'' remains one of the memorable films of Vyjayanthimala which has an offbeat theme with a [[Pygmalion effect|Pygmalion touch]].<ref name="kath" /> Vyjayanthimala then acted in ''Ek Jhalak'' with [[Rajendra Kumar]] and [[Pradeep Kumar]], which was produced by the latter with his home production company ''Deep & Pradeep Productions''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2003/jun/02dinesh.htm |title=Ever the royal: Pradeep Kumar |publisher=[[Rediff]] |date=2 June 2003 |author=Dinesh Raheja |access-date=30 June 2011}}</ref> She returned to the screen again with [[Kishore Kumar]] in the 1957 partially colour-made film ''[[Aasha (1957 film)|Aasha]]''<ref name="asha">{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19980227/05850754.html |title=1957: Year that was |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=27 February 1998 |access-date=10 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926214344/http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19980227/05850754.html |archive-date=26 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which became a hit at the box office.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=163&catName=MTk1Nw== |title=Box Office 1957 |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=10 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918075442/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=163&catName=MTk1Nw== |archive-date=18 September 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The story revolves around the central character Kishore, played by Kishore Kumar, who, despite being a Zamindar, believes in helping the needy. Vyjayanthimala, as Nirmala, plays the lover of Kishore. The story suddenly goes from being light-hearted and humorous to a court-drama when Kishore is falsely accused of murder. The rest of the movie sees both the protagonists trying to prove Kishore's innocence. The movie is best known for its song "Eena Meena Dekha" sung by [[Kishore Kumar]] and [[Asha Bhosle]], in two different versions.<ref name="asha" /> ''Aasha'' also introduced actress [[Asha Parekh]] to the silver screen, in a song alongside Vyjayanthimala, whom Parekh described as her [[matinee idol]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/jun/10dinesh.htm |title=Asha Parekh: Bollywood glamorous good girl |publisher=[[Rediff]] |date=10 June 2002 |author=Dinesh Raheja |access-date=10 June 2011}}</ref>

=== ''1958-1959: Madhumati'', ''Sadhna'' and continued acclaim ===
The following year proved to be very successful for Vyjayanthimala, since she signed opposite [[Dilip Kumar]] in [[Bimal Roy]]'s ''[[Madhumati]]'' in the title role. Originally supposed to essay four roles, the director finally scaled it down to three, Madhumati, Madhavi and Radha.<ref name="the year">{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19980424/11450554.html |title=1958: Year that was |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=24 April 1998 |author=Subhash Chheda |access-date=15 January 2012}}</ref> The film was launched in front of the [[Karlovy Vary International Film Festival]] Theatre in [[Czechoslovakia]].<ref>{{cite news |title=From pages of the past |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/09/19/stories/2003091901100100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040321105728/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/09/19/stories/2003091901100100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 March 2004 |author=Gowri Ramnarayan |date=19 September 2003 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=4 January 2012}}</ref> During the filming in the hills of [[Nainital]], Vyjayanthimala was required to dance barefoot where she tripped on a stone and fell, hurting herself badly and causing damage to her [[Elastic fiber|fibre tissues]] in the [[Sole (foot)|sole]] of her foot.<ref name="madhu">{{cite news |title='I never imagined I'd look so lovely' |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/DressCircle/I-never-imagined-I-d-look-so-lovely/Article1-303605.aspx |author=Roshmila Bhattacharya |date=10 April 2008 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=16 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717021125/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/DressCircle/I-never-imagined-I-d-look-so-lovely/Article1-303605.aspx |archive-date=17 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Roy, who was terrified and in a quandary over the incident as the shooting could not be stopped insisted on her wearing [[sandal]]s which made it difficult for her during running sequences.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-class-apart/854396/0 |title=A Class Apart |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=2 October 2011 |author=Harneet Singh |access-date=15 January 2012}}</ref> Even after the completion of Madhumati, she still encountered the pain from the injury which always reminded her of Madhumati's shooting experience.<ref name="madhu" /> Written by [[Ritwik Ghatak]], the film is about Devendra, played by Dilip Kumar, who takes shelter during a storm in an abandoned house. Here he discovers a painting of the owner of the house Raja Ugranarayan, painted by him in his previous life when he was Anand, also played by Dilip Kumar, and worked as a foreman on a plantation of Raja Ugranarayan. Devendra had been in love with Madhumati, played by Vyjayanthimala. She had committed suicide while trying to save herself from Ugranarayan's advances. Madhumati's ghost finally takes revenge on Ugranarayan.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080511/spectrum/main5.htm |title=The ghost story |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |date=11 May 2008 |author=M. L. Dhawan |access-date=15 January 2012}}</ref> The film was well received by critics and audience, and it became highest grossing Hindi language film of 1958<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=164&catName=MTk1OA== |title=Box Office 1958 |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=16 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030041245/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=164&catName=MTk1OA== |archive-date=30 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was labelled as a blockbuster at the box office and ended up as the fifth highest-grossing film of the decade with its net adjusted to inflation to about {{INR}} 586.4&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=122&catName=MTk1MC0xOTU5 |title=Top Earners 1950–1959 (Figures in Ind Rs) |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=16 January 2012}}</ref> Her performance as Madhavi, Radha and the ghost Madhumati earned her accolades from critics. Shahid Khan from Planetbollywood.com said: "Vyjayantimala has never been one of my most favourite actresses but this is one of the few performances where I am completely bowled over by her. Her expressions while playing both the main characters are perfect. With Madhumati, she brings the wonder, surprise and innocence needed in the person. With Madhavi, she brings the poise, the curiosity and pity for the grief that Anand is going through",<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=041406060400 |title=Madhumati Review |publisher=Planetbollywood.com |author=Shahid Khan |access-date=16 January 2012}}</ref> and Karan Bali from Upperstall.com wrote that: "For Vyjayanthimala, the film showcases both her acting as well as dancing abilities and the dizzying success of ''Madhumati'' took Vyjayanthimala to the highest rungs of stardom...to cap off an extremely successful year for her. Both, as an actress of considerable dramatic merit and as a star".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.upperstall.com/films/1958/madhumati |title=Madhumati review |publisher=Upperstall.com |author=Karan Bali |access-date=16 January 2012}}</ref> ''Madhumati'' came to be known as the first film which dealt with the theme of [[reincarnation]] and had a [[Gothic fiction|gothic]] [[film noir|noir]] feel to it.<ref name=Mishra>{{citation |last=Mishra |first=Vijay |title=Bollywood cinema: temples of desire |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2002 |isbn=0-415-93014-6 |pages=49–57}}</ref> The film later inspired films such as ''[[Milan (1967 film)|Milan]]'' (1967), ''[[The Reincarnation of Peter Proud]]'' (1975), ''[[Mehbooba (1976 film)|Mehbooba]]'' (1976), ''[[Kudrat]]'' (1980), ''[[Karz (film)|Karz]]'' (1980), ''[[Karan Arjun]]'' (1995) and particularly ''[[Om Shanti Om]]'' (2007) which had also lifted the film's climax which led to [[Rinki Bhattacharya]], the late Roy's daughter accusing the film of plagiarism and threatening legal action against its producers.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/mar/21dinesh.htm |title=The mysticism of Madhumati |publisher=[[Rediff]] |date=21 May 2002 |author=Dinesh Raheja |access-date=16 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://mumbaimirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=Entertainment%20-%20Bollywood&sectid=30&contentid=20080807200808070235582987cdd87f |title=Ashanti nags Om Shanti Om |publisher=[[Mumbai Mirror]] |date=7 August 2008 |author=Hetal Vyas |access-date=16 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822182536/http://mumbaimirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=Entertainment%20-%20Bollywood&sectid=30&contentid=20080807200808070235582987cdd87f |archive-date=22 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The same month she had another release, [[Baldev Raj Chopra|B. R. Chopra]]'s ''Sadhna'' alongside [[Sunil Dutt]]. Vyjayanthimala was the second choice for the role of Champabai, the prostitute, after actress [[Nimmi]] who hesitated to play the role of a prostitute, which arguably led to her career decline.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/feb/13dinesh.htm |title=Petite powerhouse Nimmi |publisher=[[Rediff]] |date=13 February 2003 |author=Dinesh Raheja |access-date=20 January 2012}}</ref> The [[Filmfare Award for Best Story|Filmfare award-winning]] story by [[Mukhram Sharma]] revolves around Rajini, enacted by Vyjayanthimala, a prostitute's love affair with a professor, played by [[Sunil Dutt]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_b-r-chopra-master-of-socially-relevant-filmmaking_1203701 |title=B.R. Chopra&nbsp;– master of socially relevant filmmaking |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |date=5 November 2008 |agency=[[Indo-Asian News Service]] |access-date=20 January 2012}}</ref> Chopra, who previously directed Vyjayanthimala in ''[[Naya Daur (1957 film)|Naya Daur]]'', had adapted the theme on the rehabilitation of prostitutes which was then a controversial topic in India.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200811060323.htm |title=B.R.Chopra made socially relevant films |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=6 November 2008 |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |access-date=20 January 2011}}</ref> Along with the film, her performance received universal acclaim, as told by Vijay Lokapally from [[The Hindu]]: "Among the great movies made on the subject of helpless women versus society, Sadhna holds its own for its realistic portrayal and treatment of a subject, so aesthetically documented by Chopra and Vyjayanthimala" and praised the latter "gorgeous when she entertains the clients at her kotha...stunningly restrained when she assumes the character of a prospective wife".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/12/13/stories/2008121351140600.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223040903/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/12/13/stories/2008121351140600.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 February 2014 |title=Blast From The Past: Sadhna 1958 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=13 December 2008 |author=Vijay Lokapally |access-date=16 January 2012}}</ref> Similarly, [[Rediff]]'s critic [[Dinesh Raheja]] has commented that: "But finally, the show belongs to Vyjayanthimala. Fetchingly frivolous in the first half, she is suitably serious in the second. She makes her need for acceptance palpable; her eyes emit twin lasers of anger and condemnation at those that exploit women".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://inhome.rediff.com/movies/2002/jun/29dinesh.htm |title=Sadhana: a reformist tale |publisher=[[Rediff]] |date=29 June 2002 |author=Dinesh Raheja |access-date=20 January 2012}}</ref> ''Sadhna'' also performed well at the box office where it became fifth highest-grossing film of 1958 with trade pundits declaring the film a box office hit.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=164&catName=MTk1OA== |title=Box Office 1958 |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=20 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030041245/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=164&catName=MTk1OA== |archive-date=30 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Subsequently, Vyjayanthimala received two nominations for the [[Filmfare Award for Best Actress]] for ''Madhumati'' and ''Sadhna'', winning her first trophy for the latter, after having refused to accept the [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]] trophy for ''[[Devdas (1955 film)|Devdas]]'' (1955) earlier. Her next release was ''[[Amar Deep (1958 film)|Amar Deep]]'', where she was paired against Dev Anand for the first time.<ref name="Dev Anand was stylish and well-read: Vyjayanthimala">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Dev-Anand-was-stylish-and-well-read-Vyjayanthimala/Article1-778610.aspx |title=Dev Anand was stylish and well-read: Vyjayanthimala |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=6 December 2011 |agency=[[Indo-Asian News Service]] |access-date=20 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717112428/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Dev-Anand-was-stylish-and-well-read-Vyjayanthimala/Article1-778610.aspx |archive-date=17 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A production of [[Sivaji Ganesan]]'s [[Sivaji Productions]], the film was a remake of 1956 Tamil film ''[[Amara Deepam (1956 film)|Amara Deepam]]'', which had Ganesan himself in the lead.<ref name="rediff.com">{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/mar/07sld3.htm |title=Rajini launches Chandramukhi's Music |publisher=[[Rediff]] |date=7 March 2005 |access-date=20 January 2012}}</ref> Along with [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]], who reprised her role from the original,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060926/main4.htm |title=Padmini brought grace and drama to celluloid |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |date=25 September 2006 |author=Arup Chanda |access-date=20 January 2012}}</ref> Vyjayanthimala plays the role of Aruna which was originally performed by actress [[Savitri (actress)|Savitri]] in Tamil.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.upperstall.com/people/savithri |title=Savithri profile |publisher=Upperstall.com |author=Karan Bali |access-date=20 January 2012}}</ref> Her other releases of 1958 ''Sitaroan Ke Aage'' and ''Piya Milan'' became average successes.

