# Madhu Malhotra
**Madhu Malhotra** (20 June 1954 – 13 March 2026) was an Indian actress who worked in [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema) from the mid-1970s to 2000, mostly in supporting and character roles, and was best remembered as the gypsy woman in the song "Lambi Judai" from [Subhash Ghai](https://www.edgepedia.org/subhash-ghai)'s 1983 film *Hero*.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 1954; 13 March 2026, Mumbai[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1065949/) |
| Debut | *Andhera*, a Ramsay Brothers horror film, 1975[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/actor-madhu-malhotra-passes-away-at-72-10582743/) |
| Signature appearance | The gypsy woman in "Lambi Judai", sung by Reshma, in *Hero* (1983)[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/actor-madhu-malhotra-passes-away-at-72-10582743/) • [3](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/veteran-actress-madhu-malhotra-known-lambi-judaai-hero-dies-72/) |
| Notable films | *Karz* (1980, as Pinky), *Satte Pe Satta* (1982), *The Great Gambler* (1979), *Ghulam* (1998)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1065949/) • [2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/actor-madhu-malhotra-passes-away-at-72-10582743/) |
| Screen credits | 82 titles listed by Indian Film History; news reports give a figure of over 100 films[4](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actress/madhu-malhotra) • [5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/who-was-madhu-malhotra-satte-pe-satta-and-hero-actress-who-passed-away-at-age-of-71/amp_articleshow/129586216.cms) |
| Final screen work | *Woh Bewafa Thi* (2000)[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/actor-madhu-malhotra-passes-away-at-72-10582743/) |
| Spouse | Chouhan[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1065949/) |
## Life
IMDb records that Madhu Malhotra was born in 1954 and died on 13 March 2026 in Mumbai, and that she was married to Chouhan[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1065949/). News reports of her death gave differing ages: the Indian Express, Bollywood Hungama, and Kerala Kaumudi stated she was 72[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/actor-madhu-malhotra-passes-away-at-72-10582743/) • [3](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/veteran-actress-madhu-malhotra-known-lambi-judaai-hero-dies-72/) • [6](https://www.keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=1715951), while IMDb and the Times of India gave 71[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1065949/) • [5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/who-was-madhu-malhotra-satte-pe-satta-and-hero-actress-who-passed-away-at-age-of-71/amp_articleshow/129586216.cms). The cause of death was not disclosed. Her funeral took place at the Oshiwara Crematorium in Mumbai on 14 March[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/who-was-madhu-malhotra-satte-pe-satta-and-hero-actress-who-passed-away-at-age-of-71/amp_articleshow/129586216.cms).
## Career
She entered films through the horror genre. Her debut was the Ramsay Brothers' 1975 horror film *Andhera*, and her entry into mainstream Hindi cinema came with Shakti Samanta's 1979 crime action film *The Great Gambler*, in which she played the sister of [Amitabh Bachchan](https://www.edgepedia.org/amitabh-bachchan)'s protagonist Jay[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/actor-madhu-malhotra-passes-away-at-72-10582743/). She appeared as Pinky in Subhash Ghai's 1980 reincarnation drama *Karz*, starring [Rishi Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/rishi-kapoor), Simi Garewal, and Tina Munim[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1065949/) • [2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/actor-madhu-malhotra-passes-away-at-72-10582743/), and Ghai cast her repeatedly, with small roles in *Vishwanath* (1978) and *Vidhaata* (1982)[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/who-was-madhu-malhotra-satte-pe-satta-and-hero-actress-who-passed-away-at-age-of-71/amp_articleshow/129586216.cms) • [7](https://newsable.asianetnews.com/gallery/entertainment/remembering-lambi-judai-actress-madhu-malhotra-her-life-and-film-career-4til1wt).
**The most remembered moment** of her career came in *Hero* (1983). She played the gypsy woman lip-syncing to "Lambi Judai", a track sung by the Pakistani folk singer Reshma, in Subhash Ghai's hit action romance; the Indian Express described this as her most enduring turn[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/actor-madhu-malhotra-passes-away-at-72-10582743/). The song went on to become one of the most recognizable tracks from the film[3](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/veteran-actress-madhu-malhotra-known-lambi-judaai-hero-dies-72/).
