Nadira

Nadira

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Category: Cinema

Nadira Profile

  • Name:
  • Nadira
  • Other Name:
  • Florence Ezekiel
  • Born:
  • December 5, 1932
  • Died:
  • February 9, 2006

Nadira Biography

Nadira was a Bollywood actress known for vamp and supporting roles during 1950’s and early 1960’s. She was one of the leading character artists during the black and white era of Bollywood movies. She has been associated with many Raj Kapoor movies and is most known for the movies, Aan (1951), Shree 420 (1955), Pakeezah (1972) and Julie (1975). She received Filmfare award for supporting actress for playing the role of Lakshmi’s mother, Margaret aka "Maggie" in 1975 movie – Julie. She is regarded as an iconic vamp in Bollywood film history who appeared in more than 60 movies with grey shades.

 

Nadira was born to a Baghdadi Jewish family who reached Mumbai in her teens with dreams to become a Bollywood actress. She reached Mumbai in the late 1940’s. Her real name was Florence Ezekiel and she was rechristened Nadira for the film debut. In 1953 movie, Aan she played the love interest of Raj Kapoor, a Rajput princess. It was one of the first Indian movies to be released in England. Though she played positive role in this movie, her fair skinned but sharp European features gave her urban modern look and similar roles in Bollywood movies when Indian heroines mostly appeared as village girls. Thus the grey shaded roles clicked and she went on to play vamp roles in movies of which Shree 420 and Dil Apna Prit Parayee are her noticed movies. ‘Mud mud ken a dekh’ song was pictured on her and she also appeared as Raaj Kumar’s wife in the popular song, Ajeeb dastan of Dil apna aur preet paraye.   

 

She was one of the first Indian actresses to own a Rolls-Royce. Though known as vamp of the era of 1950’s, with 1960’s she moved to character roles as well. Hanste Zakhm, Amar Akbar Anthony and Pakeezah are her noted movies during 1970’s. With mid 1970’s she started playing elderly women and was active in the industry till late 1990’s. Josh (2000) was her last release. She married twice. But during her last days she lived alone in Mumbai. She died in 2006 aged 73.

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Updated: April 15, 2014

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