What comes to your mind when we say the name, Nirupa Roy? Well, if you ask us, it is the hospital scene from Amar Akbar Anthony where three lost sons of her donate blood simultaneously to save her life. Yes, it's a joke but that scene defined everything from national integration to the proverbial blood is thicker than water. There was a belief in the 70s that Amitabh Bachchan's heroine may change but not his mother. In fact, many assumed Nirupa Roy was his real mother apparently. Such was the impact of their on-screen bonding. Amitabh Bachchan Receives The Dadasaheb Phalke Award From President Ramnath Kovind For Contribution To Indian Film Industry (Watch Video)

But how much do you know about Hindi Cinema's most loved and favoured Maa? Fret no further as we tell you five defining and unknown facts about late Nirupa Roy's life whose motherly roles shaped many generations.

#Meet Kokila Kishorechandra Bulsara

Nirupa Roy got married at the age of 15 and landed in Mumbai with her husband. She was called Kokila Kishorechandra Bulsara. She changed her name to Nirupa Roy when she joined movies. The couple had replied to a Gujarati newspaper advert. She got selected and made her acting debut with a Gujarati film called Ranakdevi.

#Oh My Goddess!

Nirupa Roy had a successful initial career playing goddesses in a lot of mythological films. So she was everything from Sita, Parvati to Meerabai and Savitri. Such was her portrayals that it is said people used to visit her to seek blessings.

#And it all began with Dev Anand

As per reports, the first time she played a hero's mother was for Dev Anand in Munimji (1955). She was 24, seven years younger than her on-screen son!

#Mere Paas Maa Hai wasn't meant for her

Deewar's scene where Shashi Kapoor's four words silenced Amitabh Bachchan raving about his many riches is legendary. Kapoor's words were, "Mere Paas Maa Hai." But Nirupa Roy wasn't the first choice. The role was offered to Waheeda Rehman first but Yash Chopra got cold feet because he had cast her as Bachchan's Kabhi Kabhie. He feared the audience won't accept her as Bachchan's mother if Kabhie Kabhi released first.  Vyajanthimala too was offered the role but she turned it down.

#Die or Not to Die

Apparently, in Bimal Roy's iconic Do Bigha Zameen, Nirupa Roy was supposed to die at the end. But the director's wife found it to be very regressive as the character played by Balraj Sahani wins his land as he loses his wife. This prompted Roy to change the ending and Nirupa Roy was saved.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 04, 2020 10:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).