Nadira (Indian actress)
Florence Ezekiel Nadira | |
|---|---|
| File:Nadira in Shree 420 (1955).png Nadira in Shree 420 (1955) | |
| Born | 5 December 1932 |
| Died | 9 February 2006 (aged 73) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1952 – 2001[1] |
| Awards | Filmfare Award in 1976 |
Florence Ezekiel or Nadira (5 December 1932 – 9 February 2006), commonly known as Nadira was an Indian actress in Bollywood films. She is best remembered for her performance in films in the 1950s and 1960s such as Aan (1952), Shree 420 (1955), Pakeezah (1972) and Julie (1975), which won her the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award.[1][2]
Early life
Nadira was born to a Baghdadi Jewish family.[1] She is survived by two brothers, one of whom lives in the United States and another in Israel.[3] Nadira was introduced to the film industry by Sardar Akhtar, wife of film director Mehboob Khan, in the film Aan (1952).[2][4]
Career
Nadira rose to cinematic prominence with the 1952 film Aan, with her role as a Rajput princess. She did a bold scene in the movie.[1] In 1955, she played a rich socialite named Maya in Shree 420.[1][2] She played pivotal roles in a number of films such as Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai, Hanste Zakhm, Amar Akbar Anthony and Pakeezah. She worked alongside Shammi kapoor in Sipahsalar (1956). She was often cast as a temptress or vamp, and played opposite the chaste heroines then favoured by the Bollywood film industry.[2]
Nadira won a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her role as Julie's mother Margaret, 'Maggie', in the 1975 film Julie.[2] During the 1980s and 1990s, she entered a new phase of her career, playing elderly women as a supporting actress. Her last role was in the film Josh (2000). In her longtime career, because of her western attire, her character in most of her memorable movies was Christian or Anglo-Indian. One notable exception can be found in the movie Aan, opposite Dilip Kumar, where she played a Rajput princess. Also, in Shree 420 there was no religious affiliation shown explicitly: her character was named Maya, which is not necessarily a Christian name. In fact, Maya is a quite common name in India, coming from the Sanskrit word for illusion.
She was well paid for her efforts and was one of the first Indian actresses to own a Rolls-Royce.[2]
Personal life
For the last part of her life, she lived alone in Mumbai, as many of her relatives had moved to Israel, staying for the last three years in her condominium with only a housekeeper named Shobha. She had suffered a cardiac arrest on 24 January 2006 and was admitted to the hospital in a semi-comatose state. She had multiple health problems including tubercular meningitis, alcoholic liver disorder and paralysis.[2][4]
On 9 February 2006, Nadira died at the age of 73 or 75 at the Bhatia Hospital in Tardeo, Mumbai, India, following a prolonged illness.[1][2] Among the survivors were one brother that lived in the United States and another brother that lived in Israel.[4]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Zohra Mahal | Zohra Mahal | |
| 2000 | Josh[4] | Lady D'costa | |
| 1999 | Cotton Mary[2] | Mattie | |
| 1997 | Tamanna[2][4] | Nazneen Begum | |
| 1992 | Godfather | ||
| 1992 | Mehbooba | ||
| 1991 | Jhoothi Shaan | Ranimaa | |
| 1991 | Hassan Da Chor | ||
| 1991 | Laila | ||
| 1988 | Maula Baksh | ||
| 1985 | Saagar[2][4] | Miss Joseph | |
| 1984 | Kim (TV serial) | Widow of Kulu | |
| 1982 | Raaste Pyar Ke | ||
| 1982 | Ashanti | School principal | |
| 1981 | Dahshat | Mrs. Vishal | |
| 1981 | Aas Paas | ||
| 1980 | Chaal Baaz[2] | ||
| 1980 | Swayamvar | Durgadevi Bhargav | |
| 1979 | Duniya Meri Jeb Mein | ||
| 1979 | Bin Phere Hum Tere | ||
| 1979 | Magroor | Mrs. Disa | |
| 1978 | Naukri | Lily | |
| 1977 | Aap Ki Khatir | ||
| 1977 | Aashiq Hoon Baharon Ka | Heera (Jamundas' wife) | |
| 1977 | Amar Akbar Anthony[2] | Stepmother | |
| 1977 | Darling Darling | ||
| 1977 | Paapi | Old lady hit by Vikram's car | |
| 1976 | Bhanwar | Sharda Devi | |
| 1975 | Dharmatma | ||
| 1975 | Julie[2][4] | Margaret 'Maggie' (Julie's Mom) | Won – Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award |
| 1975 | Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja | ||
| 1975 | Mere Sartaj | ||
| 1974 | Faslah | ||
| 1974 | Ishq Ishq Ishq | ||
| 1974 | Woh Main Nahin | ||
| 1973 | Ek Nari Do Roop | ||
| 1973 | Hanste Zakhm[2] | ||
| 1973 | Pyaar Ka Rishta | ||
| 1972 | Ek Nazar | Aminabai | |
| 1972 | Raja Jani | ||
| 1971 | Kahin Aar Kahin Paar | ||
| 1972 | Anokha Daan | ||
| 1972 | Pakeezah[2][4] | Madame Gauhar Jaan | |
| 1971 | Bombay Talkie | Anjana Devi | |
| 1970 | Chetna | Nirmala | |
| 1970 | Ishq Par Zor Nahin | Mrs. Doraiswamy | |
| 1970 | Safar | Mrs. Kapoor (Shekhar's mom) | |
| 1969 | The Guru | Courtesan | |
| 1969 | Insaaf Ka Mandir | ||
| 1969 | Jahan Pyar Mile | ||
| 1969 | Talash | Flirtatious lady in red sari | |
| 1968 | Kahin Din Kahin Raat | Mrs.Indrani | |
| 1968 | Sapnon Ka Saudagar | Ranjana's mother | |
| 1963 | Meri Surat Teri Ankhen | ||
| 1965 | Chhoti Chhoti Baatein | Shanta | |
| 1960 | Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai[2] | Mrs. Kusum Sushil Verma | |
| 1960 | Kala Bazar | Herself | |
| 1958 | Police | ||
| 1956 | Geliebte Corinna | ||
| 1956 | Pocket Maar | ||
| 1956 | Samundari Daku | ||
| 1956 | Sipahsalar | ||
| 1956 | Shree 420[1][2][4] | Maya | |
| 1955 | Jalan | ||
| 1955 | Raftar | ||
| 1954 | Dak Babu | ||
| 1954 | Waris | Kanta | |
| 1953 | Nagma | ||
| 1952 | Aan[1][4] | Princess Rajshree |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Margarita | Nacha |
| 1995 | Ek Tha Rusty (Season 1) | Ms. Mackenzie |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Nadira, Who Played the Vamp in Bollywood, Is Dead". The New York Times. Agence France-Presse. 10 February 2006. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Veteran actress Nadira passes away". MidDay,com website. 31 January 2006. Archived from the original on 20 February 2006. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "Jewish Stars of Bollywood" Haaretz (newspaper), Published 14 April 2013, Retrieved 8 January 2021
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Priyanka Jain (16 January 2006). "Nadira: A woman ahead of her time". Rediff.com website. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
.png){kind=link}