Durga Khote (born Vita Lad; January 14, 1905 − September 22, 1991) was an Indian actress often referred as one of the pioneers of Indian cinema due to her being the first woman to enter the film industry and breaking societal taboo surrounding it. Beginning as one of the foremost leading ladies of her time, she starred in around 200 films and numerous theatre productions during a 50-year-long career.