Shyama (Hindi actress)

Born as Khurshid Akhtar in Lahore, Punjab in British India on 7 June 1935 into a Muslim Arain family, Shyama moved to Mumbai from Lahore in the 1940s.{{Cite web|title=Shyama's Arain roots in Lahore|author=Ishtiaq Ahmed|url=https://apnaorg.com/prose-content/english-articles/page-83/article-10/index.html |website=Academy of the Punjab in North America|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250106130054/https://apnaorg.com/prose-content/english-articles/page-83/article-10/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 January 2025|access-date=18 March 2025}}{{Cite book |last=Ahmed |first=Ishtiaq |title=Pre-Partition Punjab's Contribution to Indian Cinema |publisher=Taylor & Francis |pages=Shyama was born as Khurshid Akhtar in Baghbanpura, Lahore on June 7, 1935. She hails from Lahore's most populous biradari of Arains, who before the Partition of India were the main Muslim landowning biradari in Lahore district, besides the Sikh Jatts who were almost entirely in the rural tehsils of Lahore district}} As a young girl, she acted in a few films such as Noor Jehan's husband Shaukat Hussain Rizvi's Zeenat (1945) and Meerabai (1947).{{cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2017/nov/14/9265/shyama-star-of-guru-dutt-s-aar-paar-dies-at-82|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115015046/https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2017/nov/14/9265/shyama-star-of-guru-dutt-s-aar-paar-dies-at-82|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 November 2017|title=Shyama, star of Guru Dutt's Aar-Paar, dies at 82|first=Sonal|last=Pandya|website=Cinestaan.com|access-date=14 March 2025}} She worked with Shammi Kapoor in romantic classic Mirza Sahiban (1957).

Director Vijay Bhatt gave her the stage name Shyama, by which she is credited in her movies. She had starring roles in Guru Dutt's classic Aar Paar (1954 film), and later in Barsaat Ki Raat (1960 film), which was perhaps her best performance. She was a major star in the 1950s and 1960s and acted in more than 150 movies, many in starring roles. During the period 1952 – 1960, she appeared in as many as 80 films, mostly in leading roles.

Her best known roles were in Aar Paar (1954), Barsaat Ki Raat (1960) and Tarana. She was also noticed for her versatility through her performances in Milan, Bhai-Bhai (1956), Mirza Sahiban (1957), Bhabhi (1957) and Sharada (1957). For her performance in Sharada, she was awarded the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.

She was the actress in late 50s who has been most responsive to the rhythm and lyrics of the music directors and poets. Songs picturised on her such as "Ae Dil Mujhe Bata De", "O Chand Jahan Wo Jaye", "Ae Lo Main Hari Piya", "Dekho, Wo Chand Chhup Ke Karata Hai Kya Ishare", "Chhupa Kar Meri Aankhon Ko", "Sun Sun Sun Sun Zalima" and "Ja Re Ka Re Badara" are examples of her sensitive acting. She did a double role in Do Bahen (1959), portraying twins who were completely different in character.

She quoted in an interview: "I never needed to be taught [about acting]... I was confident and didn't need to think too much." She believed stars are born and not made.{{cite web|url=https://scroll.in/reel/857799/i-believe-that-a-star-is-born-hindi-film-actress-shyama-1935-2017|title='I believe that a star is born': Hindi film actress Shyama (1935-2017)|website=Scroll.in|date=14 November 2017|access-date=18 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428120441/https://scroll.in/reel/857799/i-believe-that-a-star-is-born-hindi-film-actress-shyama-1935-2017|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 April 2019}}

Johnny Walker and Shyama had worked in films such as Choo Mantar, Aar Paar, Musafir Khanna, Khota Paisa and Khel Khilari Ka.{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/aar-paar-actor-shyama-is-dead-at-82/story-yrtnVdy5BgKeyi4R74q3oL.html|title=Aar Paar actor Shyama is dead at 82|date=14 November 2017|website=Hindustantimes.com|access-date=28 April 2019}}

In later years, her memorable roles came in films of Rajesh Khanna such as Masterji (1985) and Ajanabee (1974) and others such as Sawan Bhadon (1970) and Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966).

She was married to cinematographer Fali Mistry in 1953. Her husband was a Parsi (Zoroastrian) from Bombay, India. They kept the marriage secret for as many as 10 years because of the fear that Shyama's career would suffer if her marriage became known; in those days, it was thought that the fan following of female stars became less as soon as they married. The marriage was revealed to the public shortly before the birth of their first child, their eldest son. The couple had three children, two sons, Faroukh and Rohin, and a daughter Shirrin. Fali Mistry died in 1979, thereafter she continued to stay in Mumbai. Their marriage seemed to have worked out well and they got along well with each other. In a 2013 interview, she reportedly said, "My greatest weakness was always Fali."

