Aruna Irani Biography: Age, Husband, Movies, Career and Life Story
Aruna Irani is a veteran Indian actress with a career spanning more than six decades. Learn about her age, husband, movies, career and life story.
Aruna Irani is one of those familiar faces in Indian cinema that audiences have watched for generations. From her early days as a child artist to becoming a respected character actress, she has spent most of her life in front of the camera.
Her journey was not built around being the leading heroine of a few blockbuster films. Instead, she created a career through hundreds of roles, playing everything from lively supporting characters and dancers to strict mothers and memorable negative roles.
Over the years, Aruna Irani worked with some of the biggest names in Indian cinema and successfully moved from films to television. She also explored work behind the camera as a producer and director.
What makes her journey interesting is how naturally she adapted to every phase of her career. When the kind of roles offered to her changed, she changed with them.
Today, Aruna Irani is regarded as one of the veteran actresses of Indian cinema, with a career that has lasted for more than six decades.
Aruna Irani Quick Facts
Information | Details |
|---|---|
Full Name | Aruna Irani |
Date of Birth | August 18, 1946 |
Age | 80 years old |
Birthplace | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
Nationality | Indian |
Profession | Actress, Producer and Director |
Film Debut | Ganga Jumna (1961) |
Known For | Films and television |
Husband | Kuku Kohli |
Marriage Year | 1990 |
Children | No biological children |
Major Awards | Filmfare Awards and Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award |
Years Active | 1961–present |
Who Is Aruna Irani?
Aruna Irani is an Indian actress who has worked in the entertainment industry since childhood.
She became a familiar name through Hindi films but also worked in several regional film industries. Over the years, she appeared in hundreds of films and played a wide variety of characters.
For many people, Aruna Irani is remembered for the supporting roles that often added energy or emotion to a film. Even when she was not the main character, she had a way of making her presence noticeable.
Her career later moved towards strong character roles, especially in the 1980s and 1990s. She also became popular with television audiences and eventually worked as a producer and director.
Aruna Irani Age
Aruna Irani was born on August 18, 1946, in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
She is 80 years old as of August 2026.
Even after spending most of her life in the entertainment industry, Aruna Irani has continued to express her interest in acting and remains connected to the profession that shaped her life.
Early Life and Family
Aruna Irani grew up in Mumbai in a large family.
Her father, Faredun Irani, was connected with theatre, while her mother, Saguna, was also associated with acting. Growing up around performers meant that the world of acting was not completely unfamiliar to her.
However, her childhood was not easy.
Her family faced financial difficulties, and Aruna had to leave school at a young age. She studied only up to around the sixth standard before entering the film industry as a child artist.
At an age when most children were focused on school, Aruna was already learning how film sets worked.
Acting gradually became more than just a profession. It became an important part of supporting her family and building her future.
Education
Aruna Irani could not continue formal education for long because of her family's financial situation.
She left school after the sixth standard and began working in films.
But her education did not really stop there. She learned through experience.
Working with established actors, directors and technicians gave her practical knowledge that she carried throughout her career. Since she entered the industry so young, she practically grew up around cameras, film sets and performances.
How Aruna Irani Started Her Acting Career
Aruna Irani entered the film industry as a child artist in the 1961 film Ganga Jumna.
Her early roles were small, and success did not come overnight.
She continued appearing in films and gradually gained more opportunities. Movies such as Farz, Upkar and Aaya Sawan Jhoomke helped her gain experience and become more familiar to audiences.
Like many actors who start young, she had to grow with the industry.
As she became older, she moved from child roles to supporting characters and slowly developed her own identity as a performer.
The Turning Point in Her Career
The 1970s brought more recognition for Aruna Irani.
She appeared in several popular films and worked alongside many leading actors of that era. Caravan became one of the films that helped her gain wider attention.
She was not limited to one type of role.
Aruna could perform dance sequences, comedy scenes and dramatic moments. This versatility became one of her biggest strengths.
Some of her well-known films from different stages of her career include Caravan, Bombay to Goa, Bobby, Fakira, Sargam, Love Story, Rocky and Beta.
The variety in her filmography is one reason audiences from different generations remember her.
Aruna Irani's Famous Movies
Choosing only a few films from such a long career is difficult, but some of the movies most closely associated with Aruna Irani include:
Ganga Jumna
Farz
Upkar
Caravan
Bombay to Goa
Bobby
Fakira
Sargam
Love Story
Rocky
Pet Pyaar Aur Paap
Beta
Suhaag
Ghulam-E-Mustafa
Her roles changed over time, and that was probably one of the reasons she was able to remain active for so long.
Moving Into Character Roles
As Aruna Irani got older, the industry naturally began offering her different kinds of characters.
Instead of stepping away from acting, she embraced that change.
During the late 1980s and 1990s, she became especially well known for strong character roles. She played mothers, strict family members and, at times, characters with a darker side.
