Renuka Devi

Renuka Devi Biography

Renuka Devi was the screen name of Indo-Pakistani actress Begum Khurshid Mirza. She appeared in a few Hindi movies before her migration to Pakistan during early 1940s. She later became a star in Pakistani television and cinema. Associated with Bombay talkies, she acted in Indian movies - Bhakti (1939), Badi Didi (1939), Jeevan Prabhat (1937), Bhabhi (1938) and Naya Sansar (1941). She moved to Lahore and later acted in big hits like Sahara (1943), Ghulami (1944) and Samrat ChandraGupta (1945). She was married to a police officer Akbar Mirza in 1937 and she got associated with cinema after her marriage.

Begum Khurshid Mirza was born to the philanthropist, educationalist cum lawyer Sheikh Abdullah, who was a co-founder of Women's College, Aligarh and Aligarh Muslim University. Her mother was Waheed Jahan Begum, who too was an educationalist and co-founder of these institutions. Later Begum Khurshid Mirza completed her education from Aligarh itself. She got married in 1934 and moved to Mumbai where she started her film career with Bombay Talkies. She assumed the screen name – Renuka Devi for her onscreen appearance. She was a singing actress who appeared in a few movies in the late 1930s and early 1940s. She announced her retirement from Indian film industry in 1944.

Moving to Lahore, she became a celebrity actress and disappeared from film scene. Years later when Pakistan Television Corporation was started, it was Haseena Moin's serial, Kiran Kahani, which rediscovered Khurshid. It was followed by Khushid’s next serial - Zer Zabar Pesh, and both these works are counted among the finest roles on Pakistani small screen ever. Parchhain, Uncle Urfi and a play - Massi Sherbate are her noted television roles. The Uprooted Sappling – is her published autobiography work.

Published: N/A

Updated: January 04, 2016