Naughty, beautiful, innocent—we can call her by many adjectives; yesteryear actress Shakila was all that and much more. In her hey days, tabloids callled “Arabi Chehra (Arabian Beauty),” because of her sharp features. Some of her most memorable films include “Aar Paar (1954),” “C.I.D. (1956),” “Shriman Satyawadi (1960),” “China Town (1962),” and many more.
Early Life
Shakila was born Badshah Begum on January 1, 1935, in Afghanistan. According to records, her family belongs to the royal lineage of Afghanistan. She spent her childhood under the clouds of tragedy as her mother and paternal grandparents were killed in a family feud, which led to the migration of her family to Bombay. She, along with her sisters Noor Jehan and Nasreen, came to Bombay with their father and aunt, Feroza Begum. Sadly, their father passed away soon after, leaving the girls in Feroza’s care. Feroza Begum took on the responsibility of raising her nieces and remained unmarried.
Shakila – Debut and Breakthrough
In Mumbai, her family was known to A.R. Kardar and Mehboob Khan, whose wives were sisters. Kardar noticed the young Badshah and offered her a role in his movie Dastaan in 1949.
The family’s circumstances forced her to act in the film so she took the screen name Shakila and made her debut as a child artist. She then acted in many films like Duniya (1994), Gumasta (1951), Khubsurat (1952), Sindbad the Sailor (1952), Rajrani Damyanti (1952), Aagosh (1953), Shahenshah (1953), Jhansi Ki Rani (1953), Raj Mahal (1953), Armaan (1953), and many more.
It was the film “Aar Paar,” directed by the legendary Guru Dutt, that catapulted Shakila to fame. She played the role of a cabaret dancer, a character that was complex and carried societal disdain. Her performance was nuanced and left a lasting impression on the audience. She also featured in the famous songs like “Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar Laga Tire Najar, “Babuji Dhire Chalna,” “Hu Abhi Main Jawan,” and “Ye Lo Main Haari Piyaa”.
Further Acclaim
After Aar Paar, she appeared in films like Daan (1954), Gul Bahar (1954), Halla Gulla (1954), Khushboo (1954), Laila (1954), Lal Pari (1954), Ali Baba 40 Chor (1954), Noor Mahal (1954), Mast Qalandar (1955), and Ratna Manjari (1955). Her success in these early films made her the superstar of fantasy films, which although gave her huge fame but affected her adversely for her quest of establishing herself as a top heroine.
In 1956, Guru Dutt cast her as the lead in his classic “C.I.D.,” another Guru Dutt classic, where she shared the screen with Waheeda Rehman, who interestingly played the role of a vamp. Despite the success of C.I.D., she does not get many big films and continues to act in several mythological and fantasy films like Caravan (1956), Hatim Tai (1956), Malika (1956), Paisa Hi Paisa (1956), Roop Kumari (1956), Begunah (1957), Naag Padmini (1957), Chamak Chandni (1957), Paristan (1957), Agra Road (1957), Al Hilal (1958), Chaubees Ghante (1958), Hathkadi (1958), Forty Days (1959), Guest House (1959), Kali Topi Lal Rumal (1959), School Master (1959), Abdulla (1960), Baraat (1960), Dr. Shaitan (1960), GamblerNaqli Nawab (1962), Tower House (1962), Neeli Aankhen (1962), Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye (1963), and many more.
Later Career
She also acted in films like Sohrab Modi‘s Jhansi Ki Rani (1956), Begunah (1957) opposite Kishore Kumar, Post Box 999 (1958), opposite Sunil Dutt, Shriman Satyawadi (1960), opposite Raj Kapoor, Reshmi Rumal (1961) with Manoj Kumar, China Town (1962), with Shammi Kapoor, Ustadon Ke Ustad (1963), and Mulzim (1963) opposite Pradeep Kumar.
Shakila is also fondly remembered for her performance in melodious numbers like “Boojh Mera Kya Naam Re,” “Leke Pehla Pehla Pyaar.” “Aankhon Hi Aankhon Mein Ishara Hogya,” “Laagi Chhute Naa Ab To Sanam,” “Neend Na Mujhko Aaye,” “Mai Khushnasib Hu Mujhko Kisi Ka Pyar Mila.” “Sau Baar Janam Lenge,” “Baar Baar Dekho Hazaar Baar Dekho” and “Ae Mere Dil Hai Nadaan.”
Personal Life
In 1963, Shakila married and moved to Germany, but the marriage did not last long, and she returned to Mumbai. She then married Afghan Consul General in India, Y. M. Elias. Together they had a daughter, Meenaz. The family lived abroad for a long time, stepping away from the limelight. The tragic loss of her daughter in 1991 was a significant blow to her. Despite the hardships, Shakila chose to stay out of the public eye, wishing to be remembered as the young and beautiful heroine from her cinematic days.
Her sister Noor also acted in Aar-Paar (1954) and later married famous comedian Johnny Walker and quit films.
Shakila Ji passed away in Mumbai on 20 September 2017 after suffering a heart attack. She was 82. Her actor nephew Nasirr Khan (son of Johny Walker saab) shared the sad news via Facebook.
Shakila on IMDB