In 2011, in conjunction with actor Dev Anand's death, Vyjayanthimala recollected her memories during the filming in [[Madras]], where she remembers the actor calling her "Papa", the Tamil termed that was used by her family and friends, and he would search for her throughout the sets while yelling "where is Papa, where is my heroine".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article2687282.ece |title=Waheeda recalls the warmth of his affable personality |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=4 December 2011 |access-date=20 January 2012}}</ref> According to Subhash Chheda, when ''Amar Deep'' was released, the long-awaited airing of Vyjayanthimala and Dev Anand was compared to the [[Madhubala]] and Dev Anand pair, where the public gave the verdict that: "If Madhubala brooks no equality, Vyjayanthimala admits no superiority".<ref name="the year" /> The film was liked by audience, but it failed to turn the Vyjayanthimala and Dev Anand team into a hit pair.<ref name="the year" /> The same year Vyjayanthimala was booked by [[M. G. Ramachandran]] for his second directorial venture ''Ponniyin Selvan''.<ref name="selvan">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/books/article2550847.ece |title=Age hardly withers charm of Ponniyin Selvan |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |author=A. Srivathsan |date=19 October 2011 |access-date=21 January 2012}}</ref> One of the first screen adaptations of [[Kalki Krishnamurthy]]'s ''[[Ponniyin Selvan]]'', the film had a huge [[ensemble cast]] consisting of [[Savitri (actress)|Savitri]], [[Gemini Ganesan]], [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]], [[B. Saroja Devi|Saroja Devi]], M. N. Rajam and [[Nagesh]] along with Ramachandran and Vyjayanthimala.<ref name="ponni cast">{{cite web |url=http://600024.com/specials/ponniyin-selvan-movie-attempts-is-it-a-curse-or-lack-of-purse/2/ |title=Ponniyin Selvan Movie Attempts&nbsp;– is it a curse or lack of purse : MGR&nbsp;– Gemini Ganeshan&nbsp;– Vyjayanthimala Bali |publisher=600024.com |date=31 May 2011 |access-date=21 January 2012}}</ref> In the film, she was given the role of [[Kundavai]], the elder sister of [[Raja Raja Chola I]], played by Ganesan and the wife of [[Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan]], played by Ramachandran.<ref name="ponni cast" /> However, in mid-1958 the film was shelved for unknown reasons.<ref name="selvan" /> The same year she did another Tamil film [[Gemini Studios|Gemini Pictures]]'s [[Masterpiece|magnum opus]] ''[[Vanjikottai Valiban]]'' along with Gemini Ganesan and Padmini.<ref name="vanji" /> Written by Gemini Story Department which was headed by [[Kothamangalam Subbu]], the [[Black-and-white]] [[epic film]] was produced and directed by [[S. S. Vasan]].<ref name="vanji" /> She played the role of Princess Mandakini, the beautiful princess of Ratna Island Kingdom. As a stubborn princess, she always wanted to achieve her ambition in any deed which led to her ultimate death and formed the climax. The film had a great theatrical run where the film completed 100 days run at cinemas and was labelled as a blockbuster at the box office.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article1145813.ece |title=Memories of Madras&nbsp;– Shades of a bygone era |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=1 February 2011 |author=Subha J Rao |access-date=20 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/15/stories/2007061555630200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070618033758/http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/15/stories/2007061555630200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 June 2007 |title=Mega star, mega film, mega hype |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=15 June 2007 |access-date=20 January 2012}}</ref> The film is still remembered for the dance of Vyjayanthimala and Padmini in the song "[[Kannum Kannum Kalanthu]]" which was choreographed by Hiralal, and was well received by critics and audience alike, wherein the popularity of the song surpassed the popularity garnered by the film.<ref name="vanji">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article1573834.ece |title=Vanjikottai Vaaliban 1958 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=26 March 2011 |author=Randor Guy |access-date=20 January 2012 |author-link=Randor Guy}}</ref> The song is still regarded as one of the best dance sequences in [[Cinema of India|Indian cinema]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Beauty, charm, charisma |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=9 September 2006 |author=Randor Guy |author-link=Randor Guy}}</ref> ''Vanjikottai Valiban'' was followed by its Hindi version titled ''[[Raj Tilak (1958 film)|Raj Tilak]]''. Screenplay of the film was by [[Ramanand Sagar]]. The film was directed by S. S. Vasan with Gemini Ganesan, Padmini, Vyjayanthimala in the lead.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/ramanand-sagar-an-obituary-news-bollywood-kkfvxocahgj.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140130001101/http://www.sify.com/movies/ramanand-sagar-an-obituary-news-bollywood-kkfvxocahgj.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 January 2014 |title=Ramanand Sagar: An Obituary |website=[[Sify]] |date=14 December 2005 |author=Subhash K. Jha |access-date=25 January 2012}}</ref> The film was hit at the box office, still it was unable to achieve the same box office success made by the Tamil version.<ref name="the year" /> By the end of the year, [[The Indian Express]] named Vyjayanthimala as the most successful female star of 1958.<ref name="the year" /> Similarly, Boxofficeindia.com ranked Vyjayanthimala at the top spot in their list of "Top Three Successful Box Office Actresses of 1958".<ref name="Top actress" /> In 1959, Vyjayanthimala reunited with [[Dilip Kumar]] for the fourth time in the bilingual ''[[Paigham]]''. Produced and directed by [[S. S. Vasan]], the film featured the lead actors along with [[Raaj Kumar]], [[B. Saroja Devi]], [[Pandari Bai]] and [[Motilal Rajvansh|Motilal]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kohli |first=Suresh |date=13 November 2009 |title=Paigham (1959) |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Paigham-1959/article16891920.ece |url-status=live |access-date=22 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922111145/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Paigham-1959/article16891920.ece |archive-date=22 September 2022}}</ref> Besides them, Vyjayanthimala's real-life mother [[Vasunthara Devi]] also acted in a small role where she played the role of mother to her own daughter who [[died in vain]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article2591559.ece |title=Dance and Vyjayantimala |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=2 November 2011 |author=K. Pradeep |access-date=26 January 2012}}</ref> Upon release ''Paigham'' became second highest-grossing film of 1959 with the verdict of a box office hit.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=165&catName=MTk1OQ== |title=Box Office 1959 |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=27 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030043401/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=165&catName=MTk1OQ== |archive-date=30 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The same year she did a Tamil film ''[[Athisaya Penn]]'', where she co-starred with Telugu actor [[Akkineni Nageswara Rao]] for the first time. ''Athisaya Penn'' was a remake of ''[[Aasha (1957 film)|Aasha]]'', which again was directed by M. V. Raman. She acted opposite Pradeep Kumar in the romantic film ''Jawani Ki Hawa'' in 1959.

