Nadira Babbar
Encyclopedia
Nadira Babbar is an Indian
theatre actress, director and an actress in Hindi
cinema, who is the recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
in 2001. A leading name in Indian theatre, Nadira founded a Mumbai-based theatre group called Ekjute, a known name in Hindi theatre
in 1981.
Nadira Babbar was most recently seen as the mother to Aishwariya Rai in Gurinder Chadha
's film, Bride and Prejudice
(2004), and M. F. Hussain's Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities
(2004).
and Urdu writer Razia Sajjad Zaheer, Nadira is third amongst four sisters, Najma Ali Baquer, Naseem Bhatia and Noor Sajjad Zaheer. Her parents were actively associated with Progressive Writers' Association, and IPTA
, giving her an upbringing strongly rooted culture and theatre.
She graduated from National School of Drama
(NSD), New Delhi in 1971. Nadira was a Gold Medallist at NSD and went to Germany on a scholarship, and later got a chance to work with renowned directors like Grotovisky and Peter Brooks
.
-based musical, Jasma Odhan, written by Shanta Gandhi
for several years now. Nadira moved to Mumbai in 1988, and reestablished her theatre group.
Over the last 30 years Ekjute has given Indian theatre over sixty plays including, Sandhya Chhaya, Look Back in Anger, Ballabpur Ki Roop Katha, Baat Laat Ki Halaat Ki, Bharam Ke Bhoot, Shabash Anarkali
, and Begum Jaan; apart from directing plays written by herself: Dayashankar Ki Diary (1997), Sakku Bai (1999), Suman Aur Sana and Ji Jaisi Aapki Marzi. It has worked with actors like Raj Babbar, Satish Kaushik and Kirron Kher.
In 1990, Ekjute started the 'Ekjute Young People's Theatre Group', which has given productions like, Aao Picnic Challen and Azdak Ka Insaaf. The groups celebrated 30 years of its foundation in 2011, with a week long theatre festival, 30 Years Caravan 2011, at Prithvi Theatres, Mumbai which began on April 14, 2011.
. They have a son, Arya Babbar
, an upcoming actor in Hindi
cinema, and a daughter Juhi Babbar
, a fashion designer by profession who also acts and designs costumes for Nadira's plays.
Demographics of India
The demographics of India are inclusive of the second most populous country in the world, with over 1.21 billion people , more than a sixth of the world's population. Already containing 17.5% of the world's population, India is projected to be the world's most populous country by 2025, surpassing...
theatre actress, director and an actress in Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
cinema, who is the recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recognition given to practicing artists. The award consists since 2003 of Rs. 50,000, a citation, an angavastram , and a tamrapatra...
in 2001. A leading name in Indian theatre, Nadira founded a Mumbai-based theatre group called Ekjute, a known name in Hindi theatre
Hindi theatre
Hindi theatre primarily refers to theatre performed in the Hindi language, including dialects such as Khari boli and Hindustani. Hindi theatre is produced mainly in North India, and some parts of West India and Central India, which include Mumbai and Bhopal...
in 1981.
Nadira Babbar was most recently seen as the mother to Aishwariya Rai in Gurinder Chadha
Gurinder Chadha
Gurinder Chadha , OBE, is a British film director of Indian origin. Most of her films explore the lives of Indians living in the United Kingdom. She is best known for the hit films Bhaji on the Beach , Bend It Like Beckham , Bride and Prejudice and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging...
's film, Bride and Prejudice
Bride and Prejudice
Bride and Prejudice is a 2004 romantic musical film directed by Gurinder Chadha. The screenplay by Chadha and Paul Mayeda Berges is a Bollywood-style adaptation of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. It was filmed primarily in English, with some Hindi and Punjabi dialogue. The film released in...
(2004), and M. F. Hussain's Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities
Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities
Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities is a 2004 Hindi film directed by M.F. Husain and starring Tabu, Kunal Kapoor and Raghuvir Yadav. The film centers on Hyderabad novelist Nawab, , who is suffering from writers block. After five years and no stories, Nawab comes across an unconventional muse, Meenaxi...
(2004).
