Asha Parekh

Asha Parekh Biography

Asha Parekh is one among the most celebrated celebrities of Bollywood during 60’s and 70’s. She remained the hot favourite of every director from 1959 to 1975. She is one among those heroines of yesterdays who have never been linked up with any heroes of her movies. Yet name of Nassir Hussain, the director who has given the best movies is often associated with her name. But she remained unmarried till now and last year she celebrated her 70^th birthday. 

Asha started her film career as a child artist through the movies Asman and Bap Beti during early 50’s. As an actress she was rejected for Ghoonj ude shahnai and the same year, 1959 she was casted by Nassir Hussain in his movie Dil deke deko opposite Shammi kapoor. This movie was a huge success and marked the beginning of this great actress in Bollywood. Born from an intercaste marriage, her talents were appreciated by her Muslim mother who initiated her studies in dance and arts.

Nassir Hussain turned to be the godfather of Asha Parekh who casted her again successively in a few more movies of 50’s. Baharom ke sapne opposite Rajesh Khanna, Teesri manzil opposite Shammi Kapoor, Jab pyar kise se hota hai opposite Dev Anand, Phir wohi dil laya hoon opposite Joy Mukherjee and Caravan opposite Jeethendra belong to this camp. Japani Gudiya of Love in Tokyo paired with Joy Mukherjee, Pyar ka mausam opposite Sashi kapoor, Mein tulsi tere angan ki, Chirag, Kanya daan and Do badan need special mention.

Shakthi Samantha presented her as a highly emotional lady in Katti patang opposite Rajesh Khanna, for which she got her one and only one film fare award for the best actress category. No doubt, Kattipatang is the best movie of Asha’s career. This movie was released at the time from Rajesh Khanna had just reached the stardom.

Songs pictured on her have been really wonderful. Shankar Jaikishen, R.D.Burman, kalyaniji Anandji, Madan Mohan and almost all music directors have given nice songs for her movies. Pyar ka mausam, Love in Tokyo, Katti patang, Teesri Manzil and Dil dekke deko can be included. She was paired with almost all stars of Bollywood. She acted most with Shammi kapoor, Rakesh khanna, Joy Mukherjee, Sashi Kapoor and Dharmendra.   

Apart from acting she has directed a few TV programs as well. Baje Payal of Doordarshan was based on the classical dancers of Bollywood.

Published: N/A

Updated: May 28, 2018