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Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Meet India's first actor to own a Rolls Royce, blamed Raj Kapoor's ‘Shree 420' for ruining her career; her last film was with Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
There are very few actors in cinema who've proven to be true trailblazers, and carved her niche for themselves. One of them Nadira. Her unforgettable presence in 'Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh' from Shri 420, paired with her fiery performance as the disapproving mother in Julie, made her an icon. Though playing the vamp wasn't her dream role, Nadira took what came her way and transformed it into a lasting legacy. She brought complexity and credibility to a character type that was often dismissed, creating a blueprint for generations of actors who followed. For Nadira, who had seen financial struggle growing up in an immigrant household, the film was life-changing. In a candid interview years later, she recalled,'I started Aan with Rs 1200 a month in 1949, which increased to Rs 2500 in the second year and Rs. 3000 in the third year. When I got my first three-monthly instalment of Rs 3600, I didn't know what to do with it! That day I asked Mehboobji if I could be dropped home in his car because I was afraid to carry so much money!' Although Nadira longed to be a leading lady in Hindi cinema, fate had different plans. When Raj Kapoor offered her a negative role in 'Shri 420', she didn't hesitate. Like many young women of her time, Nadira had dreamt of working with Kapoor, and the chance to do so was too big to pass up. Fortunately, her character Maya was no ordinary vamp, it was a strong, memorable role that left a lasting impact. Yet, what seemed like a breakthrough turned into an unexpected trap. Nadira later described it as the turning point that derailed her ambitions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The 5 Books Warren Buffett Recommends You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo 'I took up Shree 420 for a lark but it became my Waterloo. I took up the role as a challenge, to prove my versatility, and it ruined my career,' she admitted. Following Shri 420, Nadira actively sought out more positive roles, hoping to break away from the 'vamp' image. Reports say she turned down nearly 200 scripts because filmmakers repeatedly offered her the same kind of part. But after months of waiting, she had to make peace with what was available. 'After Shree 420, I starved for a year and a half because everybody wanted me to wear the same black fitting dress and hold the cigarette the same way,' she recalled. Meanwhile, do you know, she was the first Indian actor to own a luxury Rolls Royce. Nadira's final appearance on the silver screen was in 2000 with 'Josh' with Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan . After that, she quietly stepped away from the film industry. In her later years, Nadira lived with her family in Mumbai, though she never married. Eventually, when her family relocated abroad, she chose to stay behind. She spent the rest of her life in a Mumbai flat, living independently with only her house help for company. "Get the latest updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Bollywood's most iconic vamp blamed Raj Kapoor's film for ruining career; once struggled for food but became 1st Indian actor to own Rolls Royce
There are some actors in the Hindi film industry who forge a path and break stereotypes so powerfully that generations of actors follow in their footsteps. The late star Nadira was one such trailblazer. Who can forget her seductive yet charming gestures in 'Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh' from Raj Kapoor's Shri 420, or her commanding performance as Sridevi's angry mother in Julie? Nadira became Bollywood's first vamp — a character type that many actors avoided in the 1950s and 60s. While playing the vamp wasn't her first choice, she took the opportunity and turned it into a legacy. Nadira built a body of work that became a reference point for aspiring actors and, in the process, brought respect and credibility to the edgy and often misunderstood negative role. Nadira was born into a Baghdadi Jewish family on December 5, 1932, as Florence Ezekiel in Baghdad, Iraq. She was an infant when her family moved to Mumbai (then Bombay) in search of business opportunities. Nadira started her career with the 1943 film Mauj as a child artist. She was only 10 or 11 years old at the time. Her big break came when filmmaker Mehboob Khan's wife, Sardar Akhtar, discovered her and offered her the role of a Rajput princess in Dilip Kumar-starrer Aan (1952). This was a strong debut for Nadira, who got to act alongside Dilip Kumar in a film by Mehboob Khan, who would years later be celebrated for directing Mother India. Coming from an immigrant family, Nadira had seen tough times growing up, but Aan changed that for her and her family. In an old interview, she recalled, 'I started Aan with Rs 1200 a month in 1949, which increased to Rs 2500 in the second year and Rs. 3000 in the third year. When I got my first three-monthly instalment of Rs 3600, I didn't know what to do with it! That day I asked Mehboobji if I could be dropped home in his car because I was afraid to carry so much money!' Nadira shared that after seeing the money, her mother thought she had stolen it. She later used it to buy food and other necessary items for her house. 