Asha Parekh
The hindi film industry has been blessed with many talented actresses who have left an indelible mark and Asha Parekh is one of them . She used to captivate her audiences with her attractive face , impressive acting skills, and unforgettable on-screen presence.
She was a famous and talented actress in hindi films during 1960s and 1970s and showed her talent in her numerous films during her long stint with cinema from the year 1952 to 1996 .
Asha Parekh was born on 2.10.1942 in a Gujarati family to a hindu father-Bachubhai Parekh and mother Sudha . Her mother- Sudha, before marriage , was known as Salma being born in a Bohra muslim family .
She started learning dance while being a child and was coached by several teachers including Pandit Bansilal Bharati .
Parekh started her acting career as a child artist in the year 1952 and continued to act as a child artist till the year 1957 featuring in films like Maa ,
Aasmaa ,Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Dhobi Doctor, Baap Beti , Ayodhyapati
and Ustad .
As an adult actress , she got her first chance in 1959 film – Dil Deke Dekho दिल देके देखो starring Shammi kapoor and the film became a hit at box office . She followed that up with some really big hits such as Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai जब प्यार किसी से होता है starring Devanand ( 1961), Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon फिर वही दिल लाया हूँ (1963) starring Joy Muckerji , Ziddi ज़िद्दी ( 1964) and Mere Sanam मेरे सनम ( 1965) starring Biswajit .
In 1966 she delivered four films namely Teesri Manzil starring with Shammi kapoor , Love in Tokyo with Joy Muckerji , Do Badan starring Manoj kumar and film Aaye Din Bahar Ke with Dharmendra. She thus became a queen of the box office by delivering one hit film after another .
People cant forget her singing ‘ Sayonara sayonara , vaada nibhaoongi sayonara सायो नारा सायो नारा , वादा निभाऊँगी सायोनारा ‘ dressed like a japanese girl in film Love in
Tokyo . She also proved her versatility in film Do Badan दो बदन by playing a sombre role quite different from her upbeat roles in films – Teesri Manzil तीसरी मंजिल and love in tokyo लव इन टोकियो . The famous song ‘Jab chali Thandi hawa जब चली ठंडी हवा ‘ in this film was picturised on her .
Her next successful films were – Upkaar उपकार starring Manoj kumar ,
Baharon Ke Sapne बहारों के सपने starring Rajesh khanna , Shikar शिकार with Dharmendra and film Kanyaa Daan कन्या दान with Shashi kapoor .
She acted in the films of some big producers -directors of 1960s and 1970s like J.Om Prakash, Nasir Husain, Shakti Samant , Raj Khosla and Pramod Chakravarty.
Asha Parekh’s other hit films were Sajan साजन, Aaya Sawan Jhoom Key आया सावन झूम के , kati Patang कटी पतंग , Aan Milo Sajna आन मिलो सजना , Mera Gaon Mera Desh मेरा गांव मेरा देश , Caravan कारवां ,Samadhi समाधि , Udhar Ka Sindur उधार का सिंदूर , Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki मैं तुलसी तेरे आँगन की and Kaalia कालीया amongst others .
She acted in about 85+ films and her last appearance was in 1996 film Muthibhar Zameen .
She was also active in staze shows . She had started a Ballet called ‘Chauladevi ‘ which did more than 400 shows in and outside Mumbai followed by another successful stage drama
‘ Anarkali अनारकली . She toured several countries to show her talent and performance .
She has also successfully tried her hands in TV shows and serials like Jyoti and Drishtikone in Gujarati followed by Palash key phool पलाश के फूल , Bajey Payalia बाजे पायलीया ( with 55 episodes ) and Daal mein kala दाल में काला .
Asha Parekh has remained unmarried and in her interviews she has stated that her mother was very strict and never allowed anyone to come near her . She further quoted that there was something about her that no one came near to me ( scared of me ) and that is why no one proposed her for marriage though her name was linked with a already married famous producer- director of hindi films and also with a USA based indian professor. In a recent interview she reportedly said that she might have wanted to marry but has no regrets because she was unable to do so.
She has received several awards and recognitions including Filmfare Award for Best Actress for Kati Patang (1971) and Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1992 for her contributions to the films and arts . She was also honoured with the most prestigious-Dadasaheb Phalke Award – in 2022 for the year -2020 .
