Zubeida
Encyclopedia
Zubeida Begum Dhanrajgir (1988–1911) was an India
n film actress. She acted in the first Indian talkie movie Alam Ara
(1931). Her credits include early hits Devdas
(1937), and Sagar Movietone's first talkie, Meri Jaan.
Originally from Surat
, she was the daughter of Fatma Begum
. She became a notable film actress and India's first woman film director and was the sister of actressess Shahzadi and Sultana. In the presence of seasoned actors like Prithviraj Kapoor
and Master Vithal, Zubeida blossomed and wowed everyone with her singing, dancing and her speech.
Zubeida was one of Indian cinema's earliest superstars and among the few girls who entered films at a time when it wasn't considered an appropriate profession for girls from respectable families, let alone Royalty. Born in Surat, Zubeida was a stunningly beautiful princess, the daughter of the Nawab of Sachin and Fatima Begum. Zubeida and her two sisters, Sultana and Shehzadi, egged on by their actress mother who was to become India's first woman director, entered films at a very young age.
In 1925 Zubeida had nine releases, amongst them Kala Chor, Devdasi and Desh Ka Dushman. A year later she starred in her mother's film, Bulbul-e-Parista. 1927 was memorable for her with movies Laila Majnu
, Nanand Bhojai and Naval Gandhi's Sacrifice which were very successful movies at this time.
The latter, based on Rabindranath Tagore's 'Balidaan
', also starred Sulochana
, Master Vithal and Jal Khambatta. It condemned the age-old custom of animal sacrifice in certain Kali
temples in Bengal
. The Members of the Indian Cinematograph Committee
were wowed by this "excellent and truly Indian film". Its European members recommended that it be sent abroad for screening.
Zubeida starred in a string of silent films before Alam Ara
proved to be the turning point in her career and was her biggest hit. Zubeida suddenly was highly in demand and got wages high above the standards for a woman in the film industry at that time.
Through the 30s and early 40s she made a hit team with Jal Merchant and starred in several successful mythologicals playing characters like Subhadra
, Uttara
and Draupadi
. She was also successful in transmitting emotions with films like Ezra Mir's Zarina which had her playing a vibrant, volatile circus girl whose kisses steamed up the screen and sparked off heated debate on censorship. Zubeida was one of the few actresses to make a successful transition from the silent era to the talkies.
In 1934 she set up Mahalakshmi Movietone with Nanubhai Vakil and had box-office bonanzas in Gul-e-Sonobar and Rasik-e-Laila. She continued to appear in one or two films a year till 1949. Nirdosh Abla was her last film.
Zubeida married Maharaj Narsingir Dhanrajgir Gyan Bahadur of Hyderabad and converted to Hinduism
upon marriage. She is the mother of eminent corporate figure Humayun Dhanrajgir and Dhurreshwar Dhanrajgir. Zubeida spent her last years in Dhanraj Mahal Palace in Bombay amongst her children and grandchildren. She died in 1988. She is survived by her son Humayun and grandchildren Nikhil Dhanrajgir, Ashok Dhanrajgir, Rhea Pillai
and Karen Nina.
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...
n film actress. She acted in the first Indian talkie movie Alam Ara
Alam Ara
Alam Ara is a 1931 film directed by Ardeshir Irani. It was the first Indian sound film.Irani recognized the importance that sound would have on the cinema, and raced to complete Alam Ara before several contemporary sound films. Alam Ara debuted at the Majestic Cinema in Mumbai on March 14, 1931...
(1931). Her credits include early hits Devdas
Devdas (1937 film)
Devdas is a 1937 Assamese movie starring Phani Sarma, Mohini and Zubeida and directed by P.C. Barua.The Playback is by Shamshad Begum and Bhupen Hazarika.-Plot summary:...
(1937), and Sagar Movietone's first talkie, Meri Jaan.
Originally from Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
, she was the daughter of Fatma Begum
Fatima Begum
Fatima Begum was one of the early superstars in Indian cinema and India's first female film director.-Family:Fatima Begum was born into an Urdu Muslim family in India in 1892. Fatima Begum was married to the Nawab of Sachin and was the mother of silent superstars like Zubeida, Sultana and Shehzadi...
. She became a notable film actress and India's first woman film director and was the sister of actressess Shahzadi and Sultana. In the presence of seasoned actors like Prithviraj Kapoor
Prithviraj Kapoor
Prithviraj Kapoor , 3 November 1906 – 29 May 1972) was a pioneer of Indian theatre and of the Hindi film industry, who started his career as an actor, in the silent era of Hindi cinema, associated with IPTA and who founded Prithvi Theatres, a travelling theatre company based in Mumbai, in...
and Master Vithal, Zubeida blossomed and wowed everyone with her singing, dancing and her speech.
