Nargis
Indian actress and politician, star of Hindi cinema.
Nargis (born Fatima Rashid, also known as Nirmala Dutt; 1 June 1929 – 3 May 1981), known mononymously as Nargis, was an Indian actress and politician who worked in Hindi cinema. Regarded as one of the greatest actresses in the history of Hindi cinema, she often portrayed sophisticated and independent women in a range of genres, from screwball comedy to literary drama. She was among the highest paid actresses of the 1950s and 1960s.
- born
- 1 June 1929, Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India
- died
- 3 May 1981, pancreatic cancer
- field
- Actress, politician, social worker
- nationality
- Indian
- known_for
- Leading roles in Hindi cinema, particularly Mother India (1957)
Lore & Background
Nargis made her screen debut in a minor role at age six with Talash-E-Haq (1935), but her acting career actually began with Tamanna (1942). She had her first leading role with Taqdeer (1943). Her breakthrough came with the romance Andaz (1949) and the musical Barsaat (1949). She then starred in Raj Kapoor's crime drama Awaara (1951), a major critical and financial success. After a brief setback in the early 1950s, she reemerged with Shree 420 (1955) and Chori Chori (1956).
Reader's Guide
Nargis starred in Mehboob Khan's Oscar-nominated epic drama Mother India (1957), the highest-grossing film in India at that time, for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Her last film was Raat Aur Din (1967), for which she received the inaugural National Film Award for Best Actress. She married her Mother India co-star Sunil Dutt in 1958, and they had three children, including actor Sanjay Dutt. Along with her husband, she formed the Ajanta Arts Culture Troupe, which held stage shows at border areas. In the early 1970s, she became the first patron of The Spastic Society of India, leading to recognition as a social worker and a Rajya Sabha nomination in 1980. She died in 1981 of pancreatic cancer, three days before her son Sanjay Dutt's film debut. The Nargis Dutt Memorial Cancer Foundation was established in her memory in 1982, and the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration is named after her.
Did You Know?
- Nargis made her screen debut at age six in Talash-E-Haq (1935), credited as Baby Nargis.
- She won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for Mother India (1957).
- She received the inaugural National Film Award for Best Actress for her last film, Raat Aur Din (1967).
- In 2011, Rediff.com listed her as the greatest Indian actress of all time.
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