Zeba Bakhtiar
Encyclopedia
Zeba Bakhtiar is a Pakistan
i film and television actress and director. She made her television debut with a PTV Karachi centre
play, Anarkali
. She gained a lot of fame through her Bollywood
debut, Henna
. She also gained media attention due to her marriage with Adnan Sami
and the subsequent custody battles of her son.
, Pakistan
to Yahya Bakhtiar, a prominent bureaucrat from Quetta
, former Attorney General of Pakistan and a close confidant of Late Prime minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Sylvia Vallencanto, his Hungarian wife. Bakhtiar has lived her entire life in Pakistan and in an interview stated, "I consider myself Pakistani more but I respect my roots". She has two brothers, both doctors by profession living in the U.S, and a sister who is a corporate lawyer. She is of Pakistani, Persian
Bakhtiari and Hungarian ancestry.
Bakhtiar got her initial education from a convent school in Quetta
Pakistan, and then attended Kinnaird College
in Lahore
, getting her bachelor's degree in law, but not completing her graduate degree. Although she was brought up in a very conservative environment, she never thought of becoming an actress and stated that it was all by chance she became an actress.
banner in India
. The movie was directed by Randhir Kapoor
. Her work in Henna was widely appreciated, but it was her performance in the Pakistani film Sargam
(1995) that won her the prestigious Nigar Award in Pakistan.
Zeba also gave excellent performances in movies such as Mohabbat Ki Arzoo (1994), Stuntman (1994), Jai Vikraanta (1995), Muqadama (1996), Chief Sahib (1996), Qaid
(1996) and Babu
(2001). She proved herself an accomplished director in her directorial-debut movie, Babu, in 2001. Apart from movies, Zeba often took starring roles in major television serials, in which she brought new levels of intensity with her performances. For instance, in Laag she gave a memorable performance as the leader of the 'Kashmiri Independence Movement'. Her portrayal of a handicapped girl in Pehli See Mohabbat was just mind-boggling as were her performances in the Lollywood
films Kundi and Sangam
.
but separated in 1997. She now lives in Karachi
, with her son Azaan, and continues to direct and produce television serials. However she and Adnan were never divorced.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i film and television actress and director. She made her television debut with a PTV Karachi centre
Pakistan Television Corporation
The Pakistan Television Corporation is Pakistan's national television broadcaster. The first live transmission of PTV began on November 26, 1964, in Lahore...
play, Anarkali
Anarkali
Anarkali ; Anārkalī ) was a legendary slave girl from Lahore, Punjab . During the Mughal period, she was supposedly ordered to be buried alive between two walls by Mughal emperor Akbar for having an illicit relationship with the Prince Nuruddin Saleem later to become Emperor Jahangir...
. She gained a lot of fame through her Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
debut, Henna
Henna
Henna is a flowering plant used since antiquity to dye skin, hair, fingernails, leather and wool. The name is also used for dye preparations derived from the plant, and for the art of temporary tattooing based on those dyes...
. She also gained media attention due to her marriage with Adnan Sami
Adnan Sami
Adnan Sami is a British-born Pakistani-Indian- Canadian singer, musician, pianist, actor and composer of Pakistani origin. He currently holds Canadian citizenship and works and lives in Mumbai, India...
and the subsequent custody battles of her son.
Early life
Bakhtiar was born in QuettaQuetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
to Yahya Bakhtiar, a prominent bureaucrat from Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
, former Attorney General of Pakistan and a close confidant of Late Prime minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Sylvia Vallencanto, his Hungarian wife. Bakhtiar has lived her entire life in Pakistan and in an interview stated, "I consider myself Pakistani more but I respect my roots". She has two brothers, both doctors by profession living in the U.S, and a sister who is a corporate lawyer. She is of Pakistani, Persian
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
Bakhtiari and Hungarian ancestry.
Bakhtiar got her initial education from a convent school in Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
Pakistan, and then attended Kinnaird College
Kinnaird College
Kinnaird College for Women is a college in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It is partially semi- government institute recognized by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.-Early history:...
in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, getting her bachelor's degree in law, but not completing her graduate degree. Although she was brought up in a very conservative environment, she never thought of becoming an actress and stated that it was all by chance she became an actress.
Acting career
Her performance in the TV play Anarkali, a sad love story, won her critical acclaim in Pakistan's entertainment world. The role of Anarkali helped prepare her for her big screen debut with the hit movie Henna (1991), produced by the Raj KapoorRaj Kapoor
Known as Ranbir Raj Kapoor Rāj Kapūr, 14 December 1924 – 2 June 1988), also known as The Show-Man, was an Indian film actor, producer and director of Hindi cinema. He was the winner of nine Filmfare Awards, while his films Awaara and Boot Polish were nominated for the Palme d'Or at the...
banner in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The movie was directed by Randhir Kapoor
Randhir Kapoor
Randhir Kapoor is a Bollywood actor, producer and director. His nickname is Daboo.-Early life:Randhir Kapoor hails from the legendary Kapoor family. He is the eldest son of Raj Kapoor. He is a fourth generation Kapoor and comes from a distinguished Punjabi Hindu family who have been part of the...
