Naseem Banu was one of the most beautiful faces of Hindi cinema in the 1940s, fondly called “Pari Chehra—Fairy Faced” by her fans. Known for her films like Pukar (1939), Chal Chal Re Naujawan (1944), Anokhi Ada (1948), Sheesh Mahal (1950), and Shabistan (1951), she is called the “Beauty Queen” and the “first female superstar” of Indian cinema.
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Naseem Banu, born on July 4, 1916, as Roshan Ara Begum, was a prominent figure in the Indian film industry, known for her exceptional beauty and significant contributions to cinema during the mid-1930s and mid-1950s. Her mother, Shamshad Urf Chamiyan Bai, was a classical singer from a family of performers (Mirasi).
Despite her mother’s wishes for her to pursue a career in medicine, Naseem’s passion for films was ignited after watching a movie starring the actress Sulochana (Ruby Myers). Naseem was studying at Queen Mary’s High School, Delhi, when, on a visit to Mumbai, she got the chance to watch a movie shoot where great filmmaker Sohrab Modi offered her the role of Ophelia. Her mother’s refusal led her to a hunger strike to convince her mother to allow her to act, which eventually led to her debut in Sohrab Modi’s “Khoon Ka Khoon” (Hamlet) in 1935.
Naseem Banu’s career took a significant turn with the film “Pukar” in 1939, where she portrayed the role of Empress Nur Jahan. The film was a milestone in her career, establishing her as a leading actress of her time. Her dedication to the role was evident as she prepared extensively, including learning horseback riding and singing, to embody the character authentically. The film’s success brought her widespread recognition, and she was affectionately dubbed “Pari-Chehra” (Fairy Face) Naseem, a testament to her enchanting beauty.
In 1944, she acted in the Gyan Mukherji-directed “Chal Chal Re Naujawan,” opposite Ashok Kumar, which was written by Saadat Hasan Manto. One of her other notable films was Mehboob Khan’s “Anokhi Ada (1948),” opposite Prem Adib and Surendra.
In 1950, she starred in Sohrab Modi’s “Sheesh Mahal” with Sohrab Modi and Gajanan Jagirdar. She was paired with superstar Shyam in “Shabistan (1951),” directed by Bibhuti Mitra. It was during the shooting of this film that Shyam fell from the horseback and died.
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Naseem’s other films include 1937: Khan Bahadur (1937), Meetha Zahar (1938), Talaq (1938), Vasanti (1938), Main Hari (1940), Jeevan Swapna (1946), Door Chalen (1946), Betaab (1952), Sinbad Jahazi (1952), Baghi (1953), Nausherwan-E-Adil (1957), and Chaddian Di Doli (1966).
Naseem married her childhood friend, architect Mian Ehsan-ul-Haq, and together they started Taj Mahal Pictures and made films like Ujala (1942), Ajeeb Ladki (1942), Begum (1945), Mulaqat (1947), and Chandni Raat (1949).
Naseem and Ehsan had two children, Saira Banu and Sultan Ahmed. After partition, Ehsan moved to Pakistan. Naseem stayed in India with her children. She later moved to England, where both her children studied.
Naseem’s daughter, Saira Banu, was an iconic actress and married to the legendary Dilip Kumar. Her influence extended beyond the silver screen, as she later turned her attention to fashion, designing intricately embroidered saris and contributing to the industry with her impeccable taste and style. She designed clothes for her daughter in many films.
Naseem Banu passed away on June 18, 2002, but her contributions to Indian cinema continue to be celebrated and remembered as a golden chapter of film history.
