Nafisa Ali, born on January 18, 1957, in Baratajpur, a village near Janai and Begampur, in Hooghly district, is an acclaimed Indian actress, social activist, star swimmer, former beauty queen, and politician. Nafisa’s paternal grandfather, S. Wajid Ali, was a prominent Bengali writer. Her paternal aunt (father’s sister) was Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah, a Pakistani journalist and feminist.
I am angered by the events in Bangladesh. It’s heartbreaking to see innocent Hindu families being targeted & attacked. I strongly condemn any form of violence, hate, discrimination against minorities.
Nafisa Ali
Nafisa attended La Martiniere, Calcutta, and was a star swimmer. She was the national swimming champion from 1972 to 1974. She won the Miss India title in 1976, went on to represent the country at the Miss International pageant and became the 2nd runner-up.
Her foray into Indian cinema began with Shashi Kapoor’s period drama “Junoon” (1978), directed by Shyam Benegal. Despite the film’s success and cult status, she did not do another film until 1998’s Mejor Saab, starring Amitabh Bacchan. She goes on to do a few more films like Bewafaa (2005), Guzaarish (2010), Lahore (2010), Life In A… Metro (2007) and Yamla Pagla Deewana (2010) with Dharmendra and Uunchai (2022).
She has also acted in a Malayalam film called Big B (2007) with Mammootty, and is associated with Action India, an organisation working to spread AIDS awareness.
She married polo player and Arjuna awardee, retired Col. R.S. Sodhi and had 3 children with him. Nafisa is a cancer survivor, In November 2018, Ali was diagnosed with stage 3 peritoneal and ovarian cancer.
Apart from her acting prowess, Nafisa Ali is recognized for her commitment to social causes, advocating for issues like the environment, women’s rights, and education. Her resilience in the face of personal and professional challenges adds to her inspirational persona. Nafisa Ali continues to contribute to both the arts and societal well-being, embodying a harmonious blend of talent and activism in the diverse tapestry of Indian public life.