=== 1960-1964: Return to South Indian cinema and fluctuations ===
In 1960, Vyjayanthimala mostly concentrated on Tamil films to keep in touch with the industry.<ref name="child" /> Her first release in 1960 was [[S. S. Vasan]]'s ''[[Irumbu Thirai (1960 film)|Irumbu Thirai]]'', the Tamil version of ''Paigham''.<ref name="nam">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/05/23/stories/2003052301510600.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030908045941/http://hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/05/23/stories/2003052301510600.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 September 2003 |title=With a finger on people's pulse |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=23 May 2003 |author=Randor Guy |access-date=27 January 2012 |author-link=Randor Guy}}</ref> She starred opposite [[Sivaji Ganesan]] for the second time after the latter's cameo appearance in ''[[Marma Veeran]]'' (1956).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2001/10/12/stories/09120464.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317141654/http://www.hindu.com/2001/10/12/stories/09120464.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 March 2014 |title=Stamp to honour Sivaji |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=12 October 2001 |author=SRA |access-date=28 January 2012 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Along with Vyjayanthimala, all the female cast including [[B. Saroja Devi]], [[Pandari Bai]] and [[Vasunthara Devi]] reprised their roles from the original with [[S. V. Ranga Rao]] in Motilal's role and [[K. A. Thangavelu]] in [[Raaj Kumar]]'s character.<ref name="sriramv">{{Cite web |last=Sriram |first=V. |author-link=V. Sriram |date=1 May 2018 |title=Paigham and Irumbu Thirai&nbsp;– #MayDay Special |url=https://sriramv.wordpress.com/2018/05/01/paigham-and-irumbu-thirai-mayday-special/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180927113547/https://sriramv.wordpress.com/2018/05/01/paigham-and-irumbu-thirai-mayday-special/ |archive-date=27 September 2018 |access-date=27 September 2018 |website=Madras Heritage and Carnatic Music}}</ref> The film was followed by ''[[Raja Bakthi]]'', again with Sivaji Ganesan. ''Raja Bakthi'' had huge [[ensemble cast]] featuring [[P. Bhanumathi]], [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]], [[T. S. Balaiah]] and [[E. V. Saroja]]. Her subsequent release was [[D. Yoganand]]'s [[Masterpiece|magnum opus]] [[Parthiban Kanavu (1960 film)|Parthiban Kanavu]]. Co-starring [[Gemini Ganesan]] for the third time and [[B. Saroja Devi]] for the second time, the film was based on [[Kalki Krishnamurthy]]'s 1942 novel with the [[Parthiban Kanavu|same name]].<ref name="selvan" /> Apart from Tamil, the film was produced in Telugu and Sinhala languages.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/telugu/news/2006/yoganand-passes-away-291106.html |title=Popular director Yoganand passes away |publisher=[[Oneindia.in]] |date=26 November 2006 |access-date=9 February 2012}}</ref> Upon release the film met with positive response from the critics and was awarded the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil]] at the [[8th National Film Awards]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/27325.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613120616/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/27325.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 June 2011 |title=Director Yoganand is no more |website=IndiaGlitz.com |date=28 November 2006 |access-date=9 February 2012}}</ref> However, the film did not fare well at the box office, but Vyjayanthimala's performance was appreciated by critics.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/cp/2009/05/29/stories/2009052950371600.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601103808/http://www.hindu.com/cp/2009/05/29/stories/2009052950371600.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 June 2009 |title=Paarthibhan Kanavu 1960 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=29 May 2009 |author=Randor Guy |access-date=9 February 2012 |author-link=Randor Guy}}</ref> She also acted opposite [[M. G. Ramachandran]] for the first time in ''[[Baghdad Thirudan]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/01/15/stories/2007011500420100.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125084456/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/01/15/stories/2007011500420100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 January 2013 |title=Screen, stage and beyond |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=15 January 2007 |author=Anjana Rajan |access-date=9 February 2012 |location=Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu}}</ref> Meanwhile, she did a Hindi film titled ''[[College Girl (1960 film)|College Girl]]'' opposite [[Shammi Kapoor]], which fared average at the box office and was declared as the eighteenth highest-grossing film of the year.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=166&catName=MTk2MA== |title=Box Office 1960 |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=9 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212160330/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=166&catName=MTk2MA== |archive-date=12 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Following successful re-entry in Tamil cinema, Vyjayanthimala then signed [[Dilip Kumar]]'s home production film ''[[Gunga Jumna]]''. Having been inspired by the 1934 ''[[Manhattan Melodrama]]'', the film was one of the first Hindi films to deal with the theme based on two brothers on opposite sides of law.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/article145718.ece |title=Gunga Jamuna (1961) |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=4 March 2010 |author=Deepak Mahan |access-date=9 March 2012}}</ref> Directed by [[Nitin Bose]], she co-starred with Kumar for the fifth time after ''Devdas'', ''Naya Daur'', ''Madhumati'' and ''Paigham''. In this [[Dacoity|dacoit drama]], she enacted the role of Dhanno, a [[Cleaner|washerwoman]] who falls for childhood friend Gunga, played by Kumar and eventually killed during a gun fight. To prepare herself for that role, Vyjayanthimala had to learn the [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]], a Hindi language [[dialect]] spoken by people in [[East India]] region. She was assisted by Kumar, who chose the shade of [[saree]] that Vyjayanthimala would wear in every scene. Upon release, the film opened to widespread critical acclaim from the critics. Her performance earned her rave reviews. Dinesh Raheja from ''[[Rediff]]'' said that: "Gunga Jumna deployed several crowd-pleasing elements...most of all, an enchanting relationship between Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala... Their characterisation ran so deep, which helped Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala give magnetic performances. Dilip is of course a thespian, but Vyjayanthimala is a revelation"; while K. K. Rai from ''[[Stardust (magazine)|Stardust]]'' applauded her performance by adding "Vyjayanthimala played the village woman with such simplicity and grace; you’d forget she was one of the most glamorous stars of her time. She also spoke the Bhojpuri dialect like a native".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/mar/07dinesh.htm |title=The Tragic Irony of Ganga Jumna |publisher=[[Rediff]] |date=7 May 2002 |author=Dinesh Raheja |access-date=9 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.magnamags.com/content/view/4045/95/lang,english/ |title=Stardust Classic: Ganga Jumna (1961) |publisher=[[Stardust (magazine)|Stardust]] |date=17 April 2008 |author=Gaurav Malani |access-date=9 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718072742/http://www.magnamags.com/content/view/4045/95/lang,english/ |archive-date=18 July 2012 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> Critics praised Vyjayanthimala for her ability to master the Bhojpuri dialect despite her South Indian upbringing. Subsequently, the film enjoyed huge success at the box office across India. At the end of its theatrical run, the film grossed around {{INR}} {{formatnum:70000000}} with a net gross of {{INR}}{{formatnum:35000000}} and a verdict of a blockbuster.<ref name="Box Office 1961">{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=167&catName=MTk2MQ== |title=Box Office 1961 |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=23 September 2012}}</ref> The film was the Highest-grossing film of 1961, and was the third highest grossing Hindi film of the decade behind ''[[Mughal-e-Azam]]'' and ''[[Sangam (1964 Hindi film)|Sangam]]'', another Kumar and Vyjayanthimala starrer respectively.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=123&catName=MTk2MC0xOTY5 |title=Top Earners 1960–1969 (Figures in Ind Rs) |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=9 March 2012 |archive-date=7 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107050013/https://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=123&catName=MTk2MC0xOTY5 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The film was ranked second by Boxofficeindia.co.in behind ''[[Mughal-e-Azam]]'' in their list of "Top 50 Film of Last 50 Years", which features all-time highest grossing Hindi films by using the relative price of gold in different years to arrive at a hypothetical current value of box office collections of past films for its adjustment to inflation rate. {{INRConvert|7.36|b}}.<ref name="Top 50 Film of Last 50 Years">{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.co.in/top-50-film-of-last-50-years/ |title=Top 50 Film of Last 50 Years |publisher=Boxofficeindia.co.in |date=3 November 2011 |author1=Nitin Tej Ahuja |author2=Vajir Singh |author3=Saurabh Sinha |access-date=9 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317110155/http://www.boxofficeindia.co.in/top-50-film-of-last-50-years/ |archive-date=17 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> For her performance, Vyjayanthimala was awarded with the [[Filmfare Award for Best Actress]] trophy at the [[9th Filmfare Awards]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The Winners – 1960 |url=http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com/articleshow/366406.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=10 March 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709123855/http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com/articleshow/366406.cms |archive-date=9 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In addition to that, she also won her first ever [[Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards]] in the Best Actress category.<ref>{{cite web |title=25th Annual BFJA Awards |url=http://www.bfjaawards.com/legacy/pastwin/196225.htm |publisher=[[BFJA Awards|BFJA]] |access-date=10 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224081354/http://www.bfjaawards.com/legacy/pastwin/196225.htm |archive-date=24 February 2008}}</ref>

