Fans of early Bollywood will notice that Sulochana—born Ruby Myers—and Pramila have a lot in common in their lives and professions. Both became superstars in the Indian cinema industry during a time when Indian women were rarely seen outside the home, both were known for their incredible dancing abilities, and both had unparalleled control over their careers.
But, perhaps most importantly, both actresses were members of India’s small but influential Jewish community – a community that would revolutionize the country’s burgeoning film industry.
“Sulochana was paid better than the Governor of Bombay at one point,” according to Elisabeth M. Stevens, curator of the new exhibit “Baghdadis & the Bene Israel in Bollywood and Beyond” at the Center for Jewish History in New York, a fact that was breathlessly reported in the Indian press at the time about the actress who would go on to appear in 72 films throughout her career.
