If we talk about actors with the most commanding screen presence or even those who are experts in snatching the limelight in any scene, Veena would be at the top of the list. Who can forget Nawab Jan of “Pakeezah” or the Queen, mother of “Shatranj ke Khiladi,” who made actors like Ashok Kumar and Sir Richard Attenborough look like extras?
Early Life and Career
Veena was born Shahzadi Tajour Sultana on July 4, 1926, in Quetta, Baluchistan, now in Pakistan, into an affluent family with royal heritage. In her childhood, her family moved from city to city because of her father’s work in railways, resulting in her getting educated at various places, including Delhi.
After completing her early education, she got admission to a women’s college in Amritsar. Her family was liberal enough to allow her and her brother to watch movies, through which the siblings developed an interest in films; her brother Shahzada Iftekhar went on to become a cameraman at Northern India Studios in Lahore.
Veena On Screen
She was in college when she learnt that the Maheshwari Brothers were seeking a girl for their Punjabi film. One of her young professors auditioned for the role but was rejected due to a language problem. Tajour asked her brother to arrange her audition, for which, after initial hesitation, he agreed.
The audition was a success, and she get the lead role in the 1942 Punjabi film “Gowandhi,” opposite superstar Shyam. She also got another film, “Ravi Paar (1942),” opposite S. D. Narang. All this was behind the backs of her family and her college.
After filming the movies, she resumed her studies in Amritsar. But the news of her acting in films reached her college leading to her expulsion. And when she returned to her home, it was an even bigger reaction. It was a prestige point for her family, and they were dead against her working in films. But her brother supported her, and they both moved to Mumbai. Even before the release of her films, she had filmmakers lined up at her door.
Veena The Superstar
She went on to do films like “Kasauti (1941),” “Asra (1941),” Mazhar Khan’s “Yaad (1942),” and Mehboob Khan’s “Gharib (1942).” In 1943, she appeared in Mehboob Khan’s “Najma,” opposite Ashok Kumar; it was the first film under the Mehboob Productions banner. With this film, she signed a contract with Mehboob Productions with a salary of 2000 rupees per month.
In 1945, she starred in K. Asif’s “Phool” with Prithviraj Kapoor, Yakub, Suraiya, Durga Khote, and Sitara Devi. Later, when K Asif announced “Mughal-E-Azam,” it was Veena who got the first credit on the posters. Apart from Veena, Asif also cast Nargis, Chandramohan, and Sapru. Unfortunately, the film got shelved due to the partition and later death of Chandramohan. When K. Asif restarted the project, the cast was changed, and even the story and characters were changed.
On the other hand, Veena continues to give incredible performances in films like Mehboob Khan’s “Humayun (1945),” Mazhar Khan’s “Pahli Nazar (1945),” Aspi Irani’s “Rajputani (1946),” and “Chheen Le Azadi (1947),” Abdul Rashid Kardar’s “Dastan (1950),” K. Amarnath’s “Sarkar (1951),” Rajendranath Jolly’s “Kashmir (1951),” B.R. Chopra’s “Afsana (1951),” Ismail Memon’s “Annadata (1952),” and Dalsukh M. Pancholi’s “Aasmaan (1952).”
The Powerful Performer
In the mid-1950s, she started doing second leads and transitioned to character roles. Some of her notable films in that period were “Halaku (1956),” Mera Salaam (1957),” “Naya Zamana (1957),” “Mumtaz Mahal (1957),” “Mehndi (1958),” “Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958),” “Chhoti Bahen (1959),” “Taj Mahal (1963),” “Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963),” “Shehnai (1964),” “Sikandar-E-Azam (1965),” “Alibaba Aur 40 Chor (1966),” “Noor Jehan (1967),” “Chhoti Si Mulaqat (1967),” “Do Raaste (1969),” “Heer Raanjha (1970),” and “Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai (1970).”
In 1959, Veena starred in Guru Dutt’s “Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959).” Veena played the role of a wife in conflict with her husband’s life style, career choices, and friendships. Her performances in the film a proof of her effortless ferociousness and emotional availability.
She again played a cold, strict and autocratic wife’s role in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s “Ashirvaad (1968).” In the film she played women, unapproved of his husband’s life style, opposite Ashok Kumar.
Later Work
In 1972, she appeared as Nawabjan, sister of Nargis and aunt of Sahibjaan (both played by Meena Kumari), in “Pakeezah.” She played a woman of great courage, wisdom, and practicality, and won the hearts of the audience with her climactic monologue.
One of her other standout performances came in Satyjit Ray’s “Shatranj Ke Khiladi (1978),” where she had a famous back and forth with Richard Attenborough through his interpreter Tom Alter. The scene is remembered for its emotional intensity and powerful dialogue.
Some of her later films include Parichay (1972), Jheel Ke Us Paar (1973), Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye (1974), Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam (1974), Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Payal Ki Jhankaar (1980), Agni Pareeksha (1981), Razia Sultan (1983), and Mazloom (1986). Her portrayal of Empress Shah Turkhan in “Razia Sultan” (1983) was another standout performance, marking her final appearance on the silver screen.
Her final appearance was in “Hamara Khandaan (1983),” after which she retired from acting.
Personal Life
Apart from the film she does, Veena is also known for the films she could not do due to various reasons. Some of those films include “Andaz (1948),” “Babul (1950),” “Jogan (1950),” “Uran Khatola (1955),” Sohrab Modi’s “Jhansi Ki Rani (1953),” and Mehboob Khan’s Mother India (1957).
Veena married actor Al Nasir in 1947, who was from the royal family of Bhopal. Together, they had two children: daughter Huma and son Altamash. The happy marriage ended with Al Nasir’s untimely death due to tetanus in 1957.
Veena’s demise on November 14, 2004, marked the end of an era. Her contribution to Indian cinema, with over 70 feature films to her credit, remains a testament to her talent and dedication to the craft. Her portrayal of strong, nuanced characters will always be remembered by cinema lovers.
Veena on IMDB