In the same year, she starred in [[C. V. Sridhar]]'s ''[[Nazrana (1961 film)|Nazrana]]''. In this remake of the highly successful 1959 Tamil film ''[[Kalyana Parisu]]'', again directed by Sridhar, she acted alongside [[Raj Kapoor]] for the first time. She played the role of Vasanthi, wherein she replaced actress [[B. Saroja Devi]] who did not reprise her role from ''Kadhal Parisu'' and its Telugu remake ''Pelli Kanuka''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/stars/interview_jamuna_2009_2.php |title=Chit Chat with Jamuna |website=[[Telugucinema.com]] |date=27 April 2009 |author=Sri |access-date=11 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324235927/http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/stars/interview_jamuna_2009_2.php |archive-date=24 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The triangular love story received an average run at cinemas and ended up as the twelfth highest-grossing film of that year.<ref name="Box Office 1961" /> The same year she did another film with Sridhar. Being the first Tamil film to be shot in [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], she acted alongside [[Gemini Ganesan]] after a long gap after ''[[Then Nilavu]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.screenindia.com/news/Tamil-film-director-Sridhar-passes-away/375649/# |title=Tamil film director Sridhar passes away |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=20 October 2008 |access-date=20 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022054622/http://www.screenindia.com/news/tamil-film-director-sridhar-passes-away/375649/ |archive-date=22 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The film and the soundtrack were widely appreciated by the audience, where it was a huge success.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/06/16/stories/2006061600620200.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103043907/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/06/16/stories/2006061600620200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |title=In a class of his own |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=16 June 2006 |author=V. Balasubramaniam |access-date=10 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/c-v-sridhar-veteran-director-passes-away-news-tamil-kkfsJNdjcaa.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122094100/http://www.sify.com/movies/c-v-sridhar-veteran-director-passes-away-news-tamil-kkfsJNdjcaa.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 January 2014 |title=C.V Sridhar, veteran director passes away! |website=[[Sify]] |date=20 October 2008 |access-date=10 March 2012}}</ref> The film was followed by [[J. Om Prakash]]'s ''[[Aas Ka Panchhi]]'' with [[Rajendra Kumar]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2008/feb/12vslid5.htm |title=Jubilee Hero, Rajendra Kumar |publisher=[[Rediff]] |date=12 February 2008 |author=Raja Sen |access-date=10 March 2012}}</ref> For her portrayal, Vyjayanthimala got some negative feedback from the critics; ''[[The Hindu]]'' review said that: "Even the otherwise powerhouse of talent, Vyjayantimala, with many a sterling performance under her belt, barely passes muster, despite the usual dance and song sequence to showcase her formidable prowess as an accomplished dancer thrown in".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article2498529.ece? |title=Aas Ka Panchhi (1961) |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=30 September 2011 |author=A. P. S. Malhotra |access-date=10 March 2012}}</ref> Despite some mixed reviews, the film was labelled as a hit at the box office and was declared the fourth highest-grossing film of 1961 where it had a [[silver jubilee]] run at the theatres.<ref name="Box Office 1961" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99jul16/art-trib.htm#1 |title=Melodrama was his forte |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |date=16 July 1999 |author=Devinder Bir Kaur |access-date=10 March 2012}}</ref> Her career then struggled again with some box office duds in the following year. In 1962, she co-starred with [[Manoj Kumar]] in ''[[Dr. Vidya]]'', which performed average at the box office.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=168&catName=MTk2Mg== |title=Box Office 1962 |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=17 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014080632/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=168&catName=MTk2Mg== |archive-date=14 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''Dr. Vidya'' was followed by two more box office [[disappointment]]s, ''Rungoli'' with [[Kishore Kumar]] and ''Jhoola'' with [[Sunil Dutt]]. In 1963, she co-starred with [[Sivaji Ganesan]] in the [[Historical fiction]] ''[[Chittoor Rani Padmini]]''. Written by [[C. V. Sridhar]] and directed by [[Chitrapu Narayana Rao]], the film proved to be a box office failure, however, her performance was critically acclaimed. The same year [[Bimal Roy]] who earlier worked with her in ''[[Devdas (1955 film)|Devdas]]'' and ''[[Madhumati]]'' offered her the lead role in ''[[Bandini (film)|Bandini]]'' opposite [[Ashok Kumar]] and [[Dharmendra]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/down-memory-lane/874591/0 |title=Down Memory Lane |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=12 November 2011 |access-date=24 March 2012}}</ref> However, Vyjayanthimala could not accept the role due to her busy schedule.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111112/ttlife1.htm |title=Hoton pe aisi baat... |author=Jasmine Singh |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |date=12 November 2011 |access-date=12 November 2011 |location=Chandigarh}}</ref> Boxofficeindia.com ranked Vyjayanthimala at the top spot in their list of "Top Three Successful Box Office Actress" of 1962 and 1963 respectively, despite her box office failures.<ref name="Top actress" />

