Nargis

Nargis Dutt, born Fatima Rashid and also known as Nirmala Dutt (1 June 1929 – 3 May 1981), was a Hindi film actress and politician. She is remembered as one of the finest actresses in Indian cinema, often playing smart, self-reliant women in everything from lighthearted comedies to serious literary works. During the 1950s and 1960s, she ranked among the industry's top earners.

Her career spanned three decades. She first appeared on screen at age six in a minor role in *Talash-E-Haq* (1935), though her acting career properly began with *Tamanna* (1942). Her first lead role came in *Taqdeer* (1943). She broke through 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 commercial hit. After a short slump in the early 1950s, she returned with the comedy-drama *Shree 420* (1955) and the romantic comedy *Chori Chori* (1956). Her performance in Mehboob Khan's epic *Mother India* (1957)—then the highest-grossing Indian film and an Oscar nominee—won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Her final film was the drama *Raat Aur Din* (1967), for which she received the first-ever National Film Award for Best Actress.

In 1958, Nargis married her *Mother India* co-star Sunil Dutt. They had three children, including actor Sanjay Dutt. Together, they founded the Ajanta Arts Culture Troupe, which brought leading actors and singers to perform stage shows at border areas. In the early 1970s, she became the first patron of The Spastic Society of India; her work there led to recognition as a social worker and a Rajya Sabha nomination in 1980.

Nargis died of pancreatic cancer in 1981, just three days before her son Sanjay Dutt made his film debut in *Rocky*. In 1982, her husband established the Nargis Dutt Memorial Cancer Foundation in her memory. The award for Best Feature Film on National Integration at the Annual Film Awards is named the Nargis Dutt Award. In 2011, Rediff.com ranked her the greatest Indian actress of all time.

**Early life**

Nargis was born Fatima Rashid on 1 June 1929 in Calcutta, then part of British India's Bengal Presidency (now Kolkata, West Bengal). Her father, Abdul Rashid—formerly Mohanchand Uttamchand, a Mohyal Brahmin—was a wealthy heir from Rawalpindi, Punjab who converted from Hinduism to Islam. Her mother, Jaddanbai, was a Hindustani classical singer from Benares and an early pioneer of Indian cinema. Jaddanbai moved from Allahabad to Calcutta and introduced Nargis to the emerging film world. Nargis's maternal half-brother, Anwar Hussain, was also a film actor.

**Career**

**1935–1948: Debut and breakthrough**

Fatima first appeared on screen at age six in the 1935 film *Talashe Haq*, credited as Baby Nargis. "Nargis" is a Persian word meaning narcissus, the daffodil flower, and she used that name for all subsequent films. She appeared in many films after her debut. At 14, she starred in Mehboob Khan's *Taqdeer* (1943) opposite Motilal. The film was a box-office success, and *Filmindia* called her performance "an excellent debut." She then appeared in *Anban* (1944) and *Rajkumar* opposite Chetan Anand. In 1945, she starred in the period drama *Humayun* with Ashok Kumar and the mythological *Ramayani*. In 1946, she appeared in *Nargis*. These films were moderately successful.

In 1948, she first worked with Raj Kapoor in the drama *Aag*, playing a homeless woman who becomes an actress. The film did average business. Still, it began a partnership that would span over a dozen films. That year, she also starred in the highly successful tragedy *Mela*; *Filmindia* editor Baburao Patel praised her performance but found her unconvincing as a mother. According to IBOS, *Mela* grossed ₹50 lakhs in 1948 (roughly ₹340.44 crores adjusted for 2015). Her final film that year, *Anokha Pyar*, was not a success.

**1949–1954: Rise, success, and setback**

In 1949, Nargis starred in Mehboob Khan's critically acclaimed drama *Andaz*, playing Neena, a woman whose husband suspects her of an affair with a friend. The film started slowly but became a major hit and the highest-grossing film of all time, marking a breakthrough for both Nargis and Dilip Kumar. She then appeared in Raj Kapoor's *Barsaat*, playing a village belle opposite Kapoor's poet. The film, which introduced actress Nimmi, was highly anticipated after *Andaz*'s success and became another major hit, breaking *Andaz*'s record. She followed with roles in *Meena Bazaar* (1950), the romantic drama *Jogan*, *Jan Pahechan*, the musical drama *Babul*, and *Aadhi Raat*. Both *Jogan* and *Babul* were box-office hits, and her performance in *Babul* was especially noted. She then starred in the dramas *Hulchul* and *Deedar* (both 1951). The success of *Andaz* and *Barsaat* convinced Raj Kapoor of her onscreen appeal.