Rani Begum

Rani Begum (Punjabi, ; 8 December 1946 – 27 May 1993) was a Pakistani film and television actress. She gained success in the late 1960s when she made a hit pair with Waheed Murad. She was also known as The Dancing Queen, Queen of Lollywood and Lux Girl for her portrayal of romantic and dancing roles in films. She remained one of the most successful actresses of the subcontinent and was also popular for her dance performances in films.

Early life Rani Begum was born on 8 December 1946 as Nasira in Mozang, Lahore to Malik Muhammed Shafi and Iqbal Begum in an Punjabi Arain family. Her father was a driver for Mukhtar Begum, a singer who was married to Agha Hashar Kashmiri, a well-known Urdu dramatist. Mukhtar Begum took over and raised Rani herself. After being raised by Mukhtar Begum, Rani moved in with her mother with whom she reconciled.

Acting career Rani acted in both Urdu and Punjabi movies in Pakistani cinema. In 1962, Anwar Kamal Pasha gave Rani her first role in Mehboob. For several years after Mehoob, Rani appeared in supporting roles in films like Mouj Maila, Ek Tera Sahara and Safaid Khoon. Until 1965 she starred in other films, but when they flopped one after another she was dubbed a jinxed actress.

However, after the success of Hazar Dastan (1965) and Devar Bhabi (1967), Rani became a leading actress. Some of her more notable films are Chann Makhna, Sajjan Pyara, Jind Jan, Duniya Matlab Di, Anjuman, Tehzeeb, Umrao Jaan Ada, Naag Muni, Seeta Maryam Margaret, Aik Gunnah Aur Sahi and Surraya Bhopali. In Umrao Jaan Ada, she portrayed an ill-fated tawaif and poetess from Lucknow. In a review of the film, The Statesman noted that she has "worked hard with dances", "acted very well in the love scenes", and "has come off very well as Umrao". In 1974, she portrayed Laila in Laila Majnu, based on the eponymous legend. In the same year, she portrayed a halala victim torn between her two lovers in Deedar. In 1975, she portrayed a Romani girl who falls for an urban man in Dilruba. In 1978, she played dual roles in Seeta Maryam Margaret, portraying twin sisters raised in different religious backgrounds. She also acted in two TV serials Khuwahish and Fareb in the early 1990s.

Personal life After her initial success in the late 1960s, she married renowned director Hassan Tariq, with whom she had a daughter, Rabia. Due to conflicts, Hassan Tariq divorced Rani in the late 1970s. She then married producer Mian Javed Qamar, who divorced her when it was discovered that Rani had leukemia. During her treatment in London, she met famous cricketer Sarfaraz Nawaz. Soon they developed a good relationship with each other and got married. Rani helped Sarfraz in his election campaign in the late 1980s. But their relationship also did not last long and they parted. After getting divorced for the third time, Rani was struck by the grief of loneliness. Cancer also struck back and this time with much more intensity as Rani did not have much desire to live but to see her daughter get married.

Illness and death

Rani died of cancer on 27 May 1993 at the age of 46 in Karachi, just a few days after her daughter Rabia's marriage. Shortly after Rani's death, her mother who was seriously ill and never knew of her daughter's death, also died. Rani's only sister also died three months later. Rani and her mother were buried side by side in Lahore in Muslim Town Cemetery.