Following a two-year [[sabbatical]], Vyjayanthimala re-attained her success in Hindi films through [[Raj Kapoor]]'s first technicolor film ''[[Sangam (1964 Hindi film)|Sangam]]''. Termed as Kapoor's [[Masterpiece|magnum opus]], the film was produced with a lavish budget by his production company [[R. K. Films]]. Earlier in the 1940s, Kapoor planned to launch ''Sangam'' in the title of ''Gharonda'' with [[Dilip Kumar]], [[Nargis]] and himself in the lead, however the film was delayed several times until 1962.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060528/spectrum/main5.htm |title=Sangam revisited |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |date=28 May 2006 |author=Surendra Miglani |access-date=20 March 2012}}</ref> Following Kumar and [[Dev Anand]]'s refusal to be a part of the film, Kapoor then signed [[Rajendra Kumar]] and himself as the male leads.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/11/08/stories/2008110851990600.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125054124/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/11/08/stories/2008110851990600.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 January 2013 |title=Blast of the Past : Sangam 1964 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=8 November 2008 |author=Suresh Kohli |access-date=20 March 2012}}</ref> ''Sangam'' was the first Indian film shot in Europe and outside of Asia. It was the [[List of longest films in India by running time|longest running film in India]] when it was released at 238 minutes.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2006/aug/16slid2.htm |title=The 10 longest films in Hindi cinema |publisher=[[Rediff]] |date=19 August 2006 |author=Raja Sen |access-date=20 March 2012}}</ref> The film also created a record by being the first film to have two intervals during theatrical screenings.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111127/spectrum/book5.htm |title=From Naagin to nritya |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |date=27 November 2011 |author=Nonika Singh |access-date=20 March 2012}}</ref> With cinematography by Radhu Kamarkar, the European filming locations include [[Venice]], Paris, Switzerland and London, while the Indian locations include [[Ooty]] and [[Kashmir Valley]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/EJ31Df02.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031031032004/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/EJ31Df02.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=31 October 2003 |title=Bollywood embraces foreign backdrops |work=[[Asia Times]] |date=31 October 2003 |author=Ranjita Biswas |access-date=20 March 2012}}</ref> Upon release, the film was received widespread critical acclaim and was considered as Hindi cinema's greatest [[love triangle]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/166460/happily-ever-after.html |title=Happily ever after |work=[[Deccan Herald]] |author=Rajiv Vijayakar |access-date=18 March 2012}}</ref> Vyjayanthimala's performance too received high praise from critics. Dinesh Raheja of ''[[Rediff]]'' said that: "to put it simply, radiant...the maturity with which she tackles her character, the insouciance as well as the agony" and called it "one of commercial cinema's most unforgettable performances".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://inhome.rediff.com/movies/2002/may/16dinesh.htm |title=The throbbing intensity of Sangam |publisher=[[Rediff]] |date=16 May 2002 |author=Dinesh Raheja |access-date=18 March 2012}}</ref> Similarly, the film was commercially successful throughout India and other countries as well. On its overall theatrical run, Boxofficeindia.com reported that the film had grossed {{INR}} 8,00,00,000 and netted around {{INR}}{{formatnum:40000000}} with its adjusted to inflation net gross about {{INRConvert|843900000}}.<ref name="Box Office 1964">{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=170&catName=MTk2NA== |title=Box Office 1964 |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=20 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212160433/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=170&catName=MTk2NA== |archive-date=12 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Subsequently, the film was labelled as a blockbuster, where it was ranked as highest-grossing film of 1964 and the second highest-grossing film of the decade.<ref name="Top Earners 1960–1969 (Figures in Ind Rs)">{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=123&catName=MTk2MC0xOTY5 |title=Top Earners 1960–1969 (Figures in Ind Rs) |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=20 March 2012 |archive-date=7 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107050013/https://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=123&catName=MTk2MC0xOTY5 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The film was ranked at fourth by Boxofficeindia.co.in in their list of "Top 50 Film of Last 50 Years" which feature all-time highest grossing Hindi film with its adjusted to inflation gross about {{INRConvert|7173154362}}.<ref name="Top 50 Film of Last 50 Years" /> ''Sangam'' also had a great box office run outside of India where it was well received in countries such as China, [[Malaysia]] and Russia.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article10117.ece |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914112537/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article10117.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 September 2012 |title=China in Bollywood |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=27 August 2009 |author=Rana Siddique Zaman |access-date=20 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/2/29/central/20410071&sec=central |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715232837/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/2/29/central/20410071&sec=central |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2012 |title=Don't underrate women in politics |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=29 February 2008 |author=Wani Muthiah |access-date=20 March 2012}}</ref> For her role of Radha, a woman in a dilemma about her feelings for her husband and her former lover, Vyjayanthimala was awarded with the [[Filmfare Award for Best Actress]]. She then co-starred with [[Dilip Kumar]] for the sixth time in [[Ram Mukherjee]]'s ''[[Leader (1964 film)|Leader]]''. The film was a comeback film for Kumar, whose last film was ''[[Gunga Jumna]]'', also co-starred Vyjayanthimala.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/may/27dinesh.htm |title=Tragedy King Dilip Kumar |publisher=[[Rediff]] |date=27 May 2002 |author=Dinesh Raheja |access-date=24 March 2012}}</ref> Like most of Vyjayanthimala and Kumar's films, their on-screen chemistry received praise from critics, where Deepak Mahan from ''[[The Hindu]]'' said: "What made the film even more enjoyable was the equally spirited response of doe-eyed Vyjayantimala, oozing oodles of impish charm in every frame. The pair carried the film on their shoulders, giving abundant joy and mirth to audiences with their outstanding histrionics. Their interactions make the film worth going miles to watch and it is certain that without their resolute shoulders".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article484086.ece |title=Leader (1964) |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=24 June 2010 |author=Deepak Mahaan |access-date=24 March 2012}}</ref> However, the film ''Leader'' did not fare well at the box office, where it was labelled as below average.<ref name="Box Office 1964" /> During the making of ''Leader'', ''[[Rediff]]'' describes Vyjayanthimala as "recalcitrant" which annoyed Kumar.<ref name="Dilip Kumar and his women">{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/jul/02sl4.htm |access-date=30 January 2012 |publisher=[[Rediff]] |author=Raju Bharatan |title=Dilip Kumar and his women |date=2 July 2008}}</ref> The film was followed by [[Gemini Studios|Gemini Film]]'s ''[[Zindagi (1964 film)|Zindagi]]'', directed by [[Ramanand Sagar]]. A female-centric film, it features Vyjayanthimala alongside [[Rajendra Kumar]], [[Raaj Kumar]] and [[Prithviraj Kapoor]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2011/02/25/stories/2011022550210400.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904165833/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2011/02/25/stories/2011022550210400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 September 2012 |title=Blast From The Past: Zindagi (1964) |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=25 December 2011 |author=Deepak Mahaan |access-date=24 March 2012}}</ref> ''Zindagi'' became a success at the box office, where it celebrated a silver jubilee theatrical run and was the fourth highest-grossing film of that year with a verdict of "hit".<ref name="Box Office 1964" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=341393 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713124230/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=341393 |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 July 2012 |access-date=24 March 2012 |publisher=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |title=Ramanand Sagar – man behind the 'Ramayana' |date=13 December 2005}}</ref> Soon she signed for [[Anjali Pictures]]' ''[[Phoolon Ki Sej]]'', with [[Ashok Kumar]] and [[Manoj Kumar]], and this became her third consecutive hit of the year. Her last release in 1964 was ''Ishaara'', in which she co-starred with actor [[Joy Mukherjee]] for the first time, and her performance ensured that the film was a box office success.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-10/news-interviews/31142639_1_phir-wohi-rr-pathak-films |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105210315/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-10/news-interviews/31142639_1_phir-wohi-rr-pathak-films |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 November 2012 |access-date=24 March 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |author=Mumbai Mirror |title=Joy Mukherjee: The Joy of cinema |date=10 March 2012 |author-link=Mumbai Mirror}}</ref>

