With Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Israel, the concept of a Jewish contribution to Bollywood came to mind. Sulochana, India’s first female superstar; Rose, a popular starlet; Pramila, the first Miss India; Nadira, the “quintessential vamp” who starred in several Raj Kapoor films; Joseph David Penkar, who was also a lyricist and playwright, wrote India’s first talkie, Alam Ara); Joseph David Penkar, who was also a lyricist and playwright, wrote India’s first talkie (Bunny Reuben). Character artists David, Nadira, and Sulochna are well-known to people born in the 1950s and 1970s.
The contribution of Jews to Indian cinema dates from the silent film era until the end of the twentieth century. During the 1930s and 1940s, when anti-Semitism was at its pinnacle in other areas of the world, Jews were engaged in Bollywood.
Because it was prohibited for Hindu and Islamic women to appear on the screen when Indian cinema first began, male actors were cast in female roles. However, the Jewish population in India was more liberal and progressive, and they were willing to take these positions. Because they had lighter skin, they were better suited for celluloid. Because the film was first silent, it was simple for Jewish women to play the female lead because the language was not an issue for them. They are unable to communicate in Hindi or Urdu.
Source: https://www.bolywoodfiles.blogspot.com/2017/07/jewish-people-in-bollywood.html