Early life
Nadira Zaheer was born to communist leader Syed Sajjad ZaheerSajjad Zaheer
Syed Sajjad Zaheer was a renowned Urdu writer, Marxist thinker and revolutionary.- Life :...
and Urdu writer Razia Sajjad Zaheer, Nadira is third amongst four sisters, Najma Ali Baquer, Naseem Bhatia and Noor Sajjad Zaheer. Her parents were actively associated with Progressive Writers' Association, and IPTA
Ipta
IPTA can refer to:* Indian People's Theatre Association* International Pulsar Timing Array...
, giving her an upbringing strongly rooted culture and theatre.
She graduated from National School of Drama
National School of Drama
National School of Drama is a theatre training institute situated at New Delhi, India, established . It is an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It was set up in 1959 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and became an independent school in 1975...
(NSD), New Delhi in 1971. Nadira was a Gold Medallist at NSD and went to Germany on a scholarship, and later got a chance to work with renowned directors like Grotovisky and Peter Brooks
Peter Brooks
Peter Brooks is Sterling Professor Emeritus of Comparative Literature at Yale University and Andrew W. Mellon Scholar in the department of Comparative Literature and the Center for Human Values at Princeton University. He is formerly Professor in the Department of English and School of Law at the...
.
Career
She started her theatre group in Ekjute (Together) in 1981 in Delhi , which came out with its first production Yahudi ki Ladki in 1981, which revived the Parsi theatre style, and is considered one of its finest. The group has also been performing the BhavaiBhavai
Bhavai is a popular folk theatre form of Gujarat. Jasma Odan based on Gujarati folk tale, wriiten and directed by Shanta Gandhi and Mena Gujari produced by Deena Gandhi are some of most popular Bhavai musicals..-History:...
-based musical, Jasma Odhan, written by Shanta Gandhi
Shanta Gandhi
Shanta Gandhi was an Indian theatre director, dancer and playwright. She was a founder-member of the central ballet troupe of the Indian People's Theatre Association , and toured the country widely through the 1950s...
for several years now. Nadira moved to Mumbai in 1988, and reestablished her theatre group.
Over the last 30 years Ekjute has given Indian theatre over sixty plays including, Sandhya Chhaya, Look Back in Anger, Ballabpur Ki Roop Katha, Baat Laat Ki Halaat Ki, Bharam Ke Bhoot, Shabash Anarkali
Shabash Anarkali
Shabash Anarkali is a Hindi-Urdu parody of the historical romance of Saleem and Anarkali set during the Mughal period in India...
, and Begum Jaan; apart from directing plays written by herself: Dayashankar Ki Diary (1997), Sakku Bai (1999), Suman Aur Sana and Ji Jaisi Aapki Marzi. It has worked with actors like Raj Babbar, Satish Kaushik and Kirron Kher.
In 1990, Ekjute started the 'Ekjute Young People's Theatre Group', which has given productions like, Aao Picnic Challen and Azdak Ka Insaaf. The groups celebrated 30 years of its foundation in 2011, with a week long theatre festival, 30 Years Caravan 2011, at Prithvi Theatres, Mumbai which began on April 14, 2011.
Personal life
It was at NSD that she met her husband, actor, politician Raj BabbarRaj Babbar
Raj Babbar is a Hindi & Punjabi film actor since 1977 and the current Member of Parliament from Firozabad which he won by defeating Dimple Yadav, wife of Akhilesh Yadav & daughter-in-law of Mulayam Singh Yadav. This is his fourth term as MP, in previous terms he was the part of Samajwadi...
. They have a son, Arya Babbar
Arya Babbar
Arya Babbar is an Indian actor.-Life:Aarya Babbar was born at Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai into a well-known family; his father is the renowned actor Raj Babbar and his mother the prominent theatre personality Nadira Zaheer Babbar...
, an upcoming actor in Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
cinema, and a daughter Juhi Babbar
Juhi Babbar
Juhi Babbar is an Indian film actress and the daughter of actor Raj Babbar. Her brother Arya Babbar is also an actor. She was married to Bejoy Nambiar in 2007 after a two year courtship; the couple divorced in early 2009. She also has a half-brother, Prateik Babbar, who is also an actor.She made...
, a fashion designer by profession who also acts and designs costumes for Nadira's plays.