Poverty Forced Her Into Dance Bars And Prostitution. Now She Writes Bollywood Blockbusters

News18

6 days ago

Life often throws countless challenges, and only a few have the strength to rise above them. One such extraordinary tale has emerged from the world of Bollywood. Shagufta Rafique, once a bar dancer and forced into sex work due to dire circumstances, has carved out a successful career in cinema through unwavering determination and talent.
Shagufta was adopted as a young girl by the mother of Saeeda Khan, a prominent film actress from the 1960s and 70s. Although part of a film-connected household, her upbringing was far from privileged. Following her adoptive father's death and Saeeda's marriage, the family's financial situation deteriorated drastically. Her mother was even forced to sell clothes to survive. Shagufta left school in Class 7 and faced daily struggles, especially among English-speaking peers. A marriage at 17 offered hope but soon ended in heartbreak.
With no familial support and rising debts, Shagufta turned to work as a bar dancer in Mumbai and Dubai, later resorting to sex work out of desperation. She attributes her entry into this world to sheer disillusionment. Yet, through it all, she retained a dream: to be part of the film industry.
After falling ill in Dubai, she returned to India, where a fateful meeting with Bollywood filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt altered her course. Recognising her raw storytelling talent, he invited her to write scenes for the film Kalyug (2005). Deeply impressed, he took her on as a full-time writer at Vishesh Films.
Mahesh Bhatt once remarked that Shagufta didn't need formal education to become a writer, her life was her education. Her scripts reflected her reality, her pain, and her resilience. She went on to write for several successful films including Woh Lamhe (2006), Awarapan (2007), Raaz - The Mystery Continues (2009), Murder 2 (2011) Aashiqui 2 (2013) and Mr. X (2014).
In 2019, Shagufta stepped into direction, marking a new chapter in her journey. She has since directed two films, a Hindi film called Dushman: A Story Of The Enemy Within (2017) and a Bengali action thriller titled Mon Jaane Na (2019), further establishing herself as a force in the film industry.
Shagufta Rafique's life is not just a story of success, it's a story of survival, strength, and self-belief. Her transformation through several hardships to reach the heights of Bollywood remains an inspiration to many.