. Her work in Henna was widely appreciated, but it was her performance in the Pakistani film Sargam
Sargam (1995 film)
Sargam is a Pakistani Urdu film directed by Syed Noor starring the singer Adnan Sami and his ex-wife Zeba Bakhtiar. The film was Adnan Sami Khan's first and last appearance in any Pakistani film. He composed some songs with Indian singer Asha Bhonsle and created an all time Pakistani record for any...
(1995) that won her the prestigious Nigar Award in Pakistan.
Zeba also gave excellent performances in movies such as Mohabbat Ki Arzoo (1994), Stuntman (1994), Jai Vikraanta (1995), Muqadama (1996), Chief Sahib (1996), Qaid
Qaid
Qaid may refer to:* Qaid , a 1975 film starring Leena Chandavarkar and Kamini Kaushal* Qaid ibn Hammad , 11th-century ruler of Algeria...
(1996) and Babu
Babu
Babu may refer to:Place:* Babu District, in Hezhou, Guangxi, ChinaTitle* Babu , South Asian term of respect People*Babu , list of people with this name* Babù, Anderson Rodney de Oliveira, Brazilian footballer...
(2001). She proved herself an accomplished director in her directorial-debut movie, Babu, in 2001. Apart from movies, Zeba often took starring roles in major television serials, in which she brought new levels of intensity with her performances. For instance, in Laag she gave a memorable performance as the leader of the 'Kashmiri Independence Movement'. Her portrayal of a handicapped girl in Pehli See Mohabbat was just mind-boggling as were her performances in the Lollywood
Lollywood
Lollywood refers to the Pakistani film industry based in the city of Lahore. The word "Lollywood" was first coined in the summer of 1989 in the now defunct magazine "Glamour" published from Karachi by a gossip columnist Saleem Nasir. The film industry in Lahore started in 1929 with the opening of...
films Kundi and Sangam
Sangam (1997 film)
Sangam is a Pakistani feature film in Urdu released in 1997, directed by Syed Noor starring Resham, Shaan, Salim Sheikh and Sana. It was a comeback movie for filmstar Shaan, and the first credited movie for actresses Resham and Sana...
.
Personal life
Zeba was married to singer Adnan SamiAdnan Sami
Adnan Sami is a British-born Pakistani-Indian- Canadian singer, musician, pianist, actor and composer of Pakistani origin. He currently holds Canadian citizenship and works and lives in Mumbai, India...
but separated in 1997. She now lives in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, with her son Azaan, and continues to direct and produce television serials. However she and Adnan were never divorced.
Filmography
- HennaHenna (film)For other uses see Henna Heena is the name of a 1991 Bollywood film produced and directed by Randhir Kapoor and starring his brother Rishi Kapoor, Ashwini Bhave and Zeba Bakhtiyar also renowned as Neha Seti...
(1991)...... Henna - Deshwasi (1991)
- Mohabbat Ki Aarzoo (1994)...... Poonam Singh
- StuntmanStuntmanA stuntman or stunt performer is someone who performs dangerous stunts.Stuntman may also refer to:*The Stunt Man, a 1980 film starring Peter O'Toole*Stuntman , a 2002 video game**Stuntman: Ignition, its sequel...
(1994) - Jai Vikranta (1995)...... Nirmala 'Nimu'
- Sargam (1995 film)Sargam (1995 film)Sargam is a Pakistani Urdu film directed by Syed Noor starring the singer Adnan Sami and his ex-wife Zeba Bakhtiar. The film was Adnan Sami Khan's first and last appearance in any Pakistani film. He composed some songs with Indian singer Asha Bhonsle and created an all time Pakistani record for any...
...... Zeb-o-nisa - Muqadama (1996)...... Chanchal Singh
- Chief SahibChief SahibChief Saab is a Lollywood film of 1998 which stars Javed Sheikh, Saleem Sheikh, Meera etc in the lead roles. It was a hit film of 1998. -Cast:*Saleem Sheikh*Neeli*Javed Sheikh*Meera*Behroze Sabzwari*Zeba Bakhtiar*Ismael Tara*Mustafa Qureshi...
(1996) - QaidQaidQaid may refer to:* Qaid , a 1975 film starring Leena Chandavarkar and Kamini Kaushal* Qaid ibn Hammad , 11th-century ruler of Algeria...
(1996) - BabuBabuBabu may refer to:Place:* Babu District, in Hezhou, Guangxi, ChinaTitle* Babu , South Asian term of respect People*Babu , list of people with this name* Babù, Anderson Rodney de Oliveira, Brazilian footballer...
(2001