Nirmal Rishi

Nirmal Rishi (born 1943) is an Indian Punjabi film and television actress. She is most remembered for her role as Gulabo Maasi in her first movie Long Da Lishkara (1983). She is best known for appearing in Punjabi movies like Nikka Zaildar, Nikka Zaildar 2 and The Great Sardar.^[2] In 2024, she was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri award by the Government of India.^[3][4]

Nirmal Rishi
Nirmal Rishi
Born	(1943-08-28) August 28, 1943 (age 81) Khiva Kalan Bathinda (now Mansa), Punjab, British India[1]
Occupation(s)	Actress, Teacher
Years active	1970s-present
Honours	Padma Shri (2024)

Early life and film career

Rishi was born in 1943 in a Punjabi Brahmin family in the village Khiva Kalan of Mansa district.^[5] Her father was Sarpanch Baldev Krishan Rishi and mother name was Bachni Devi. She was very passionate about theatre right from her school days. She chose to be a physical education instructor and joined Government College Patiala for Physical Education.^[6] During her studies at Govt College for Physical education she came into contact with Harpal & Nina Tiwana and joined their theatre group Punjab Kala Manch, she was one of there first students and her compatriot during her time then was Late Shri Om Puri. She has been associated with the Tiwana family since then and has been a part of all the plays. She is the founder trustee of the Harpal Tiwana Foundation.

She acted in more than 60 films, including Long Da Lishkara (1983) Ucha Dar Babe Nanak Da (1985), Diva Bale Sari Raat, Suneha, Love Punjab (2015), Death on Wheels, Woman from the East, Nikka Zaildar (2016), Angrej (2015), Lahoriye (2017), and Nikka Zaildar 2 (2017) and a friendly appearance in Bollywood Superhit movie Dangal (2016).^[7]

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1983	Long Da Lishkara	Gulabo Massi
1985	Ucha Dar Babe Nanak Da	Bhaago (Shamsher's sister)
1990	Sheran De Putt Sher	Bachni
1990	Qurbani Jatt Di	Bhua
1991	Jigra Jatt Da	Bishan Kaur- Bakhtaawar's mother
1991	Diva Bale Sari Raat	Jindo
1993	Ankhila Soorma	Tejo
1995	Khel Taqdeeran De	Kauri
1997	Mela	Parsinn Kaur
2007	Billian ch Baander	Mrs Saroj Bakshi
2008	Sat Sri Akal
2009	Akhiyaan Udeekdian	Dilsher's Mother
2016	Lakeeran
2010	Panjaban -Love Rules Hearts	Karan's Mother
2013	Woman from the East	Jeeto Singh
2013	Saadi Love Story
2014	Dilli 1984	Vamp
2014	Little Terrors	Grandmother
2014	Oh My Pyo!	Binnu's Mother
2015	Angrej	Marho's grandmother
2016	Darra	Mother of Darra, Pammi, and Kartar
2016	Love Punjab	Pargat's Mother
2016	Nikka Zaildar	Daleep Kaur- Nikka's grandmother
2016	Bambukat	Resham's mother
2016	Dangal	Cameo Appearance
2017	Lahoriye	Tej Parkash Kaur- Kikkar's mother
2017	Rabb Da Radio	Bebe Hardev Kaur
2017	Arjan	Amro
2017	Asli Punjab
2017	The Great Sardaar	Sarpanch's Mother
2017	KRAZZY TABBAR	Swarn Kaur
2017	Nikka Zaildar 2	Deso Kaur- Nikka's Bebe
2017	Bailaras
2017	Ek Anokhi Dulhan	Saavi
2017	Hard Kaur	Satwant Kaur
2018	Subedaar Joginder Singh	Bibi Krishan Kaur
2018	Laung Laachi	Ajaypal's daadi
2018	Daana Paani	Basant Kaur (old age)
2018	Carry On Jatta 2	Lady at Marriage Beaureu
2018	Kurmaiyan	Ambo Jai Kaur
2018	Parahuna	Bhua
2018	Aate Di Chidi
2018	Afsar
2018	Marriage Palace
2018	Rajma Chawal	Beeji/Bebe
2018	Bhajj Rohan Ve
2019	Arjun Patiala	Arjun's Mother
2019	Aakhiri Waris
2019	Vadda Kalakaar
2019	Kaake Da Viyah	Bebe
2019	Kala Shah Kala	Nindro Bhua
2019	Guddiyan Patole	Naani Jal Kaur
2020	Who's Your Daddy??	Biji
2021	Paani Ch Madhaani
2022	Saunkan Saunkne	Nirmal Singh's mother
2022	Bajre Da Sitta	roop's grandmother
2022	Ni Main Sass Kutni
2022	Sher Bagga	Shera's Grandmother
2022	Shakkar Paare
2022	Maa Da Ladla
2022	Honeymoon
2023	Mitran Da Naa Chalda
2023	Godday Godday Chaa
2024	Shinda Shinda No Papa

References

1. "Nirmal Rishi News | Latest News of Nirmal Rishi | Times of India Entertainment". The Times of India.
2. "Nirmal Rishi". IMDb.
3. "Nirmal Rishi". Indian Express.
4. "Padma Awards 2024: Nirmal Rishi and Pran Sabharwal honored for their exemplary work in Punjabi film and theater". The Times of India. 26 January 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
5. "ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਿਨੇਮੇ ਦੀ 'ਗੁਲਾਬੋ' ਮਾਸੀ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਰਿਸੀ". 1 November 2017.
6. "Nirmal Rishi - Theatre Artist". Archived from the original on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
7. Newsdesk. "Nirmal Rishi: Living with theatre, its ups and downs".^{[permanent dead link‍]}