Navnindra Behl Age, Death, Husband, Children, Family, Biography
Quick Info→
Age: 76 Years
Death Cause: Illness Due To Old Age
Death Date: 16/03/2026
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Other Name | Navninder Behl |
| Profession(s) | • Theatre and television director • Writer • Actor |
| Famous for | Her five decade career in theatre and film industry |
| Physical Stats | |
| Height (approx.) | 5' (152 cm) |
| Weight (approx.) | 50 Kg (110 lbs) |
| Figure Measurements (approx.) | 32-30-34 |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Grey |
| Career | |
| Awards, Honours, Achievements | • Won awards as producer and director at the first Indo-Soviet Russian Film Festival in 1989-90 for the video film Chirion Ka Chamba produced for Delhi Doordarshan • Won the best writer award from Sahitya Kala Parishad, Delhi Administration in 1984 for the script Kumarswamy • Won the Akashwani Award for best writer from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India • Won the Rashtriya Ratan Award for contribution to the film and television industry from International Friendship Forum, New Delhi • Received honour from Human Rights Organisation for contribution to cinema through the film Maachis directed by Gulzar • Received honour from Manch Rangmanch, Amritsar for achievements in theatre and media |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 30 October 1949 (Sunday) |
| Birthplace | Delhi, India |
| Date of Death | 16 March 2026 |
| Place of Death | Mumbai |
| Age (at the time of death) | 76 Years |
| Death Cause | Illness due to old age |
| Zodiac sign | Scorpio |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Delhi |
| Educational Qualification | PhD in production styles |
| Religion | Sikhism |
| Caste | Jatt |
| Food Habit | Non-Vegetarian |
| Social Media | • Instagram • Threads |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status (at the time of death) | Widow |
| Marriage Date | 1 July 1978 |
| Family | |
| Husband/Spouse | Lalit Behl (Actor, director, producer and writer)![]() |
| Children | Son- Kanu Behl (Film writer and director)![]() |
| Parents | Father- Kapoor Singh Ghuman Mother- ![]() |
| Siblings | Brother- Ramnik Ghuman![]() |
| Other Relatives | Daughter-in-law- Sneha Khanwalkar (Music Director) Uncle- Surjit Singh Ghuman |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Navnindra Behl
- Navnindra Behl was born into a Jatt Sikh family. She started stage acting at the age of three.
- Her father, Kapoor Singh Ghuman, was a prolific playwright in Punjabi theatre and culture.
- She took part in plays at school and college. She did amateur theatre at Patiala, a former princely state in India.
- She completed her post-graduate studies in Punjabi literature. She joined the Drama Department of Punjabi University, Patiala, as a lecturer shortly after graduation.
- She trained and groomed many stage, television and film artists during her 37 years as lecturer, reader, professor and head of department.
- She served as Director of the Audio-Visual Research Centre, funded by CEC, University Grants Commission, Delhi, for three years.
- She taught production, direction and acting for television at Patiala University for 25 years.
- She served as eminent visiting faculty at Punjab University, Jaipur University, Garhwal University, GNDU University, Amritsar, Film and Television Institute, Kolkata and Mumbai University.
- She did her PhD in production styles while already working in the theatre department, writing and directing at the same time.
- Radio once rejected her due to her voice, but when television came to India, she became one of the first women to work as an anchor and producer in the medium.
- She worked as a writer, actress and director in the television industry for 30 years.
- She wrote scripts for television programmes for Doordarshan. In the early days of Doordarshan, she wrote scripts, directed programmes and acted in them at the same time, often creating roles for herself.
- She wrote documentaries for the Central and Punjab Government Departments.
- She wrote documentaries and educational programmes for the Audio-Visual Research Centre, CEC, Delhi and the Films Division.
- Her television serial Afsane, a part series set in different regional backgrounds across India, received 3 lakh handwritten letters from viewers.
- Her television serials include Khanabadosh, Roop Basant, Ishqbaaaz and Buniyad.
- She wrote and directed many stage plays throughout her career, including Bruhon Paar Na Jayin, Kashmir Diary, Razayi, and Bandmaster.
- She worked as a writer and actress in the film industry for 15 years.
- She acted in films by Gulzar in Maachis in 1996, Dibakar Banerjee in Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, and Vishal Bhardwaj in Gubaare.
- She also acted in Hollywood projects like The Pride and The Guru.
- She wrote ten books on theatre and media studies as a creative writer and researcher, such as Abhinay Kala on the art of acting and Nataki Sahit on dramatic literature.
- She served as a member on the selection panels of UPSC for theatre and media and Rabindra Bharti University.
- She served on the board of experts and advisers of the Indian Theatre Department, Punjab University, Chandigarh, and the Department of Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Delhi Government.
- She served as a Member Syndicate and the Member of the Academic Council of Punjabi University, Patiala.
- Despite a career spanning over five decades, she never approached anyone for work, and all her roles came to her.
