=== 1965-1970: Later successes and retirement ===
[[File:Vyjayantimala at Esha Deol's wedding at ISCKON temple 19.jpg|thumb|Vyjayanthimala in 2012.]]
In 1965, Vyjayanthimala starred in two commercial disappointments; ''Naya Kanoon'', with [[Ashok Kumar]] and [[Bharat Bhushan Bhalla|Bharat Bhushan]] and ''Nam Iruvar'' with [[T. R. Mahalingam (actor)|T. R. Mahalingam]], but both the films are considered masterpieces by critics. ''Naam Iruvar'' became her last Tamil film. In 1966, Vyjayanthimala starred in ''Do Dilon Ki Dastaan'', which failed at the box office. After some box office flops, Vyjayanthimala soon signed alongside [[Rajendra Kumar]] in the [[swashbuckler]] [[ruritanian romance]] ''[[Suraj (1966 film)|Suraj]]''. Directed by [[T. Prakash Rao]], the film had [[Mumtaz (Indian actress)|Mumtaz]], [[Bharathi Vishnuvardhan]] and [[Neetu Singh]]. ''Suraj'' was huge box office success and was one of the popular [[costume drama]]s in Hindi cinema.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/from-mallika-sherawat-to-mallika-e-husn-news-bollywood-kkfvEijaeja.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110054235/http://www.sify.com/movies/from-mallika-sherawat-to-mallika-e-husn-news-bollywood-kkfvEijaeja.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 November 2013 |access-date=24 March 2012 |website=[[Sify]] |author=Subhash K Jha |title=From Mallika Sherawat to 'mallika-e-husn' |date=19 November 2004}}</ref> ''Suraj'' was the last successful film of Rajendra Kumar and [[Shankar Jaikishan]], who introduced singer [[Sharda Rajan Iyengar|Sharda]] through this film.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/jul/09dinesh.htm |access-date=24 March 2012 |publisher=[[Rediff]] |author=Dinesh Raheja |title=Bollywood's Jubilee Kumar |date=9 July 2002}}</ref><ref name="shanker">{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2001/sep/12shank.htm |title=Masters of melody |publisher=[[Rediff]] |date=12 September 2001 |author=Rajiv Vijayakar |access-date=24 March 2012}}</ref> According to Boxofficeindia.com, the film grossed around {{INR}} 50,000,000 with net gross of {{INR}} 25,000,000 and becomes second highest-grossing film of 1966 with a verdict of "super hit" at the box office.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=172&catName=MTk2Ng== |title=Box Office 1966 |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=24 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014102652/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=172&catName=MTk2Ng== |archive-date=14 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The film was also the thirteenth highest-grossing film of the decade, with its adjusted to inflation net gross about {{INRConvert|511800000}}.<ref name="Top Earners 1960–1969 (Figures in Ind Rs)" /> While Ibosnetwork.com reported that the film grossed {{INR}} 40,000,000 and its adjusted to inflation gross about {{INRConvert|504260000}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ibosnetwork.com/asp/filmbodetails.asp?id=Suraj |title=Suraj |publisher=Ibosnetwork.com |access-date=24 March 2012}}</ref> Following ''Suraj'', Vyjayanthimala starred in the [[historical film]] ''[[Amrapali (film)|Amrapali]]''. Based on life of the ''[[Nagarvadhu]]'' (royal [[courtesan]]) of [[Vaishali (ancient city)|Vaishali]] ''[[Ambapali|Amrapali]]'', she played the title role along with [[Sunil Dutt]], who enacted the role of King ''[[Ajatashatru]]''. Upon release, the film opened to widespread critical acclaim and was [[List of Indian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|India's official submission]] for [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film]] at the [[39th Academy Awards]] but failed at the box-office, which left Vyjayanthimala heartbroken, where she decided to quit the industry, though director [[Baldev Raj Chopra]] felt that she could have easily continued for another decade in lead roles.<ref name=Rediff /> After ''Amrapali'', the biggest box office failure of her career and some personal issues with co-stars, Vyjayanthimala lost interest in films. In 1967, she was signed into [[Tapi Chanakya]]'s ''[[Ram Aur Shyam]]'', which was a remake of the 1964 Telugu film ''[[Ramudu Bheemudu]]''. She co-starred with [[Dilip Kumar]] for the seventh time, who had previously made some memorable films with her. However, due to some misunderstandings between Kumar and Vyjayanthimala, Vyjayanthimala was replaced by [[Waheeda Rehman]]. The same year, she starred in [[Vijay Anand (Hindi film maker)|Vijay Anand]]'s ''[[Jewel Thief (1967 film)|Jewel Thief]]'' after [[Saira Banu]] backed out of the project due to her marriage with Dilip Kumar.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_a-legend-retold_1186145-all |title=A legend retold |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |date=27 August 2008 |author=Farhana Farook |access-date=17 April 2012}}</ref> The [[Crime film|crime thriller]] reunited Vyjayanthimala with her co-star [[Dev Anand]] after ''[[Amardeep (1958 film)|Amar Deep]]'' (1958). ''Jewel Thief'' also had [[Ashok Kumar]] as the main antagonist with four more female leads [[Tanuja]], [[Helen (actress)|Helen]], [[Anju Mahendru]] and [[Faryal]]. For the first time she worked under Dev Anand's production house, [[Navketan Films]] after being rejected by [[Tad Danielewski]] for the lead role in the 1965 Hindi film ''[[Guide (film)|Guide]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040307/spectrum/main5.htm |title=Goldie: Guide for new filmmakers |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |date=7 March 2004 |author=Devinder Bir Kaur |access-date=17 April 2012}}</ref> The success of ''Jewel Thief'' made Vyjayanthimala and Dev Anand a hit pair.<ref name="Dev Anand was stylish and well-read: Vyjayanthimala" /> Three decades later, Vyjayanthimala was approached by Dev Anand for a role in the sequel of ''Jewel Thief''; ''[[Return of Jewel Thief]]'' (1996), but she refused to act in the film as she did not plan to make a comeback.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/InterviewsCinema/A-man-full-of-energy/Article1-777933.aspx |title=A man full of energy |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=5 December 2011 |author=Vyjayanthimala Bali |access-date=18 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205015031/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/InterviewsCinema/A-man-full-of-energy/Article1-777933.aspx |archive-date=5 December 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Subsequently, Vyjayanthimala's dance number "Hothon Pe Aisi Baat Main" sung by [[Lata Mangeshkar]] became a huge hit and was considered one of the best dance numbers in Indian cinema, while being influential for the rises of other dance numbers such as "[[Chamma Chamma]]" from ''[[China Gate (1998 film)|China Gate]]'' and "[[Sheila Ki Jawani]]" from ''[[Tees Maar Khan (2010 film)|Tees Maar Khan]]'' respectively.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/apr/02urmi.htm |title=What I've done in Company can't be defined |publisher=[[Rediff]] |date=2 April 2002 |author=Subhash K Jha |location=Mumbai, India |access-date=22 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/aug/150810-katrina-kaif-malaika-arora-khan-raunchy-item-number.htm |title=Katrina craves to be raunchier than Malaika |publisher=[[Mid-Day]] |date=15 August 2010 |author=Subhash K Jha |location=Mumbai, India |access-date=22 July 2012}}</ref> The same year she did the [[Masterpiece|magnum opus]] ''[[Chhoti Si Mulaqat]]'', produced by the legendary Bengali actor and matinee idol [[Mahanayak Uttam Kumar]]. A remake of the 1954 Bengali film ''[[Agni Pariksha (1954 film)|Agni Pariksha]]'', which had Uttam Kumar, who reprises his role in the Hindi version and [[Suchitra Sen]] in the lead. Unlike the original version, ''Chhoti Si Mulaqat'' failed at the box offie and was declared a box office disaster. Her last release in the year was ''[[Hatey Bazarey]]'', with [[Ashok Kumar]]. Inspired by [[Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay|Banaphool]]'s novel with the same title, the film was directed by acclaimed director [[Tapan Sinha]], where Vyjayanthimala made her Bengali cinema debut through the film.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-master-at-his-best/411439/0 |title=The Master at His Best |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=16 January 2009 |access-date=23 July 2012}}</ref> She played the role of a widowed young woman – Chhipli – who falls for a civil surgeon Doctor Anandi Mukheerjee. Upon release the film received unanimously positive reviews, where it was awarded the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film|Best Feature Film Award]] at the [[15th National Film Awards]], while Vyjayanthimala's performance was also appreciated by critics alike.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.upperstall.com/people/tapan-sinha |title=Tapan Sinha Profile |publisher=Upperstall.com |author=Boorback |access-date=23 July 2012}}</ref> A review from ''Upperstall'' had mentioned that: "Vyjayantimala, in her debut in Bengali films is extremely convincing as the independent and vivacious tribal widow".<ref name="Hatey Bazarey Upperstall">{{cite news |url=http://www.upperstall.com/films/1967/hatey-bazaarey |title=Hatey Bazarey |publisher=Upperstall.com |author=Karan Bali |access-date=23 July 2012}}</ref> Similarly, her singing in the song "Shyam Tor Tore Tamal Tolay Boshe Thaki" along with singer [[Hemanta Kumar Mukhopadhyay|Hemanta Mukherjee]] received praise, where it was described as a "pleasant surprise" in the same review.<ref name="Hatey Bazarey Upperstall" /> ''Hatey Bazarey'' was also received well commercially and was one of the most successful Bengali films of the 1960s.<ref name="Hatey Bazarey Upperstall" />