Zubeida was one of Indian cinema's earliest superstars and among the few girls who entered films at a time when it wasn't considered an appropriate profession for girls from respectable families, let alone Royalty. Born in Surat, Zubeida was a stunningly beautiful princess, the daughter of the Nawab of Sachin and Fatima Begum. Zubeida and her two sisters, Sultana and Shehzadi, egged on by their actress mother who was to become India's first woman director, entered films at a very young age.
Biography
Zubeida was only 12 when she made her debut in Kohinoor. Through the 20s she made infrequent appearances on screen along with Sultana who by then had become one of Indian cinema's loveliest leading ladies. One of the films to star the two sisters was Kalyan Khajina in 1924. They had also shared the screen in Zubeida's first blockbuster, Veer Abhimanyu released two years earlier, that also had their mother, Fatima Begum playing an important role.Laila Majnu
Laila Majnu is a 1976 Hindi movie based on the legendary story of Layla and Majnun. This film version is directed by Harnam Singh Rawail and stars Rishi Kapoor, Ranjeeta, Danny Denzongpa, Aruna Irani, Asrani, Iftekhar, Tom Alter and Ranjeet...
, Nanand Bhojai and Naval Gandhi's Sacrifice which were very successful movies at this time.
The latter, based on Rabindranath Tagore's 'Balidaan
Balidaan
Balidaan is a 1971 Bollywood drama film. The film stars Saira Banu....
', also starred Sulochana
Sulochana
-Indian Actresses:* Raja Sulochana, is an Indian actress.* Sulochana , real name Ruby Myers, an Indian silent film actress, sometimes mentioned as Sulchana Sr. , to avoid confusion, with a later character actress:...
, Master Vithal and Jal Khambatta. It condemned the age-old custom of animal sacrifice in certain Kali
Kali
' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
temples in Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
. The Members of the Indian Cinematograph Committee
Indian Cinematograph Committee
The Indian Cinematograph Committee Evidence and Report 1927-1928This is how power is eclipsed: in a moment of vivid realism, between the waning of one fantasy of governance and its replacement by the next; in an instant when the world springs free of its mooring of dreams and reveals itself to be...
were wowed by this "excellent and truly Indian film". Its European members recommended that it be sent abroad for screening.
Zubeida starred in a string of silent films before Alam Ara
Alam Ara
Alam Ara is a 1931 film directed by Ardeshir Irani. It was the first Indian sound film.Irani recognized the importance that sound would have on the cinema, and raced to complete Alam Ara before several contemporary sound films. Alam Ara debuted at the Majestic Cinema in Mumbai on March 14, 1931...
proved to be the turning point in her career and was her biggest hit. Zubeida suddenly was highly in demand and got wages high above the standards for a woman in the film industry at that time.
Through the 30s and early 40s she made a hit team with Jal Merchant and starred in several successful mythologicals playing characters like Subhadra
Subhadra
Image:Jagannath, Baladev and Subadra in Radhadesh.jpg|thumb|right|250px|alt=|Subhadra, flanked by her brothers Balarama and Jagannatha . Deities of the Radhadesh temple in Belgium...
, Uttara
Uttara
Uttara, which means "north" in Hindi, may refer to:* In the Hindu epic Mahabharata** Uttara , the son of King Virata who went into battle with Arjuna, disguised as his charioteer....
and Draupadi
Draupadi
In the epic Mahābhārata, Draupadi, also known as ' is the "emerged" daughter of King Drupada of Panchāla and the wife of the five Pandavas. When Yudhisthira becomes the king of Hastinapura at the end of the war, Draupadi becomes the queen of Indraprastha...
. She was also successful in transmitting emotions with films like Ezra Mir's Zarina which had her playing a vibrant, volatile circus girl whose kisses steamed up the screen and sparked off heated debate on censorship. Zubeida was one of the few actresses to make a successful transition from the silent era to the talkies.
In 1934 she set up Mahalakshmi Movietone with Nanubhai Vakil and had box-office bonanzas in Gul-e-Sonobar and Rasik-e-Laila. She continued to appear in one or two films a year till 1949. Nirdosh Abla was her last film.
Zubeida married Maharaj Narsingir Dhanrajgir Gyan Bahadur of Hyderabad and converted to Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
upon marriage. She is the mother of eminent corporate figure Humayun Dhanrajgir and Dhurreshwar Dhanrajgir. Zubeida spent her last years in Dhanraj Mahal Palace in Bombay amongst her children and grandchildren. She died in 1988. She is survived by her son Humayun and grandchildren Nikhil Dhanrajgir, Ashok Dhanrajgir, Rhea Pillai
Rhea Pillai
Rhea Pillai is an Indian model. She is a brand ambassador for various products and an instructor for the Art of Living Foundation.-Biography:Her father is Raymond Pillai, a financial controller at IBM Europe...
and Karen Nina.