[1] A recipient of two Filmfare Awards, Tanuja is best known for her roles in the Hindi films like Memdidi (1961), Chand Aur Suraj (1965), Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966), Jewel Thief (1967), Nai Roshni (1967), Jeene Ki Raah (1969), Haathi Mere Saathi (1971), Anubhav (1971), Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972), Do Chor (1972) as well as in Bengali films like Deya Neya (1963), Antony Firingee (1967), Teen Bhubaner Pare (1969), Pratham Kadam Phool (1970), Rajkumari (1970).

The film that truly marked her transition to adult heroine was Hamari Yaad Aayegi (1961), directed by Kidar Sharma, who had earlier discovered Raj Kapoor, Madhubala and Geeta Bali.

One of her early films noted for her acting was Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966), directed by Shaheed Latif.

[citation needed] Tanuja received her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the spy film Jewel Thief (1967).

Tanuja had on-screen chemistry with Soumitra Chatterjee, with whom she made some films such as Teen Bhuvaner Parey (1969) and Prothom Kadam Phool.

Her Pyar Ki Kahani hero Amitabh Bachchan had to call her "bhabhi" (sister-in-law) in Khud-Daar (1982).

In 1986, she received an invitation from Sri Lanka to appear in the Sinhalese film Peralikarayo opposite to Vijaya Kumaratunga where she played the main role.

[6] She then appeared in films such as Saathiya (2002), Rules: Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula (2003), and Khakee (2003) as a supporting actress.