'When my mother saw it, she asked if I had stolen it! I remember going out immediately and buying furniture — which still occupies my bedroom — and a full gold-set complete with 12 gold bangles. Thereafter, every night I'd count the bangles and cover them with a handkerchief before sleeping. I would count them again in the morning! We'd bought such a lot of food that day, since we had not eaten well in a long time. Ultimately we had to give away half of it to the neighbours,' she said in an old interview in 1999. Despite her good debut, Nadira did not land many lead role offers and was cast in supporting parts. However, one call from Raj Kapoor changed the trajectory of her career — though not necessarily in the way she had hoped. Though Nadira desperately wanted to achieve heroine status and bag lead roles, when Raj Kapoor asked her to play a negative role in Shri 420, she readily agreed. Like any young girl at that time, she had dreamt of working with Kapoor, and when the opportunity came, she could not refuse. What worked in her favour was that her character of Maya was substantial and remembered for years to come. However, Nadira later called it the 'Waterloo' of her career as she became typecast in similar roles. She said in the interview, 'I took up Shree 420 for a lark but it became my Waterloo. I took up the role as a challenge, to prove my versatility, and it ruined my career.' After Shri 420, Nadira tried to pursue positive roles and is said to have rejected around 200 films because filmmakers only offered her vamp roles. But after a point, she had no choice but to accept what came her way. She recalled, 'After Shree 420, I starved for a year and a half because everybody wanted me to wear the same black fitting dress and hold the cigarette the same way.' Though unwilling at first, Nadira went on to make her negative roles iconic. Even Jaya Bachchan once praised her openly. The two starred together in Ek Nazar (1972), in which Nadira played the role of an intimidating madame of a brothel. Jaya described Nadira as 'a scene-chewing marvel' and admitted how intimidating it was to work with her in the film. She said in an old interview with Subhash K Jha, 'She played a tyrant in Ek Nazar. As we shot, I remember becoming actually intimidated by her. Nadiraji was a very powerful actress with an imposing screen presence. She couldn't play the frail chuimui kind of girl that audiences liked to see.' Nadira acted in around 73 films during her career. Known for her larger-than-life personality, she lived lavishly, loved her expensive alcohol, and was fond of cars. She also became India's first actor to own a luxury Rolls Royce. Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Josh (2000) was Nadira's last onscreen performance. After stepping away from the limelight, Nadira initially lived with her family in Mumbai, but she never married. Later, when her family moved overseas, she continued to live alone in a Mumbai flat with only her house help. In the interview, she admitted to suffering from insomnia. When asked if she had any regrets, she said, 'Not really. I'm extremely grateful to God for everything he has given me. At times I cry because I am very lonely but then I guess you can't get everything in life. I suffer from insomnia so I have more hours to kill than other people. Since there is no-one to really talk to me, I listen to music, knit and read to pass my time, when I'm not working. The only thing I ask God is to keep me fit enough to work, till I'm alive. I don't ever want to be dependent on anyone in my life!' During her last days, Nadira suffered from multiple health conditions, including tubercular meningitis, alcoholic liver disorder, and paralysis. After a prolonged illness, she passed away in 2006 at the age of 73.
India.com
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
India's richest actor, once gave tough competition to Raj Kapoor, went bankrupt, Amitabh Bachchan spotted him ‘alone' at…, feared he would…, name was…
India's richest actor, once gave tough competition to Raj Kapoor, went bankrupt, Amitabh Bachchan spotted him 'alone' at..., feared he would..., name was... In 1950s, Bharat Bhushan was considered one of the finest actors of Indian cinema. He was a romantic heartthrob, who captivated his female fan following with undeniable charm and good looks. He has been a part of over 30 films and has given some extraordinary performances in movies like Baiju Bawra (1952), Anand Math (1952), Mirza Ghalib (1954) and Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh (1960), among others. During 1950s, Indian cinema was largely ruled by Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar, but yet Bhushan made his mark and carved out a special place in audiences hearts. Born in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, in 1920, his father was a lawyer, and Bhushan was expected too, to take up the same profession. However, after completing his studies, he shifted Mumbai to pursue acting. He made his debut with Chitralekha in 1941. Following that, he struggled for commercial successes, until Baiju Bawra happened in 1952 opposite Meena Kumari. Following that, he acted in hit movies like Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1954) and Barsaat ki Raat (1960) and became popular for portraying out-of-luck poets and musicians in his films. Success in Bharat Bhushan's life failed to sustain after he ventured into production. Along with his brother, he bankrolled the film Dooj ka Chand and met with massive monetary losses. To make ends meet, he was forced to take up minor roles. When that wasn't enough, he sold most of his properties and started living life of a recluse. One of the most prominent and richest stars of his time, he was reduced to the status of junior artist with movies like Humshakal and Pyar ka Devta. The superstar spot was then occupied by upcoming actors like Amitabh Bachchan, who once Bharat Bhushan claimed as his own. Big B recalled the time when he saw the yesteryear star standing at a bus stop, completely unnoticed and alone. In his blog, he wrote that he saw him standing in a queue to catch a bus. 'One morning for work I saw Bharat Bhushan, the great romantic heart throb of the 50's, hero of some of the most successful musicals of the times, standing in a queue at a bus stop! An ordinary citizen. Part of the crowd. Alone, unnoticed. No one recognizing him. No one knowing who he was.' Amitabh wrote. He continued, 'I wanted to stop and ask him into the car to drop him to his destination, but I could not muster enough courage. I feared I would embarrass him. And I drove on. But that visual has remained with me and will remain with me forever. It could happen to anyone. To any one of us.' Bharat Bhushan's forgotten and impoverished stated made Big B realise that how easily success and fame can slipper away.
