Bhanu Athaiya, the woman who made a historic win for India on April 11, 1983, by winning Oscar for best costume design for Lord Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi in Los Angeles at the 55th annual Academy Awards. She not only won Oscar but also became the first Indian to win an Oscar. She won along with her British counterpart John Mollo and continued to be the Indian woman to hold the title for 26 years. Later, AR Rahman, Resul Pookutty and Gulzar have won Oscar but in woman, she still is the only one to hold the title.
As we celebrate the 90th Birthday of the history-making woman, let’s take a look at some lesser known facts about Bhanu Athaiya
- Bhanu Athaiya was born on April 28, 1929, in Kolhapur, Maharashtra of British India.
- Her full name is Bhanumati Annasaheb Rajopadhye
- She is a costume designer by profession and is known for her work in the film Gandhi (1982), Lagaan, Once Upon a Time in India (2001) and Shah Rukh Khan starrer Swadesh (2004).
- Bhanu Athaiya returned her Oscar in December 2012 to the Academy as she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and was scared of her health. She felt it is the safest place for her trophy after she is gone.
- She is the author of the book The Art of Costume Design which released in 2010.
- She has made costume designs in movies like Pyaasa, Chaudhvi Ka Chand, and Saheb Biwi Aur Ghulammade her popular.
- She is working for the cinema for 50 years and has made costumes for around 100 films.
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