Naseem Banu

{{Infobox person

| name = Naseem Banu

| image = Naseem Banu 1942.jpg

| caption = Banu in the film Ujala (1942)

| birth_name = Roshan Ara Begum

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1916|7|4}}

| birth_place = Delhi, British India (present-day India)

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2002|6|18|1916|7|4}}

| death_place = Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

| death_cause =

| occupation = Actress

| years_active = 1935–1966

| notable_works = Pukar (1939)
Sheesh Mahal (1950)

| spouse = Ehsan-ul-Haq

| relatives = Sayyeshaa (great-granddaughter)
Dilip Kumar (son-in-law)

| children = Saira Banu (daughter)
Sultan Ahmed (son)

}}

Naseem Banu (4 July 1916 – 18 June 2002) was an Indian actress.{{cite news |last1=Pandya |first1=Haresh |title=Naseem Banu First female superstar of Indian Cinema |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/sep/04/guardianobituaries.filmnews |access-date=10 October 2014 |agency=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |date=4 September 2002 |archive-date=21 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021071822/http://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/sep/04/guardianobituaries.filmnews |url-status=live }} Starting her acting career in the mid-1930s she continued to act till mid-1950s. Her first film was Khoon Ka Khoon (Hamlet) (1935) with Sohrab Modi under whose Minerva Movietone banner she acted for several years. Her high-point came with Modi's Pukar (1939) in which she played the role of Empress Nur Jahan. According to composer Naushad she got the sobriquet Pari-Chehra (fairy face) Naseem through the publicity advertisements of her films.{{cite web |last1=Khubchandani |first1=Lata |title=They called her Pari Chehra Naseem |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/jun/19banu.htm |work=Rediff.com |access-date=10 October 2014 |archive-date=2 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141002020733/http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/jun/19banu.htm |url-status=live }} She was the mother of actress Saira Banu and mother-in-law to the actor Dilip Kumar.{{cite news |last1=Kaur |first1=Devinder Bir |title=Original Beauty Queen of Hindi films |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020621/art-trib.htm#1 |access-date=10 October 2014 |agency=The Tribune, Chandigarh |work=The Tribune |date=21 June 2002 |archive-date=30 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930223503/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020621/art-trib.htm#1 |url-status=live }}

Early years

Naseem Banu was born as Roshan Ara Begum in Old Delhi, India, into a community of performers and entertainers. Her mother, Chamiyan Bai (also known as Shamshad Begum, not to be confused with the playback singer who had the same name), was a famous and well-earning singer and tawaif of those days.{{cite web |url=http://www.streeshakti.com/bookN.aspx?author=10 |title=Naseem Banu |publisher=StreeShakti |access-date=10 October 2014 |archive-date=16 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016231325/http://www.streeshakti.com/bookN.aspx?author=10 |url-status=live }} Years later, when Naseem was in her prime, and earning a salary of {{Indian Rupees}} 3500, she stated that her mother was, even at that time in her old age, earning more than she was.{{cite web |url=http://cineplot.com/naseem-bano-interview/ |title=Naseem Banu Stardust interview from 1971 |publisher=Cineplot |access-date=10 October 2014 |archive-date=16 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016083854/http://cineplot.com/naseem-bano-interview/ |url-status=live }}

Naseem studied at Queen Mary's High School, Delhi; her mother Shamshad Begum wanted her to become a doctor.{{cite book |last1=Patel |first1=Sushila Rani Baburao |title=Stars of the Indian Screen |date=1952 |publisher=Parker &Sons Limited |location=India |pages=15}} Naseem was keen on films and admired the actress Sulochana (Ruby Myers), ever since she had seen a film of hers, but her mother was against the idea of films. On a visit to Bombay, Naseem got interested in seeing the film shootings and at one of the sets she was approached by Sohrab Modi to play Ophelia in his film Hamlet. Her mother refused permission and Naseem went on a hunger-strike till her mother agreed. Having played the role, Naseem was unable to continue her education as the school was shocked at her acting in films, then considered a lowly profession.

Career

Naseem returned to Bombay and signed a contract with Sohrab Modi. She had started her career with Khoon Ka Khoon (Hamlet) (1935){{citation needed|date=January 2017}} and went on to make several films with Modi under the Minerva Movietone banner. After acting in films like "Khan Bahadur" (1937), Talaq (Divorce) (1938), Meetha Zahar and Vasanti (1938) she started work in what became known as her most famous film Pukar in the role of Noor Jahan. To prepare for the film she went riding every day and learnt singing. The film took over a year to complete and brought Naseem into prominence in a spectacular manner.{{cite web |last1=Malik |first1=Saeed |title=Naseem Bano |url=http://cineplot.com/naseem-bano/ |website=cineplot.com |access-date=10 October 2014 |archive-date=16 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016083857/http://cineplot.com/naseem-bano/ |url-status=live }} One of her songs, "Zindagi Ka Saaz Bhi Kya Saaz Hai" became popular with the audiences.{{cite book |author=Tilak Rishi |title=Bless You Bollywood!: A Tribute to Hindi Cinema on Completing 100 Years |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r623sWyGm0sC&pg=PA168 |access-date=10 October 2014 |year=2012 |publisher=Trafford Publishing |isbn=978-1-4669-3963-9 |pages=168– |archive-date=30 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830150232/https://books.google.com/books?id=r623sWyGm0sC&pg=PA168 |url-status=live }} The publicity of the film dealt on her beauty calling her Beauty Queen and Pari Chehra a name that was to endure over the years before passing on to her daughter Saira Banu.

