Manju Singh

Born: 1 January 1948

Manju Singh was a true multi-hyphenate in Indian entertainment—actor, producer, and advocate for meaningful content long before it became a buzzword. She charmed audiences as "Didi" on the beloved children's show Khel Khilone, a role that made her a household name and kept her on screens for seven solid years. But her film work was equally memorable, particularly her role in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's 1979 comedy classic Gol Maal, which remains a cult favorite. Beyond the camera, Singh was a trailblazer in television production, launching Show Theme in 1983 as India's first sponsored TV show. Throughout the 80s and 90s, she produced some genuinely groundbreaking series like Ek Kahani (based on regional literary short stories), Adhikar (tackling women's legal rights), and Swaraj (a historical take on Bhagat Singh's legacy)—shows that proved entertainment could educate without preaching. What set Manju Singh apart was her unwavering belief that media should serve a purpose beyond just ratings. Her style blended warmth, intelligence, and a refreshing earnestness that resonated across generations. In 2007, she founded WorldKids Foundation to champion "Entertainment with a Purpose," launching initiatives like the WorldKids International Film Festival and Lessons in the Dark, a program introducing cinema to students in classrooms. Her contributions earned her a nomination to the Central Advisory Board of Education in 2015—a recognition that her impact transcended entertainment into shaping how India thinks about learning and culture. Manju Singh passed away in April 2022, but her legacy remains in every meaningful show she created and every child she inspired.