During the 1950s, Begum Para was a celebrated Bollywood actress, known for her exceptional beauty and acting in films like Neel Kamal, Jharna, and Kar Bhala. Her incredible fashion sense made her a prominent name and earned her a cult following of that era.
In the 1950s, actresses rarely did bold photoshoots or hot scenes. But Begum Para’s bold photoshoot for Life Magazine defied these norms and shifted the mindset of many conservative Indians.
Begum Para, born Zubaida ul Haq in Jhelum, Pakistan, had a brother who was an actor in the 1930s. When he moved to Bombay and married Bengali actress, Protima Dasgupta, Begum Para was moved by the city’s allure. She often accompanied her sister-in-law, actress Protima, on film shoots. Following this, she started getting film offers. Her journey in cinema began when Shashadhar Mukherjee and Devika Rani offered her a role at a party.
Begum Para made her film debut with the 1944 film Chand. The film was a hit and shot her to fame. Her initial salary was Rs 1500 per month, but she eventually became one of the highest-earning actresses of the 1950s. In 2008, she played Sonam Kapoor’s grandmother in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Saawariya.
In her debut film Chand, Begum Para had a love-making scene with co-star Prem Adeeb, as mentioned in a Rediff interview. These scenes were notably different from modern cinema, featuring holding hands, serenading, and eye contact. Despite their simplicity, this romantic depiction was considered surprising for the time.
After establishing herself in the film industry, Begum Para married Nasir Khan, the younger brother of actor Dilip Kumar. They had three children, one of whom is Ayub Khan, a prominent actor in both films and television. The marriage took place in 1958, following which Begum Para quit acting but continued to be remembered for her bold style.
Begum Para passed away at the age of 82 in 2008. Her husband had previously passed away in 1974. After her husband’s demise, Begum Para briefly resided in Pakistan with her family for two years but returned to India, where she spent the rest of her life.
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