Fearless Nadia

Fearless Nadia Biography

Fearless Nadia was one of the earliest actresses of Bollywood. She is grouped under ‘Rule breaking’ Indian actresses of Bollywood. Mary Evans Wadia is her real name.  She was one of the earliest female-lead of Indian films and was popular with action movies. She was a stuntwoman most remembered as the masked, cloaked adventurer in Hunterwali, the movie released in the year 1935. Born as an Australian to Australian she settled in India latter and became a youth icon during the earliest era of Indian movies.

Nadia was born on January 8, 1908 in Perth, Australia, born to Scotsman Herbertt Evans, a volunteer in the British Army, and Margret. Her real name was Mary Ann Evans. She came to Mumbai along with her parents in 1913. In 1915, she lost her father in World War First. Later the family moved to Peshawar. She learned horseback riding, hunting, fishing, and shooting at Peshawar. In 1928, she returned to Mumbai with her mother and a son, Robert Jones. Later she studied ballet under Madam Astrova.

She started earning as a sales girl, but later moved on other tasks to get better paid. She mastered the art of cartwheels and splits. Hearing the words of a fortune teller who predicted a bright career ahead, she decided to choose a name with starting letter, N. Thus she changed her name to Nadia. Then she joined amateur theatre groups and travelled throughout India with plays. In 1930, she joined Zarko circus. She was introduced to Hindi films by Jamshed J.B.H. Wadia. It was a cameo appearance of a stunt girl and the experiment clicked. Then the rest is history! J.B.H and his brother played a significant role in grooming Nadia’s career a lot. She was seen playing action roles and circus activities in the movies. In 1967 she appeared in a James Bond spoof called Khiladi. She performed all the stunts of movies her own and her blue eyes sparkling, blonde hair shining and dressed in provocative costumes gave a new name to Indian heroines.

Published: N/A

Updated: January 02, 2014