Mallika Sarabhai

Activist, Indian Classical Dancer, Choreographer

Indian Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Quick Info

ProfessionActivist, Indian Classical Dancer, Choreographer
NationalityIndian
Date of Birth09/05/1953
Age72 years
BirthplaceAhmedabad, Gujarat, India

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Physical Stats & More

Height164 cm
Weight60 kg
Eye ColorBlack
Hair ColorBlack

Educational Qualification(s)

SchoolNot Known
College
  • Indian Institute of Management
  • Gujarat University
  • St. Xavier's College, Ahmedabad
Degree(s)
  • MBA
  • Doctorate in Organisational Behaviour
  • Economics
  • PhD in Organisational Behaviour

Relationships & More

Marital StatusMarried
HusbandBipin Shah (Publisher and Managing Director, Mapin Publishing)
Marriage Date1982
Children
  • Revanta Sarabhai Shah (Dancer)
  • Anahita Sarabhai Shah

Family

FatherLate Vikram Sarabhai (Indian Space Scientist)
MotherLate Mrinalini Vikram Sarabhai (Classical Dancer)
SiblingsKartikeya Sarabhai (Environmental Educator)

Career

Trained in Bharatanatyam under her mother Mrinalini Sarabhai and in Kuchipudi under R. Acharyelu.
Acted in Hindi, Malayalam, Gujarati, and international films.
Co-founded Mapin Publishing with her husband Bipin Shah in 1984.
Performed 'Shakti: The Power of Women' in 1989.
Recipient of Crystal Award by World Economic Forum in 2009.
Padma Bhushan awardee.
Chancellor of Kerala Kalamandalam.
Lead soloist at Darpana Academy of Performing Arts since 1977.
Played the role of Draupadi in Peter Brook's The Mahabharata for five years, performing in France, North America, Australia, Japan, Scotland, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland.
Launched Darpana for Development in 1980 to promote performing arts as a medium for social change.
Founded Janavak (The Voice of the People) department to research and document tribal folk arts and crafts.
Co-director of Darpana Academy of Performing Arts for nearly 40 years.
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award recipient for contribution in creative dance.
Gaurav Puraskar from Government of Gujarat in 1992.
Best Actress Award for Gujarati films in 1975.

Favourites

Favourite ColourYellow

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Daughter of Indian space scientist Vikram Sarabhai and Mrinalini Sarabhai, founder of Darpana Academy of Performing Arts.
2. Started learning dancing at a young age and acting at 15.
3. Played 'Draupadi' in Peter Brook’s play 'The Mahabharata'.
4. Won the Golden Star Award for Best Dance Soloist at Theatre De Champs Elysees, Paris.
5. Manages Darpana Academy of Performing Arts founded by her mother.
6. Performance of 'Sita’s daughters' performed over 500 times worldwide.
7. Wrote the script for the play 'Unsuni' based on Harsh Mander’s book 'Unheard Voices'.
8. Co-directed 'Women with Broken Wings' in 2012.
9. Recreated 'Kadak Badshaahi' play based on Ahmedabad city's history.
10. Anchored shows on STAR TV and Doordarshan.
11. Activist for women empowerment and environmental consciousness.
12. Columnist for Times of India, Vanitha, The Week, DivyaBhaskar, Hans, DNA.
13. Candidate against L K Advani for Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat in 2009.
14. Joined Aam Aadmi Party in 2014.
15. Studied martial art forms from South India and North East India, incorporating them into contemporary dance pieces.
16. Active in UNICEF projects including Peer Educators Project, Anandshala Project, and Rural Health Project.
17. Participated in 'The Acting Healthy Project' to educate people on avoiding maternal and infant deaths due to malnutrition.
18. Darpana Academy holds over 100 hours of video and audio recordings from tribes in northwest India.
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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