She also appeared as one of the leading ladies in Raj N. Sippy's 1982 action comedy *Satte Pe Satta*, headlined by Amitabh Bachchan and [Hema Malini](https://www.edgepedia.org/hema-malini), cast opposite the comedian Paintal as the girlfriend of his character Budh, and featured in the film's song "Mausam Mastana"[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/actor-madhu-malhotra-passes-away-at-72-10582743/) • [5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/who-was-madhu-malhotra-satte-pe-satta-and-hero-actress-who-passed-away-at-age-of-71/amp_articleshow/129586216.cms).
**Supporting roles.** Her career never progressed beyond tertiary roles in films large and small[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/actor-madhu-malhotra-passes-away-at-72-10582743/). Examples include [Prem Chopra](https://www.edgepedia.org/prem-chopra)'s love interest in [J. Om Prakash](https://www.edgepedia.org/j-om-prakash)'s 1981 romantic drama *Aas Paas*; [Anil Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/anil-kapoor)'s sister in Harmesh Malhotra's 1992 adaptation of *Heer Ranjha*, with Sridevi as Heer; Mrs. Malik, wife of Bharat Kapoor's character, in Rakesh Roshan's 1993 action comedy *King Uncle*, headlined by Shah Rukh Khan, Jackie Shroff, and Nagma; and a role in Vikram Bhatt's 1998 action film *Ghulam*, led by Aamir Khan and Rani Mukerji[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/actor-madhu-malhotra-passes-away-at-72-10582743/). She also worked in the horror films *Khooni Murda* (1989) and *Roohani Taaqat* (1991)[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/who-was-madhu-malhotra-satte-pe-satta-and-hero-actress-who-passed-away-at-age-of-71/amp_articleshow/129586216.cms), and on television as Mrs. Thakur in two episodes of the series *C.I.D.* in 1999[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1065949/).
The size of her filmography is reported differently: Indian Film History lists 82 titles[4](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actress/madhu-malhotra), while the Times of India and Asianet Newsable report more than 100 films over her career[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/who-was-madhu-malhotra-satte-pe-satta-and-hero-actress-who-passed-away-at-age-of-71/amp_articleshow/129586216.cms) • [7](https://newsable.asianetnews.com/gallery/entertainment/remembering-lambi-judai-actress-madhu-malhotra-her-life-and-film-career-4til1wt). Her last screen appearance was in Mohan Bhakri's *Woh Bewafa Thi* (2000)[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/actor-madhu-malhotra-passes-away-at-72-10582743/).
## Tributes
After her death, the director Anil Sharma, whose films include *Gadar 2*, recalled her work in his film *Shraddhanjali* (1981), saying, "She did a small role in my film 'Shraddhanjali' (1981). She was a complete professional."[7](https://newsable.asianetnews.com/gallery/entertainment/remembering-lambi-judai-actress-madhu-malhotra-her-life-and-film-career-4til1wt)
## References
1. [Madhu Malhotra, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1065949/)
2. [Actor Madhu Malhotra passes away at 72, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/actor-madhu-malhotra-passes-away-at-72-10582743/)
3. [Veteran actress Madhu Malhotra, known for 'Lambi Judaai' from Hero, dies at 72, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/veteran-actress-madhu-malhotra-known-lambi-judaai-hero-dies-72/)
4. [Madhu Malhotra, Indian Film History](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actress/madhu-malhotra)
5. [Who was Madhu Malhotra? 'Satte Pe Satta' and 'Hero' actress who passed away at age of 71, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/who-was-madhu-malhotra-satte-pe-satta-and-hero-actress-who-passed-away-at-age-of-71/amp_articleshow/129586216.cms)
6. [Face of "Lambi Judaai": Veteran actress Madhu Malhotra dies at 72, Kerala Kaumudi](https://www.keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=1715951)
7. [Who was Madhu Malhotra? Remembering Lambi Judai actress, Asianet Newsable](https://newsable.asianetnews.com/gallery/entertainment/remembering-lambi-judai-actress-madhu-malhotra-her-life-and-film-career-4til1wt)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of South Asia › Indian screen actors, 1970s to 1990s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license