After the classic Pukar, the demand for Naseem as an actress increased and she was approached by several film studios to act with them. But Sohrab Modi refused to release her from her contract. This caused some uneasiness between the two. Sheesh Mahal (1950), produced by Minerva show-cased her acting talents devoid of make-up and jewellery and clad only in simple sarees. From Minerva Movietone, Naseem moved to Circo and then Filmistan studios where she performed in Chal Chal Re Naujawan with Ashok Kumar.

Married to Ehsan by now, the husband-wife team started Taj Mahal Pictures{{cite book |author=Sanjit Narwekar |title=DILIP KUMAR THE LAST EMPEROR |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ub6eAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT113 |access-date=10 October 2014 |date=21 December 2012 |publisher=Rupa Publications |isbn=978-81-291-3365-6 |pages=113– |archive-date=30 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830150206/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ub6eAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT113 |url-status=live }} and made several films like Ujala (1942), Begum (1945), Mulaqat (1947), Chandni Raat (1949) and Ajeeb Ladki (1942) under the home banner. The last two were also directed by her husband, Mohammed Ehsan.{{cite web |title=Naseem |url=http://www.citwf.com/detailPerson.asp?personID=312976&sortOn=YEAR&sortBy=UP |website=citwf.com |publisher=Alan Goble |access-date=9 April 2015 |ref=Person information |archive-date=14 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414071855/http://www.citwf.com/detailPerson.asp?personID=312976&sortOn=YEAR&sortBy=UP |url-status=live }} However she did a couple of action and fantasy films ("low-grade films") like Sinbad Jahazi (1952) and Baghi (1953), in which she was not accepted by the audiences. She acted in Minerva's Nausherwan-E-Adil (1957) in a small role and then quit acting. She continued to remain active, first trying her hand as a producer, and then as her daughter's dress-designer when Saira entered films with Junglee (1961).

Some of her best films are Pukar (1939), Chal Chal Re Naujawan (1944), Anokhi Ada (1948), Sheesh Mahal (1950) and Shabistan (1951).{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}} She co-starred with most of the top stars of those days like Sohrab Modi, Chandra Mohan, Prithviraj Kapoor, Trilok Kapoor, Ashok Kumar, Shyam, Surendra, Navin Yagnik, Prem Adib, and Rehman. It was during the shooting of Shabistan (1951) that the famous actor Shyam had a fall from the horseback and died.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}} She was one of the costume designers for the film Purab Aur Paschim (1970).

Personal life

Naseem married her childhood friend an architect, Mian Ehsan-ul-Haq, with whom she started the Taj Mahal Pictures banner. They had two children, a daughter Saira BanuHowever, according to some sources, Saira Banu was the love-child of Naseem and her lover Nawab Sir Liaqat Hayat Khan, former Prime Minister of Patiala State and a son, Late Sultan Ahmed (1939 - 2016). Naseem's husband opted to leave India and settle in Pakistan following Partition. Naseem stayed back in India with her children. Ehsan took the negatives of her films releasing the films in Pakistan where she had a following because of it.{{cite web |title=Naseem Banu Stardust interview from 1971}}{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} Naseem moved to England and stayed there for some time with both her son and daughter studying there for a while. Naseem helped Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu get married according to the Times of India report with the 44-year-old Kumar marrying a 22-year-old Saira Banu.{{cite news |title=Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu's love story |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Dilip-Kumar-and-Saira-Banus-love-story/articleshow/23285634.cms |access-date=10 October 2014 |agency=Times of India |issue=Mumbai Mirror |publisher=Bennett &Coleman Limited |date=30 September 2013 |archive-date=24 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024055420/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Dilip-Kumar-and-Saira-Banus-love-story/articleshow/23285634.cms |url-status=live }} However, in the Stardust interview Naseem stated that she was surprised at the two getting married as she thought that Dilip Kumar was a "confirmed bachelor" though she had noted the interest Kumar was taking in Saira Banu.

Naseem died on 18 June 2002 in Mumbai at the age of 85.

Her great-granddaughter is Sayyesha through Sultan Ahmed.

Filmography

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Role ! scope="col" \| Notes
1935 \| Khoon Ka Khoon \| Ophelia \|
1937 \| Khan Bahadur \| \|
1938 \| Meetha Zahar \| \|
1938 \| Talaq \| Roopa \|
1938 \| Vasanti \| Vasanti \|
1939 \| Pukar \| Nur Jahan \|
1940 \| Main Hari \| Naseem \|
1942 \| Ujala \| \|
1944 \| Chal Chal Re Naujawan \| Sumitra \|
1944 \| Begum \| \|
1946 \| Jeevan Swapna \| \|
1946 \| Door Chalen \| \|
1947 \| Mulaqat \| Saeeda \|
1948 \| Anokhi Ada \| Kamini \|
1949 \| Chandni Raat \| \|
1950 \| Sheesh Mahal \| Ranjana \|
1951 \| Shabistan \| \|
1952 \| Ajeeb Ladki \| \|
1952 \| Betaab \| \|
1952 \| Sinbad Jahazi \| \|
1953 \| Baghi \| \|
1957 \| Nausherwan-E-Adil \| Malika-E-Iran \|
1966 \| Chaddian Di Doli \| \| Punjabi film

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" | Notes

1935

| Khoon Ka Khoon

| Ophelia

1937

| Khan Bahadur

1938

| Meetha Zahar