Sadhana Shivdasani (2 September 1941 – 25 December 2015), popularly known by the mononym Sadhana, was an Indian film actress, who appeared in many successful films of 1960s and 70s.
Regarded as one of the finest and iconic film actresses in the history of Hindi cinema, Sadhana was the highest-paid actress of her time from early 1960s to late 1970s.
Popularly known as The Mystery Girl, Sadhana was one of the most beautiful and the top actresses in the 1960s, a period regarded as Bollywood's "golden era".
She was active from 1960-1981.In a career spanning over four decades, Sadhana starred in over 30 successful films such as Hum Dono, Woh Kaun Thi, Rajkumar, Waqt, Mere Mehboob, Mera Saaya, Anita, Sacchai and Ek Phool do mali.
Shivdasani appeared in the Sindhi language film Abaana and entered the Hindi film industry through the 1960s romantic film Love in Simla.
Her fringe haircut became popular during the 1960s and came to be known as the "Sadhana cut".She became famous with her three suspense thriller films; Woh Kaun Thi? (1964), Mera Saaya (1966) and Anita (1967), all directed by Raj Khosla.
Sadhana was given a double role in her two commercial successful films Woh Kaun Thi? and Mera Saaya.
She was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for films such Woh Kaun Thi? and Waqt in 1965 and 1966 respectively.
She took retirement from the film industry in the mid-1970s before which she also directed and co-produced a few films.
She received the IIFA Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to hit and evergreen classic films of Bollywood.
Sadhana married her Love in Shimla director R.K.
Nayyar in 1966.
Their marriage lasted for 30 years and ended when R.K.
Nayyar died in 1995.
Sadhana never married after his death and lived alone for most of her life.
Sadhana was diagnosed with cancer in her old age that led her to her death on 25 December 2015.