Nadira (born Florence Ezekiel, alternatively named Farhat Ezekiel; 5 December 1932 – 9 February 2006), was an Iraqi-born Indian actress who worked in the Hindi film industry. One of the leading and highest paid actresses of the early 1950s, she later transitioned into supporting roles where Nadira often portrayed modern, rebellious women in a range of films.
She appeared in films from the 1950s and 1960s, including Aan (1952), Shree 420 (1955), Pakeezah (1972), and Julie (1975), which won her the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award.
Early life Nadira was born on 5 December 1932 in Baghdad, Iraq, into a Baghdadi Jewish family. When she was an infant, her family migrated from Baghdad to Bombay in search of business opportunities. She had two brothers, one of whom lives in the United States and another in Israel."Jewish Stars of Bollywood" Haaretz (newspaper), Published 14 April 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2021
Career Nadira's first appearance in cinema was in the 1943 Hindi-language film Mauj when she was 10 or 11 years of age.
Her breakthrough came from Sardar Akhtar, wife of film director Mehboob Khan who cast her in the film Aan (1952). Her role as a Rajput princess in the film marked her rise to cinematic prominence. In 1955, she played a rich socialite named Maya in Shree 420. She played pivotal roles in a number of films such as Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960), Pakeezah (1972), Hanste Zakhm (1973), and Amar Akbar Anthony (1977). She was often cast as a temptress or vamp, roles which were used as a foil to the chaste leading lady characters that were favoured at the time by the Hindi film industry.
Nadira won a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her role in the 1975 film Julie. During the 1980s and 1990s, she mostly played supporting characters. Due to her image as a Westernized woman, she often played roles of Christian or Anglo-Indian ladies. Her last role was in the film Josh (2000).
She was among the highest-paid actresses during her career, and was one of the first Indian actresses to own a Rolls-Royce.
Personal life Following her breakthrough success with Aan (1952), filmmaker and lyricist Nakhshab Jarchavi (12 July 1918 – 24 August 1967) manipulated Nadira into breaking her contract with prominent filmmaker Mehboob Khan who produced and directed Aan with the ulterior motive of moving himself further. Nadira and Nakshab got married soon and the latter used her earnings and star power to fund his own then upcoming films starring her, namely Nagma (1953) and Raftar (1955). However, both these films failed to do well. Moreover, Nakhshab was licentious, being involved with multiple women. The breaking point of their marriage occurred when he boldly brought another woman into their shared household. Disgusted by his actions, Nadira immediately left him and their house, annuelling their marriage, leaving behind her earnings and possessions. She subsequently moved into a rented suite on Marine Drive, Mumbai (then Bombay) to rebuild her career and life independently.
In her later years, Nadira lived alone in Mumbai, India, as many of her relatives had moved to Israel. In the last three years before her death, she had been residing in her condominium with only a housekeeper. On 24 January 2006, she suffered a cardiac arrest and was admitted to a hospital in a semi-comatose state. She had multiple existing health problems, including tubercular meningitis, alcoholic liver disorder, and paralysis.
She died on 9 February 2006, aged 73, at the Bhatia Hospital in Tardeo, Mumbai, following a prolonged illness.
Filmography Films Year Title RoleNotes1943 Mauj Child artist; uncredited1952 Aan RajshreeFirst adult role1953Akash Nagma Produced, directed & lyrics written by ex-husband Nakhshab Jarchavi.1954Dak Babu Waris Kanta1955 Pyaara Dushman Raftar Produced, directed & lyrics written by ex-husband Nakhshab Jarchavi.Shri 420 Maya1956 Beloved Corinna Talwar Ka Dhani Pocket Maar Rita Samundari Daku Sipahsalar 1957 Garma Garam 1958 Daughter Of Sindbad Shabnam Pehla Pehla Pyar Police Champakali 1960 Black Tiger Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai Mrs. Kusum Verma1961 Main Aur Mera Bhai Wazir-E-Azam 1962 Gyara Hazar Ladkian Mohana Madam Zorro 1963 Meri Surat Teri Ankhen 1965Chhoti Chhoti BatenShantaAccident Mehbooba 1966 Hum Kahan Ja Rahe Hain 1967 C.I.D. 909 1968 Jung Aur Aman Kahin Din Kahin Raat IndraniSapno Ka Saudagar Ranjana's mother1969Insaaf Ka Mandir Talash Flirtatious lady in red sariThe Guru Courtesan1970 Bombay Talkie AnjanaChetna NirmalaEk Nanhi Munni Ladki Thi Ishq Par Zor NahinMrs. Doraiswamy Jahan Pyar Miley Safar Shekhar Kapoor's mother 1971Kahin Aar Kahin Paar 1972 Anokha Daan Ek Nazar Ameena BaiPakeezah Gauhar JaanRaja Jani Shanno's foster mother1973Ek Nari Do Roop Hanste Zakhm Brothel Madame Pyaar Ka Rishta 1974Faslah Mrs. Sonachand Ishk Ishk Ishk Woh Main Nahin Gangu Tai Ghotale 1975Dharmatma Gypsy womanJulieMargaret 'Maggie' (Julie's Mom)Won Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1976Kahtey Hain Mujhko Raja Thakurain Mere Sartaj Gulshan Bai 1976Bhanwar Sharada1977Aap Ki Khatir Shanti Aashiq Hoon Baharon Ka HeeraAmar Akbar Anthony Lakshmi's stepmotherUncredited cameoDarling Darling Mrs. Rai BahadurPaapi Old lady who got stuck by Vikram's car1978Naukri Lilly1979 Bin Phere Hum Tere Talen Bai Duniya Meri Jeb Mein Mrs. Robins Magroor Mrs. D'Sa1980Chaal Baaz Swayamvar Durga Bhargav1981 Aas Paas Rani Dahshat Mrs. Vishal1982AshantiSchool principal Raaste Pyar Ke Saraswati 1985 SaagarMiss Joseph1991Jhoothi ShaanRanimaa 1997 Tamanna Nazneen Begum 1999Cotton Mary Mattie 2000Josh Mrs. LouiseLast release
Television Year Title Role1984Kim (TV serial) Kulu's widow1995 Ek Tha Rusty (Season 1) Ms. McKenzie Thoda Sa Aasman Mrs. Joshi 1997Margarita Nacha 2001Zohra Mahal Zohra Mahal
See also List of Indian Jews
References
External links