In 1968, Vyjayanthimala appeared in three big budget films with high-profile actors such as [[Dilip Kumar]], [[Dev Anand]] and [[Rajendra Kumar]]. Her first release of the year was ''[[Sunghursh]]'', directed by [[H. S. Rawail|Harnam Singh Rawail]]. She co-starred with Dilip Kumar for the seventh and final time in her career, with [[Balraj Sahni]] and [[Sanjeev Kumar]] in key roles. Originally offered to actress [[Sadhana Shivdasani|Sadhana]], the role later went to Vyjayanthimala as the former suffered with her thyroid problem.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/feb/11dinesh.htm |title=Sadhana's Song |publisher=[[Rediff]] |date=11 February 2002 |author=Dinesh Raheja |access-date=23 July 2012}}</ref> Reportedly she did not exchange a word with Kumar while filming, since their relationship broke up.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/will-a-hindu-muslim-love-story-work-news-bollywood-kkfvOfedfda.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912131337/http://www.sify.com/movies/will-a-hindu-muslim-love-story-work-news-bollywood-kkfvOfedfda.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 September 2015 |title=Will a Hindu-Muslim love story work? |website=[[Sify]] |date=2 January 2004 |author=Subhash K. Jha |access-date=23 July 2012}}</ref> For Vyjayanthimala's enactment of a courtesan, Laila-e-Aasma, she received positive feedback from the critics. Anuj Kumar from ''[[The Hindu]]'' said that: "Vyjayanthimala is graceful as ever. In a film dominated by men, Rawail made sure she had a substantial role. Her dances and Naushad's lilting tunes come as a welcome break to the sinewy tone imparted by Abrar Alvi and Gulzar's dialogues".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/05/15/stories/2009051550620400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522074617/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/05/15/stories/2009051550620400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 May 2009 |title=Blast From The Past: Sunghursh (1968) |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=15 March 2009 |author=Anuj Kumar |access-date=23 July 2012}}</ref> The role fetched her the Best Hindi Actress Award at 25th Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards.<ref>{{cite web |title=25th Annual BFJA Awards |url=http://www.bfjaawards.com/legacy/pastwin/196225.htm |publisher=[[BFJA Awards|BFJA]] |access-date=24 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224081354/http://www.bfjaawards.com/legacy/pastwin/196225.htm |archive-date=24 February 2008}}</ref> ''Sunghursh'' was followed by ''[[Saathi (1968 film)|Saathi]]'', directed by [[C. V. Sridhar]]. A remake of the highly acclaimed Tamil film of 1961, ''[[Palum Pazhamum]]'', the film had [[Rajendra Kumar]] and [[Simi Garewal]] replacing [[Sivaji Ganesan]] and [[Sowcar Janaki]] respectively from the Tamil version with Vyjyanthimala enacting the role originally portrayed by [[B. Saroja Devi]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/article2596039.ece |title=Saathi (1968) |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=4 November 2011 |author=Vijay Lokappally |access-date=23 July 2012}}</ref> The same year she co-starred with [[Dev Anand]] for the third and last time in [[T. Prakash Rao]]'s ''[[Duniya (1968 film)|Duniya]]''.<ref name="Duniya (1968)">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article2901440.ece |title=Duniya (1968) |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=17 February 2012 |author=Suresh Kohli |access-date=25 July 2012}}</ref> ''Duniya'', ''Saathi'' and ''Sunghursh'' were named as tenth, eleventh and twelfth highest-grossing film of 1968 respectively, with the first two labelled as average while the latter only managed to do above average business at the box office.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=174&catName=MTk2OA== |title=Box Office 1968 |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=25 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014074151/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=174&catName=MTk2OA== |archive-date=14 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On the other hand, ''Duniya'' is considered a hit film by some critics and often included in the hit film list of Dev Anand.<ref name="Duniya (1968)" /> In 1969, she was the first Indian dancer to perform at the [[United Nations General Assembly]] to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the proclamation of the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]].

After her retirement from films, Vyjayanthimala was offered many roles by big banners opposite leading actors of that time. But she refused all those offers as she did not want to make a comeback. In 1968, she was signed opposite [[Raj Kapoor]] in Mahesh Kaul's ''[[Sapno Ka Saudagar]]'', she refused the role which went to the debutante [[Hema Malini]], who become one of the most popular actresses in Hindi films later.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.upperstall.com/people/mahesh-kaul |title=Mahesh Kaul Biography |publisher=Upperstall |author=Karan Bali |access-date=20 May 2013}}</ref> However, in 1975, Vyjayanthimala was almost signed in [[Gulzar]]'s ''[[Aandhi]]'' with [[Sanjeev Kumar (actor)|Sanjeev Kumar]] but she backed out from the project as the role resembled [[Indira Gandhi]]'s personal life.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111127/spectrum/book5.htm |title=From Naagin to nritya |author=Nonika Singh |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=20 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/down-memory-lane/874591/0 |title=Down Memory Lane |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=12 November 2011 |access-date=20 May 2013}}</ref> Perhaps the most famous role that Vyjayanthimala ever turned down was the 1975 crime-drama film ''[[Deewaar]]''. Inspired by the 1961 film ''[[Gunga Jumna]]'', a Vyjayanthimala starrer, the film was directed by [[Yash Chopra]] and stars [[Amitabh Bachchan]] and [[Shashi Kapoor]]. She turned down the role of a mother for the lead actors, which later went to [[Nirupa Roy]], who attained popularity through the success of the film and was later cast in similar roles.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2004/oct/15spec1.htm |title=Nirupa Roy: Eternal Mother |publisher=[[Rediff]] |date=15 October 2004 |author=Jitendra Kothari |access-date=20 May 2013}}</ref> Following that, she refused the multi-starrer 1981 blockbuster film ''[[Kranti]]'', opposite [[Dilip Kumar]], with [[Manoj Kumar]], [[Shashi Kapoor]], [[Hema Malini]], [[Shatrughan Sinha]], [[Parveen Babi]] and [[Sarika]] as the [[ensemble cast]], which was directed and produced by Manoj Kumar himself.<ref name="Rediff" /> Apart from Hindi films, she refused the 1989 Tamil film ''[[Mappillai (1989 film)|Mappillai]]'', starring [[Rajinikanth]]. As said by Rajinikanth who played the lead role, "actor Vyjayanthimala was first offered the role of mother-in-law in ''Mappillai'' which was a pivotal role, but she refused the film even though the producer of the film [[Chiranjeevi]] came forward to give her huge salary, she said that she does not want to play the role of antagonist opposite me and will never agree to be part of fighting scene against me".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://tamil.oneindia.in/movies/heroes/2010/04/vaijayanthimala-refuses-rajini-maappillai-film.html |title=Vyjayanthimala Refuses Rajini's Maapilai |publisher=[[Oneindia.in]] |language=ta |date=24 April 2010 |access-date=20 May 2013}}</ref> Following many films refused by Vyjayanthimala, Dinesh Raheja from ''[[Rediff]]'' commented that "good money and pivotal roles notwithstanding...did not seem alluring enough".<ref name="Rediff" /> All her films released from 1969; ''Pyar Hi Pyar'', ''Prince'' and ''Ganwaar'', became huge box office successes. ''Ganwaar'' was her last Hindi film.

