She escaped an abusive marriage and performed in theatres to survive in Mumbai. How India’s first film actress broke stereotypes and landed a role in a Dadasaheb Phalke movie

Durgabai Kamat, India's first female actor, shattered societal norms by pioneering her presence in early Indian cinema. With a strong foundation in prose performances and adaptations of Shakespeare, she captured the attention of Dadasaheb Phalke, who cast her as Parvati in his groundbreaking film, Mohini Bhasmasur. Her daughter, Kamlabai, took on the role of Mohini, creating a remarkable legacy as a mother-daughter pairing that would forever alter the landscape of Indian film.

Raccontata daeconomictimes.indiatimes.com