Filmography Television series YearTitleRoleNetwork1986 Show Time Herself PTV1993 Khuwahish Nafeesa Begum PTV1993 Fareb Shabahat PTV

Film Year Title Role Ref.1962Mehboob 1963Ik Tera Sahara Mauj Mela 1964Aurat Ka Pyar Chhoti Ammi Chhoti Behan Ik Dil Do Deewane Safaid Khoon Shatranj 1965 Aakhri Station Fozia Aurat Hazar Dastaan Nache Nagan Baje Been Sanam Saaz-o-Awaz Shabnam Yeh Jahan Wale 1966 Bhai Jaan Ghar ka Ujala Goonga Insaan Joker Woh Kaun Thi 1967 Bereham Devar Bhabhi Hokumat Kafir Nadira Shab-ba-Khair Sitamgar Yatim 1968 Adalat Reshma Behan Bhai Chan Choudvin Da Chan Makhnan Cheen Le Azadi Commander Dara Dil Mera Dharkan Teri Nadira Eik Hi Rasta Mera Ghar Meri Jannat Mona Sajjan Pyara Zalim 1969 Dilbar Jani Dil-e-Baitab Diya Aur Toofan Salma Ghabru Put Punjab De Jindjan Khoon Nahaq Kochwaan Maa Beta Mukhra Chan Warga Panchi te Pardesi 1970 Aakhri Chattan 1970 Anjuman Anjuman 1970 Chan Sajna 1970 Dil Diyan Laggian 1970 Do Nain Sawali 1970 Duniya Matlab Di 1970 Mehram Dil Da 1970 Mr. 420 1970 Rab di Shan 1970 Sajjan Beli 1970 Shama Aur Parwana 1970 Taxi Driver 1971 Babul 1971 Des Mera Jidaran Da 1971 Do Baghi 1971 Ishq Bina ki Jeena 1971 Jeyo Jatta 1971 Mr. 303 1971 Rab Rakha 1971 Sakhi Lutera 1971 Siran Nal Sardarian 1971 Sucha Sauda 1971 Tehzeeb Tehzeeb 1971 Uncha Naa Pyar Da 1971 Wehshi 1972Azaadi Badley Gi Duniya Saathi Baharo Phool Barsao Salma Bhai Bhai Dhol Jawanian Mane Dil Naal Sajjan De Ghairat Te Qanoon Khalish Meri Ghairat Teri Izzat Naag Muni Neera / Naag Muni Sodagar Umrao Jaan Ada Umrao Jaan Ada 1973Ek thi Larki Jeib Kutra Pyasa 1974Deedar Laila Majnoo Laila Zulm Kade Nein Phalda 1975Dilruba Aik Gunnah Aur Sahi Afshan Pulekha 1976Aulad Naag aur Nagin Surraya Bhopali Surraya Bhopali Zaroorat 1977Begum Jan Begum Jan Kaloo 1978Nazrana Parakh Saheli Seeta Maryam Margaret Seeta/Maryam, Margaret 1979Ab Ghar Jane Do Aurat Raj Behan Bhai Ibadat Josh Khushboo Mr. Ranjha Naqsh-e-Qadam Nawabzadi Nai Tehzeeb Tarana 1980Badnaam Haye Yeh Shohar Aap Ki Khatir Lahoo De Rishte Sheikh Chilli 1981Gun Man Watan 1982Kinara Aas Paas 1983Bigri Naslen Deewana Mastana Wadda Khan Kala Sumandar Sona Chandi 1984Chor Chokidar Dada Ustad Devar Bhabhi Iman Te Farangi Ishq Pecha Jagga Te Reshma Judai Laraka Raja Rani Sajawal Daku Ucha Shamla Jatt Da Aag Ka Sumandar Aaj Ka Inssan 1985Ann Parh Babur Khan Chandni Chann Baloch Do Hathkarian Ek Dulhan Ghulami Khoon Aur Pani Khuddar Muqaddar Sahib Bahadur Thugg Badshah 1986Chall So Chall Qulli Shehnai 1987Kala Toofan Zalzala Zidbazi 1988Jatt Majhay Da 1989Aap Ki Khatir 1991Yohnavey Truck Driver

Awards and recognition Year Award Category Result Title Ref. 1968 Nigar Award Special Award Mera Ghar Meri Jannat 1971 Nigar Award Best Actress Babul 1983 Nigar Award Best Actress Sona Chandi

Rani Begum

Bron en licentie