== Political career ==
Vyjayanthimala's political career was initiated in 1984 when she contested in [[Indian general election in Tamil Nadu, 1984|1984 Tamil Nadu general election]] for the [[Chennai South (Lok Sabha constituency)|South Chennai constituency]] as the nominee of the [[Indian National Congress]] opposite [[Era Sezhiyan]], the leader of [[Janata Party]] and seasoned [[Member of Parliament|parliamentarian]].<ref name="politic">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/09/stories/2009050955701300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511161649/http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/09/stories/2009050955701300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 May 2009 |title=Actor's South Chennai link |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=9 May 2009 |author1=T. Ramakrishnan |author2=R.K. Radhakrishnan |author3=Raktima Bose |access-date=14 May 2011}}</ref> During the campaign, Sezhiyan made provoking quotes such as "Send me to the Lok Sabha. Send her to R.R. Sabha (an organisation promoting fine arts)"<ref name="politic" /> to defeat Vyjayanthimala, ironically she won the election with margin of about 48,000 votes where she gained 313,848 with percentage of 51.92%.<ref name="politic" /> Subsequently, she debuted in the [[Lok Sabha]], the [[directly elected]] [[lower house]] of the [[Parliament of India]] by the end of January 1985 with [[Amitabh Bachchan]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/gas-leak-outrage-cutting-through-the-fog/663737/6 |title=Gas leak outrage: Cutting through the fog |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=23 August 2010 |author=Vandita Mishra |access-date=14 May 2011}}</ref>

In 1989, Vyjayanthimala again had to face the [[Indian general election in Tamil Nadu, 1989|1989 Tamil Nadu general election]], this time she was opposed by [[Aladi Aruna]] of the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]].<ref name="politic" /> She again beat her opposition by nearly 12584&nbsp; votes.<ref name="politic" /> Later in 1993, she was nominated to the [[Rajya Sabha]], the [[upper house]] of the [[Parliament of India]] for a six-year term.<ref name=statesmen>{{cite news |url=http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?id=354959&option=com_content&catid=39 |title=Dance is futile without devotion |work=[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]] |date=23 November 2007 |author=R. C. Rajamani |access-date=15 May 2011 |location=Chennai, India |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222155452/http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?id=354959&option=com_content&catid=39 |archive-date=22 February 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1999, she resigned from the primary membership of the [[Indian National Congress]] party.<ref name="congress">{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/Storyold/118195/ |title=Vyjayanthimala quits Congress |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=28 August 1999 |author=United News of India |access-date=14 May 2011}}</ref> In her letter to the party's president [[Sonia Gandhi]], she included the reason for her resignation where she said that: "painfully watching the party drifting from its avowed principles after the [[Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi|death]] of [[Rajiv Gandhi]], the party has lost touch with its grassroots and one can see day in and day out that sincere party workers are being steadily ignored." she adds more; "increasingly difficult to justify ourselves to the public and my conscience does not allow me to stay in the party any longer".<ref name="congress" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99aug28/nation.htm#6 |title=Vyjayanthimala quits Congress |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |date=27 August 1999 |author=United News of India |access-date=14 May 2011 |location=New Delhi}}</ref> Later, she joined the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] on 6 September 1999.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/revents/01/19990199.htm |title=National Events in 1999 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=14 May 2011 |archive-date=30 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130100634/http://hindu.com/thehindu/revents/01/19990199.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sify.com/itihaas/fullstory.php?id=13268712&page=11 |title=Independent India |website=[[Sify]] |access-date=15 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020194042/http://www.sify.com/itihaas/fullstory.php?id=13268712&page=11 |archive-date=20 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Legacy ==
[[File:The President, Smt. Droupadi Murmu presenting the Padma Vibhushan Award to Dr. Vyjayantimala Bali.jpg|thumb|Vyjayanthimala receiving Padma Vibhushan Award from president [[Droupadi Murmu]]]]

Vyjayanthimala is regarded as one of the greatest actresses of [[Indian cinema]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Top heroines of Bollywood |work=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/cinema/100-years-of-indian-cinema/photo/top-actresses-of-bollywood-ever-367543-2012-05-01/15 |url-status=live |access-date=24 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128234730/https://www.indiatoday.in/cinema/100-years-of-indian-cinema/photo/top-actresses-of-bollywood-ever-367543-2012-05-01/15 |archive-date=28 November 2020}}</ref> In 2022, she was placed in ''[[Outlook India]]''{{'}}s "75 Best Bollywood Actresses" list.<ref>{{Cite web |title=75 Bollywood Actresses Who Ruled The Silver Screen With Grace, Beauty And Talent |work=Outlook India |date=16 August 2022 |access-date=16 August 2022 |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/art-entertainment/75-bollywood-actresses-who-ruled-the-silver-screen-with-grace-beauty-and-talent-news-216694/amp |archive-date=16 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816142138/https://www.outlookindia.com/art-entertainment/75-bollywood-actresses-who-ruled-the-silver-screen-with-grace-beauty-and-talent-news-216694/amp |url-status=live }}</ref> One of the highest paid actress of the 1950s and 1960s, Vyjayanthimala appeared in ''[[Box Office India]]''{{'}}s "Top Actresses" list from 1954 to 1967, and topped the list for six years (1958–1959, 1961–1964).<ref>{{cite web |title=Top Actresses |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=top_actress |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104144753/http://boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=top_actress |archive-date=4 January 2012 |access-date=24 September 2020 |work=Box Office India}}</ref> Arushi Jain of ''[[The Indian Express]]'' called her the "first female superstar" of the Indian cinema and added that she ruled three industries, being the first "pan-India" star.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Vyjayanthimala, 'first female superstar' of Indian cinema who towered over 3 industries, quit films at height of fame |work=The Indian Express |author=Arushi Jain |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/vyjayanthimala-first-female-superstar-of-indian-cinema-who-towered-over-3-industries-quit-films-at-height-of-fame-8888313/lite/ |access-date=25 September 2023}}</ref> In 2007, Vyjayanthimala released her memoir, titled, "Bonding... A Memoir".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bali |first1=Vyjayantimala |title=Bonding... A Memoir |publisher=Stellar Publishers |isbn=9789382035015 |date=2007 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vkKYzRKeV7IC&q=vaijantimala |language=en}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{{Further|Vyjayanthimala filmography}}

== Accolades ==
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Vyjayanthimala}}

== See also ==
* [[List of Indian film actresses]]
* [[List of South Indian film families]]
* [[List of Indian women in dance]]
* [[List of actors who have played multiple roles in the same film]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Vyjayanthimala}}
* {{IMDb name|0904537}}
* {{youTube|6wnEknhxpU0|Cheye Thaki Cheye Thaki}} - Vyjayanthimala sings for the Bengali film [[Hatey Bazarey]]

{{FilmfareBestActressAward}}
{{FilmfareBestSupportingActressAward}}
{{FilmfareLifetimeAchievementAward}}
{{Padma Vibhushan Awards}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}{{ANR National Award}}{{Portal bar|Bollywood}}

{{Authority control}}

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