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Want to know who is Indian Cinema’s First Female Superstar? Well the credit for this coveted title goes to Naseem Banu, mother of yesteryear actress Saira Banu and mother-in-law of thespian Dilip Kumar. She dominated the mid 30’s and 40’s with super hit movies like PUKAR, KHOON KA KHOON, CHAL CHAL RE NAUJAWAN, KHAN BAHADUR, MEETHA ZAHAR etc.
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July 4 marks the birth anniversary of the legendary actress; Glamsham.Com remembers her and enlightens readers how she quit her studies in medicine and pursued career in cinema, that too, in an era when acting in movies was considered taboo!
Naseem Banu, considered as Indian cinema’s first lady super star was so charming and beautiful that the media had termed her ‘Pari Chehra’ (Beauty Queen). She is still remembered for her excellent role as Queen Noor Jehan, in Sohrab Modi’s movie PUKAR. Movie buffs were bewitched by her stunning beauty so much that she became a star overnight. But readers would be surprised to know that she had to rebel against her family to fulfill her ambition.
Born in an aristocratic wealthy family, her mother wished she studied medicine and she did as per her mother’s desire. However things changed when during her summer holidays she came to Mumbai and was bowled over by the captivating world of cinema. It so happened that she got the opportunity to watch shooting of a film called SILVER KING. She was fascinated by the whole atmosphere and the impact was so intense that she made up her mind to act in movies.
The charm of cinema made her hung around studios. Once she was noticed by eminent filmmaker Sohrab Modi, who was mesmerized by her amazing beauty. Modi approached her mother and offered her daughter the heroine’s role in his movie KHOON KA KHOON (Remake of Shakespeare’s novel Hamlet). Her mother was furious and instantly declined. But young Naseem created a scene. She protested and went on a hunger strike. Her mother eventually gave in to her demands.
Naseem Banu did many movies and quit acting in the mid 50’s.
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