Shyama's close friends were actress Ameeta and Johnny Walker. Nasir Kazi, Johnny Walker's son, expressed his grief on hearing the news of her death. In an interview with Mid-Day, he said, "It's really disheartening to know about the demise of Shyama aunty. She had done several films with my father and in a lot of them, she paired with him also. In fact, in the film that was made on his name "Johnny Walker", she was the heroine with him.{{cite web|url=https://www.india.com/showbiz/barsaat-ki-raat-actress-shyama-passes-away-at-the-age-of-82-due-to-acute-lung-infection-2633730/|title=Veteran Actress Shyama Passes Away At The Age Of 82|date=14 November 2017|website=India.com|access-date=28 April 2019}} Her son Faroukh Mistry is a cinematographer.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/actress-shyama-laid-to-rest-at-bada-kabrastan-in-mumbai/articleshow/61657595.cms|title=Actress Shyama laid to rest at Bada Kabrastan in Mumbai|newspaper=Times of India|date=15 November 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230405095117/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/actress-shyama-laid-to-rest-at-bada-kabrastan-in-mumbai/articleshow/61657595.cms|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 April 2023|access-date=18 March 2025|author=Bella Jaisinghani}} Faroukh's previous film to hit the theatres was Angrezi Mein Kehte Hain in the year 2018.

Shyama died on 14 November 2017 due to a lung infection at the age of 82. She is buried at Badakabarastan, Marine Lines in Mumbai, India.

Her husband, Fali Mistry had died earlier in 1979.

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• Hathyar (1989) (her last film{{cite web |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/shyama-the-original-spice-girl/articleshow/61650114.cms |title=Shyama, the original Spice Girl |website=Mumbai Mirror |date=15 November 2017 |access-date=29 March 2025}}) – Suman's grandmother
• Insaan (1982)
• Payal Ki Jhankaar (1980)
• Khel Khilari Ka (1977) – Mrs. Khairatilal
• Khel Khel Mein (1975)
• Sewak (1975)
• Apne Rang Hazaar (1975)
• Ajanabee (1974)
• Naya Din Nai Raat (1974) – Brothel Madame
• Honeymoon (1973) – Laxmi Choudhary
• Prabhat (1973) – Champabai
• Suraj Aur Chanda (1973)
• Gomti Ke Kinare (1972)
• Shaadi Ke Baad (1972) – Basanti's mother
• Zindagi Zindagi (1972) – Meeta's aunt
• Kangan (1971)
• Sawan Bhadon (1970)
• Mastana (1970) – Mrs. Dhanraj
• Beti (1969) – Kamla Verma
• Aag (1967)
• Milan (1967)
• Lal Bangla (1966) – Bela
• Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966) – Mala
• Janwar (1965) – Seema
• Ji Chahta Hai (1964)
• Bahurani (1963) – Nautch girl
• Ghar Basake Dekho (1963)
• Zabak (1961)
• Barsaat Ki Raat (1960) – Shama
• Apna Ghar (1960)
• Duniya Jhukti Hai (1960)
• Bus Conductor (1959) – Asha Devi
• Do Bahen (1959) – (Double role)
• Chhoti Bahen (1959) – Shobha
• Chandan (1958)
• Lala Rukh (1958)
• Panchayat (1958)
• Taqdeer (1958)
• Bandi (1957) – Shankar's wife
• Bhabhi (1957) – Tara
• Hill Station (1957)
• Johnny Walker (1957)
• Mai Baap (1957)
• Mirza Sahiban (1957) – Sahiban
• Sharada (1957) – Chanchal ..... Won, Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award
• Suvarna Sundari (1957)
• Bhai-Bhai (1956){{cite web|url=http://www.citwf.com/person386647.htm |date=13 August 2011|archive-date=28 March 2016|access-date=24 January 2022|author=Alan Goble|url-status=dead |title=Shyama: Film/Movie Information |website=Complete Index To World Film (CITWF) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328085906/http://www.citwf.com/person386647.htm}}
• Chhoo Mantar (1956) – Sanwali
• Makkhee Choos (1956)
• Bhagwat Mahima (1955)
• Khandaan (1955)
• Musafirkhana (1955)
• Aar Paar (1954) – Nikki
• Darwaza (1954)
• Dhoop Chhaon (1954)
• Laadla (1954)
• Majboori (1954)
• Pensioner (1954)
• Pilpili Saheb (1954)
• Savdhan (1954)
• Shart (1954)
• Kaude Shah (1953) (Punjabi film)
• Lara Lappa (1953) (Punjabi film)
• Char Chand (1953)
• Dil-E-Nadan (1953)
• Shyama (film) (1953)
• Bahadur (1953)
• Suhag Sindoor (1953)
• Thokar (1953)
• Aasmaan (1952)
• Shrimati Ji (1952)
• Sazaa (1951) – Kamini
• Tarana (1951) – Sheela
• Dolti Naiya (1950)
• Posti (1950) (Punjabi film)
• Nili (1950)
• Nishana (1950)
• Naach (1949 film)
• Patanga (1949)
• Dillagi (1949)
• Roop Lekha (1949)
• Shabnam (1949)
• Zeenat (1945)

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{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|0796113}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100502111514/https://upperstall.com/node/584 Shyama Filmography] Upperstall

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Category:1935 births

Category:2017 deaths

Category:Actresses from Lahore

Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema

Category:Filmfare Awards winners

Category:Indian film actresses

Category:People from British India

Category:20th-century Indian women

Category:20th-century Indian actors