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Tanuja Samarth (Marathi: तनूजा समर्थ) , popularly known as Tanuja (September 23, 1943) is an Indian actress. She is the mother of Kajol and Tanisha.

Tanuja was born in Mumbai into a family of four children as Tanuja Samarth to poet Kumarsen Samarth and his wife Shobhna Samarth. Her mother was a famous 1930s and 1940s actress and her father was a great Maharashtrian film director. When she was very young her parents separated. Tanuja entered films as a child actress and continued working until 1973. She met director Shomu Mukherjee on the set of Ek Baar Muskara Do. A whirlwind romance ended in a 1973 marriage. They had two children: Kajol Mukherjee (b. 1974) and Tanisha Mukherjee (b. 1978). They were later separated.

She started her film career with her older sister Nutan in the film Hamari Beti (1950) as Baby Tanuja. She debuted as an adult actress in the film Chhabili (1960) which was directed by her mother. Her other films included Baharein Phir Bhi Aayengi. Her film career ran through the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

After the success of Haathi Mere Saathi (1971), she acted in Mere jeevan Saathi, Do Chor and Ek Baar Muskara Do (1972). Some of the other films she has acted in are Pavitra Paapi, Bhoot Bangla, Anubhav, Jeene Ki Raah, etc.

Afterwards, Tanuja retired from films for a number of years, but came back when her marriage ended. She was now offered supporting roles often starring former heroes. Her Pyar Ki Kahani hero Amitabh Bachchan had to call her bhabhi (sister-in-law) in Khuddar (1982). She also played a supporting role in Raj Kapoor's Prem Rog (1982). She has recently appeared in such films as Saathiya (2002), Rules (2003), and Khakee (2003) as a supporting actress.

During the mid 60's Tanuja started a parallel career in Bengali movies in Kolkata starting with the film Deya Neya (1963) where she was paired opposite the stalwart of Bengali cinema, Uttam Kumar. She followed it up with many other memorable hit films like Anthony-Firingee (1967) and Rajkumari (1970). Tanuja had fantastic on-screen chemistry with the then superstar Soumitra Chatterjee with whom she made some huge box office hits like Teen Bhuvaner Parey (1969), Prothom Kadam Phool etc.

Tanuja spoke Bengali so well onscreen that in those days many of her fans in West Bengal refused to believe that her mother tongue was actually Marathi.^{[citation needed]}

• 1967 - Filmfare nomination as Best Supporting Actress for Jewel Thief
• 1969 - Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for paisa ya pyar

As Artiste

• Deewaar (2004)
• Khakee (2004)
• Rules (Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula) (2003)
• Bhoot (2003)
• Saathiya (2002)
• Bhai No.1 (2000)
• Safari (1999)
• Swami Vivekanand (1998)
• Muqadama (1996)
• Paandav (1995)
• Aag (1994)
• Aatish (1994)
• Antim Nyay (1993)
• Izzat Ki Roti (1993)
• Gajab Tamasha (1992)
• Abhi Abhi (1992)
• Bekhudi (1992)
• Ek Ladka Ek Ladki (1992)
• I Love You (1992)
• Jawahar (1991)
• Pyar Bhara Dil (1991)
• Dushman (1990)
• Gawaahi (1989)
• Gharana (1989)
• Taaqatwar (1989)
• Meri Zabaan (1989)
• Parayaa Ghar (1989)
• Rakhwala (1989)
• Paap Ko Jalaa Kar Raakh Kar Doonga (1988)
• Agnee (1988)
• Mera Muqaddar (1988)
• Mera Suhag (1987)
• Diljala (1987)
• Ghar Ka Sukh (1987)
• Itihaas (1987)
• Maa Beti (1987)
• Jaal (1986)
• Love 86 (1986)
• Mohabbat Ki Kasam (1986)
• Nasihat (1986)
• Suhaagan (1986)
• Adhikar (1986)
• Anokha Rishta (1986)
• Ek Aur Sikander (1986)
• Lover Boy (1985)
• Zabardast (1985)
• Ghar Dwaar (1985)
• Yaadgaar (1984)
• Boxer (1984)
• Kunwari Bahu (1984)
• Mati Maange Khoon (1984)
• Nadaniyan (1984)
• Pet Pyar Aur Paap (1984)
• Sohni Mahiwal (1984)
• Pyaas (1983)
• Ek Jaan Hain Hum (1983)
• Prem Rog (1982)
• Rustom (1982)
• Bahu Ho To Aisi (1982)
• Johny I Love You (1982)
• Kaamchor (1982)
• Yaarana (1981)
• Commander (1981)
• Bandish (1980)
• Bin Maa Ke Bachchey (1980)
• Lal Kothi (1978)
• Aaja Sanam (1975)
• Hum Shakal (1974)
• Humrahi (1974)
• Imtihaan (1974)
• Amir Garib (1974)
• Insaaf (1973)
• Nannha Shikari (1973)
• Do Chor (1972)
• Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972)
• Mome Ki Gudiya (1972)
• Door Ka Rahi (1971)
• Ek Paheli (1971)
• Ek Thi Reeta (1971)
• Haathi Mere Saathi (1971)
• Preet Ki Dori (1971)
• Purani Pehchan (1971)
• Pyar Ki Kahani (1971)
• Anubhav (1971)
• Bachpan (1970)
• Pavitra Papi (1970)
• Priya (1970)
• Ek Masoom (1969)
• Gustakhi Maaf (1969)
• Jeene Ki Raah (1969)
• Jiyo Aur Jeene Do (1969)
• Paisa Ya Pyar (1969)
• Do Doni Char (1968)
• Izzat (1968)
• Juari (1968)
• Sapno Ka Saudagar (1968)
• Wahan Ke Log (1967)
• Jewel Thief (1967)
• Nai Roshni (1967)
• Baharen Phir Bhi Ayengi (1966)
• Sannata (1966)
• Bhoot Bungla (1965)
• Chand Aur Suraj (1965)
• Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal (1965)
• Benazir (1964)
• Aaj Aur Kal (1963)
• Hamari Yaad Aayegi (1961)
• Mem Didi (1961)
• Chhabili (1960)
• Amber (1952)
• Hamari Beti (1950)

As Guest Appearance

• Masoom (1983)

As Special Appearance

• Khud-daar (1982)

• Tanuja at the Internet Movie Database
• Dinesh Raheja's profile on Tanuja http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/jan/21dinesh.htm

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