Zeenat Begum (born Shamim Akhtar; 11 November 1931 11 December 2007), sometimes known as Zeenat, was a Pakistani singer. She was known as The Queen of Yesteryear for singing songs in films and on radio.
Early life Zeenat Begum was born Shamim Akhtar on 11 November 1931 into a family of musicians at Malerkotla, Punjab, British India.
Music career Zeenat Begum was a tawaif and a renowned classical singer. She was discovered by Pandit Amar Nath around 1937. Her first success as a playback singer came when she sang for Govind Ram's Punjabi film Mangti (1942) and she also made her debut as an actress in the film. The film was marked as the first Golden jubilee film produced in Lahore.
Her first Hindi film was Nishani (1942). She sang for other notable films including Panchhi (1944), Shalimar (1946), Shehar se Door (1946) and Daasi (1944).
Zeenat Begum relocated from Lahore to Bombay in 1944. She sang for several music directors in Bombay, including younger brothers of Pandit Amar Nath – Pandit Husnlal Bhagatram, Master Ghulam Haider, Pandit Gobind Ram, etc. The last film she sang for in India was Mukhda (1951). She migrated to Pakistan and joined Lahore station of Radio Pakistan and worked there until the late 1950s. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, many new playback singers arrived in Pakistan which affected the playback singing career of Zeenat Begum. Though she remained a prominent singer of Radio Lahore in the 1950s and 1960s.
Personal life Zeenat married Abdul Jabbar in 1949. They divorced in 1955. She married Saqlain Rizvi later and they had one child together.
Death She died on 11 December 2007 in Lahore, Pakistan.
Filmography Film Year Film Language 1942 Nishani Hindi 1942 Mangti Punjabi 1943 Sahara Hindi 1944 Daasi Hindi 1944 Chand Hindi 1944 Panchhi Hindi 1944 Gul Baloch Punjabi 1945 Champa Hindi 1946 Kahan Gaye Hindi 1946 Shehar se Door Hindi 1946 Rehana Urdu 1946 Shalimar Hindi 1946 Khush Naseeb Hindi 1948 Teri Yaad Urdu 1949 Ek Thi Larki Hindi 1949 Kaneez Hindi 1949 Pheray Urdu 1950 Jahad Urdu 1950 Hamari Basti Urdu 1950 2 Aansoo Urdu 1950 Shammi Punjabi 1951 Mukhda Hindi 1951 Eid Urdu 1951 Ghairat Urdu 1951 Billo Punjabi 1952 Shola Urdu 1952 Nath Punjabi 1953 Sailab Urdu 1953 Ilzam Urdu 1963 Ik Tera Sahara Urdu 1970 Naya Savera Urdu 1975 Mohabbat Zindagi Hai Urdu
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