One of her most memorable performances came in the 1992 film Beta.
Her role in the film earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress and remains one of the performances many people associate with her.
The success of roles like this proved that an actress did not need to be the main heroine to leave a strong impression.
Aruna Irani on Television
After building a long career in films, Aruna Irani also became a familiar face on Indian television.
Television introduced her to a younger audience and gave her the chance to take on longer, more detailed characters.
Some of the television projects associated with her include:
Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand
Mehndi Tere Naam Ki
Vaidehi
Naaginn
Maayka
Her move to television was not simply a career shift. It showed her willingness to try something new instead of staying limited to films.
Producer and Director
Aruna Irani eventually explored the other side of the camera as well.
She became involved in producing and directing television projects. After spending decades as an actress, she already understood the practical side of the entertainment industry.
Working behind the camera allowed her to look at storytelling from a different perspective.
Projects associated with her television work include Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand, Mehndi Tere Naam Ki, Rabba Ishq Na Hove and Vaidehi.
Her experience as an actress helped her understand performers, while her years in the industry gave her a strong understanding of how productions worked.
Aruna Irani's Husband and Marriage
Aruna Irani married filmmaker Kuku Kohli in 1990.
Kuku Kohli was known for directing Phool Aur Kaante, the 1991 film that launched Ajay Devgn's career.
Aruna generally kept her personal life away from the media. Over the years, however, she did speak about certain aspects of her marriage and the complicated circumstances surrounding it.
She preferred not to make her personal life the centre of her public image and instead remained focused on her work.
In August 2026, filmmaker Kuku Kohli reportedly passed away at the age of 77.
Did Aruna Irani Have Children?
Aruna Irani does not have biological children.
She has spoken in the past about the personal circumstances and choices connected with this part of her life.
Rather than making assumptions about her private life, it is better to respect what she has chosen to share publicly.
Throughout her life, much of her time and energy went into her family and her long career in the entertainment industry.
Awards and Achievements
Aruna Irani has received recognition for her work over the years.
She won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for:
Pet Pyaar Aur Paap
Beta
She was also honoured with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.
These awards represent only a small part of her career. What stands out more is the number of years she has managed to remain active in an industry where careers can change very quickly.
Latest Update
Even after more than six decades in entertainment, Aruna Irani has continued to stay connected with acting.
In recent years, she has spoken about how important acting remains to her and has shown interest in exploring newer formats.
She has also been associated with newer digital and micro-drama projects, showing that she is still willing to adapt to changes in the entertainment world.
At the same time, 2026 has reportedly been a difficult year for her personally following the death of her husband, filmmaker Kuku Kohli.
Aruna Irani's Net Worth
Aruna Irani's exact net worth has not been officially disclosed.
Many celebrity websites publish estimated figures, but these numbers are often difficult to verify.
During her long career, her income has come from acting in films and television, along with her work as a producer and director.
Because there is no reliable official figure available, it is better not to include an unverified net worth amount in her biography.
Lifestyle and Personal Life
Aruna Irani belongs to a generation of actors who began working long before social media became part of celebrity culture.
She has generally maintained a balance between her public career and private life.
Her interviews often reflect her straightforward personality. She has spoken honestly about the challenges of working in the entertainment industry and the changes she has experienced throughout her career.
For someone who started working as a child, acting has remained a constant part of her life.
Even after decades in the industry, she has continued to speak about her love for performing.
Interesting Facts About Aruna Irani
Aruna Irani started acting as a child artist.
She entered the film industry at a very young age.
She grew up in a family connected with theatre and acting.
Financial difficulties forced her to leave formal education early.
She has worked in films for more than six decades.
Her career includes hundreds of films.
She has worked in Hindi and several regional film industries.
She won two Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actress.
She received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.
She later worked as a television producer and director.
She has worked with several generations of Indian actors.
She remains closely connected with acting even after a long career.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Aruna Irani?
Aruna Irani is a veteran Indian actress, producer and director known for her work in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati and other Indian film industries.
How old is Aruna Irani?
Aruna Irani was born on August 18, 1946. She is 80 years old as of August 2026.
Who is Aruna Irani's husband?
Aruna Irani married filmmaker Kuku Kohli in 1990. He died in August 2026.
Does Aruna Irani have children?
Aruna Irani does not have biological children and has spoken publicly about the personal circumstances and choices connected with that part of her life.
When did Aruna Irani start acting?
She began acting as a child artist in the 1961 film Ganga Jumna.
Which are Aruna Irani's famous movies?
Some of her well-known films include Caravan, Bombay to Goa, Bobby, Fakira, Sargam, Love Story, Rocky, Pet Pyaar Aur Paap and Beta.
How many Filmfare Awards has Aruna Irani won?
She won two Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actress and later received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.
Is Aruna Irani still acting?
Yes. As of 2026, Aruna Irani has continued expressing her interest in acting and has been associated with newer projects, including micro-drama content.
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