Asha Posley

Asha Posley Biography

Asha Posley was the first heroine of Pakistani films. She was of Indian origin, born in Patiala, Punjab. Her real name is Sabira Begum. She was the heroine of first ever Pakistani film, Teri Yaad released in 1948 after independence. The movie was released in Urdu on the day of Eid, and Nasir Khan, brother of renowned Indian actor Dilip Kumar, played the male lead. The movie was produced by Dewan Sardari Lal's Dewan Pictures and directed by Daud Chand, and released after a lot of hardships. Asha was given Special Award from Nigar Awards for 30 years of excellence in acting in 1982.

Asha Posley was born as Sabira Begum in Patiala, Punjab in year 1927. She was born into a family of musicians. Her father Inayat Ali Nath was a music composer, and her sister Kausar Parveen was a playback singer. She had one more sister named Rani Kiran. Her acting career began in 1944 in Lahore. She appeared in a supporting role in Punjabi film Gawandi (1944). The following year she appeared in her first ever lead role through Champa, a Hindi film made in British India/Bombay.

The renowned music director Ghulam Haider rechristened her as Asha Posley, and she carried the name throughout her career. After partition she moved to Lahore with her family, where she got settled. When the first-ever Pakistan film - Teri Yaad (1948) was made in Lahore, she was casted in the female lead role. She later appeared in lead roles for a few more movies, and then moved to supporting roles. She was mostly casted opposite comedian actors like Nazar and Asif Jah in those days. She stayed in film industry for 3 decades, essaying roles in 129 films. She passed away in 1998.

Published: January 04, 2020

Updated: January 04, 2020