Asha Parekh’s legacy extends beyond her impressive filmography. Her dedication, perseverance and passion for her craft have inspired countless fans and admirers and she will be remembered as one of the true Icons of hindi cinema
( Excerpts from her interviews and memories)
a) I started as a child artist, and not as a heroine, as most would think. I was performing on stage once when the late Director Bimal Roy saw me and asked me if I would work in films. I was too small and without realising, I just said yes. So, I got into films. My first film was Baap Beti which the late Bimal Roy directed. After that I was back to studies. I was schooling in J. B. Petit High School.
b)My parents had an inter-religious marriage. My father is a Gujarati and my mother a Bohri Muslim. I am an only child. My parents loved me very much, but were very strict: I was a tomboy, always among boys, playing, fighting. With dancing, my life took a different turn. I was staying in Santa Cruz and had to go to school in Flora Fountain, after that I would go to Dadar for my dance classes. Life was not all fun and games all the time when I was young.
c) Though not into films, my family was associated with films. My paternal grandparents financed films. They didn’t like me getting into films. But, destiny willed it so.
d) As a heroine, my life was different. I had been a private person. When I used to be at home, I would relax, laze, read books, listen to music. I used to go to parties but never enjoyed myself. I would get bored not knowing what to do. In my time, parties were also used to start at 8.30 or 9.00 p.m. and not like now when parties start only at 12.30 in the night.
e) My Film – Dil Deke Dekho – was with Shammi Kapoor. It was fun working with him . Shammiji also helped me a lot. It was my first film and I didn’t know how to sing romantic songs. Shammiji taught me. That’s why I think, I had a little bit of his style. When the film was released, it was a very big hit. The release of my first film was a very memorable event in my life. It was stardom overnight. There was a very big premiere. A huge crowd had collected.
f) My male co-stars were all thorough gentlemen. Shammiji was very protective towards me. If after a shooting, I had to leave and there was a huge crowd gathered outside, Shammiji would say, ‘I’ll entertain them, and you get out’. Which hero of today would do that? It was the same thing about Sunil Dutt. I remember we were shooting for Hum Hindustani and my car had a breakdown. He had reached Igatpuri and we were at Wilson Dam. He realised something had gone wrong and came all the way back to where we were and picked us up. Even Rajendra Kumar would go out of his way to help us. He would say, ‘No, the girls have to be looked after. Nobody should misbehave with them’. There was a lot of affection.
g) Dev Anand had his own style of working. He was an introvert. It was fun working with him. He was a very handsome man. I remember, we were shooting for Jab Pyar Kissi Se Hota Hai at Filmistan. A group of 200-300 girls had come from Punjab. We were in the sound room seeing a song and the girls just rushed in. The way they were looking at him, it was fun to watch. Dev Anand ka jo craze tha, it was something unbelievable. It was the same with Rajesh Khanna. Girls would go mad.
h) Today times are different. The trend is changing. We are becoming more westernised. Our dress sense, music and dance have all changed. During our times, buxom women were more appreciated, whereas today thin girls are appreciated. I, personally like our indian culture.
Even in those days, films did have western dances, but there also used to be one Indian dance, not necessarily classical. But today’s dances are not dances, they are just exercises or acrobatics.
( Tributes , awards and recognitions )
As per the famous magazine Filmfare , Asha Parekh was undeniably distinct from her peers and a woman of many shades and much substance. The First post termed her as one of the biggest film stars to grace the silver screen . She earned the the label of Bollywood’s jubilee girl with her several silver jubilee hit films during Hindi film industry’s golden era.
She had to struggle a lot to graduate from a conventional Bollywood heroine to one of the most successful and leading artists of the 1960s and early 70s in both conventional and unconventional roles.
In the year 2022, she was selected as Outlook India’s list of 75 Best Bollywood Actresses . Parekh appeared in Box Office India’s Top Actresses list seven times from 1966 to 1972 and topped the list twice in 1967 and 1968 .
( Tributes , awards and recognitions )
As per the famous magazine Filmfare , Asha Parekh was undeniably distinct from her peers and a woman of many shades and much substance. The First post termed her as one of the biggest film stars to grace the silver screen . She earned the the label of Bollywood’s jubilee girl with her several silver jubilee hit films during Hindi film industry’s golden era.
She had to struggle a lot to graduate from a conventional Bollywood heroine to one of the most successful and leading artists of the 1960s and early 70s in both conventional and unconventional roles.
In the year 2022, she was selected as Outlook India’s list of 75 Best Bollywood Actresses . Parekh appeared in Box Office India’s Top Actresses list seven times from 1966 to 1972 and topped the list twice in 1967 and 1968 .
She has won several awards and recognitions of which notable are :-
1) Nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Actress for film Chirag , for film Udhar Ka Sindur , for film Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki and won this award for film Kati Patang ( 1971) .
2) Padma Shri award in the the year – 1992
3) Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in the year -2002 .
4).Kalakar Awards – Lifetime Achievement Award (2004)
5.International Indian Film Academy Awards for outstanding achievement in Indian cinema (2006)
6)Bollywood Award—for Lifetime Achievement in the year -2007 .
7.Nashik International Film Festival—Lifetime Achievement Award (2009) .
8) Stardust-Lifetime Achievement Award (2015) .
9).Second Best Book Award for her co-authored biography titled “The Hit Girl” at the 5th annual Pune International Literary Festival (PILF) (2017) .
10). Bimal Roy Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award (2019 ) .
11)Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2020 by Government of India given in the year -2022 .
12. Raj Kapoor Award given by Maharashtra state government in the year 2024 .
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