Amina Begum (; 1 May 1936 – 1 July 2026), known professionally as Yasmin or Yasmeen, was a Pakistani actress known for her work in Pakistani cinema. Yasmin was noted for being a perfect fit for tragic roles during her acting career. Her career spanned over two decades during which she appeared as a leading lady as well as played supporting roles in the films of Golden Age of Pakistani cinema.
Early life and education Amina Begum was born on 1 May 1936 in Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India. She received her primary education at Imambara Girls School in Bombay. She studied until middle school, though her father, Atta Muhammad Paracha, wished for her to complete her matriculation. Amina, however, was more interested in pursuing a career in acting than in her studies.
Her passion led her to approach A. R. Kardar, who was preparing for the film Dil Lagi, an Urdu version of the folk tale Heer Ranjha. Impressed by her self-confidence and passion, he supported her with a role in the film. The film starred Shyam (Sahira Kazmi's father) and Suraiya in the lead roles.
Career Yasmin made her debut in 1949 with A.R. Kardar's Dillagi in a supporting role of Sehti. After partition, she shifted to Pakistan and started working in Pakistani cinema.
During the filming of Dillagi, the Partition of India occurred, but Yasmin stayed in India and completed her work in the film. In 1950, she migrated with her family to Lahore, Pakistan. In Pakistan, she initially worked under the names Zarina Reshma and Reshma. The first film in Pakistan in which she starred was Beli, which was written by Saadat Hassan Manto and she had a supporting role in it. Her other early roles under these names included the film Jahad, directed by Zahur Raja, and Amanat, a film by Haider Shah. She was also part of the cast of the film Chan Wey by Shah Noor Productions.
She went on to appear in supporting roles in Dupatta and Lakht-e-Jigar, playing a romantic role opposite Habib, while the main leads were Noor Jehan and Santosh Kumar. She followed it by her lead debut in Morni in 1956.
She later adopted the screen name Yasmin for her 1956 releases such as Kismet and Baghi, where she had a supporting role as the hero's sister.
In the same year, She appeared opposite actor Akmal Khan in the Punjabi film Jabroo, directed by Muzaffar Tahir. She also had a lead role with Talish in Darbar Habib. In 1958, She played the lead role in Tamanna, and received praise for her performance.
Personal life and death Her relationship with Jafar Bukhari, the cameraman of Chan Wey, developed into a romance and eventually marriage. As a director, Jafar Bukhari cast Yasmin as a heroine in several of his films, including Anjam, Masoom, Zehr-e-Ishq, Nai Lakhi, and Bharosa. The popular song "Dil Deta Hai Ro Ro Dahai" from the film Ishq Par Zor Nahi was filmed on her.
Due to serious differences, she and Jafar Bukhari separated. She then married the film director Syed Shaukat Hussain Rizvi, the former husband of singer Noor Jehan. She has two sons with Rizvi, Shaneshah Hussain Rizvi and Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi, while Jafar Bukhari has a son, Nasir Bukhari, who resides in Europe.
Yasmin died at her home on 1 July 2026, at the age of 90. She was buried at Shah Noor Studio in Lahore.
Filmography Television Year Title RoleNetwork 1997 Tum Jo Chaho Tu Suno Herself PTV
Film Year Title Role Language Notes 1949 Dillagi Sehti Hindi 1950 Jahad Urdu Beli Urdu Amanat Urdu 1951 Eid Urdu Chan Wey Shaddo Punjabi 1952 Dupatta Urdu 1953 Mehbooba Urdu Aaghosh Urdu 1955 Shararay Urdu Jheel Kinaray Urdu Ilteja Urdu 1956 Morni Punjabi Kismet Hameeda Urdu Mirza Sahiban Urdu Jabroo Chandi Punjabi / Bengali Baghi Urdu Darbar-e-Habib Urdu Haqeeqat Urdu 1957 Aas Paas Urdu Anjaam Urdu Murad Urdu Masoom Urdu 1958 Tamanna Urdu Jan-e-Bahar Urdu Zehr-e-Ishq Salma Urdu Mukhra Punjabi Touheed Urdu Bharosa Urdu Darbar Urdu Aadmi Urdu 1959 Lalkar Urdu Khul Ja Sim Sim Urdu 1960 Bhabhi Urdu Humsafar Urdu Salma Hameeda Urdu Shehbaz Urdu 1961 Surayya Yasmeen Urdu Farishta Urdu Dandian Punjabi Ghalib Umrao Urdu 1963 Sukh Ka Sapna Urdu Paharan Punjabi Awaz De Kahan Hai Urdu Ishq Par Zor Nahin Urdu Kala Pani Urdu Baaji Urdu Cameo Maine Kya Jurm Kiya Urdu Daaman Urdu Maa Beti Urdu 1964 Mama Ji Punjabi Shikari Urdu Mamta Urdu Jhalak Urdu Head Constable Urdu 1966 Laddo Punjabi 1967 Zinda Laash Shirin Urdu 1969 Kousar Kousar Urdu
References
External links