Nafisa Ali

Nafisa Ali Biography

Nafisa Ali is an actress and social activist from Mumbai. She won Miss India title in 1976 and was runner-up at the Miss International contest in 1977. She was a success model soon after winning the title. She is now regarded as one among the most beautiful and stylish senior artists of films. As a young actress she has worked in a few Bollywood movies – Junoon opposite Shashi Kapoor in the year 1979 is one such notable performance. During her second innings she played the wife role of Amitabh Bachchan in Mayor Saab (1998), Mother’s role of Mammootty in Big B (Malayalam) and Dharmendra’s old love in Life in a metro. She has also appeared recently in another Dharmendra movie – Yamla Pagla Deewna. She is associated with Action India, an organization working to spread AIDS awareness. She is the chairperson of the Children's Film Society of India since 2005.   

Nafisa Ali was born to Philomena Torresan and photographer, Ahmed Ali, son of S. Wajid Ali (brother of Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah). She is married to renowned Polo player and Arjuna awardee, retired Col R.S. Sodhi. Her brother Niaz Ali is a successful motor rallyist in Australia. She completed her studies from Cambridge University. She has also studied Vedanta taught by Swami Chinmayananda. She was interested in sports apart from modeling while at college. She was the national swimming champion from 1972-1974. Ali was also a jockey at Calcutta Gymkhana in 1979 soon after her win in Miss.India crown.

Though she was successful in her career, she took a break soon after her marriage with Sodhi. She was at a flying start that time during late 70’s when she got married. Then she returned back to screen after 18 years with Mayor Saab. She has contested the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, but lost. Again she attempted the same from Lucknow on the Samajwadi Party ticket. In 2009 she rejoined congress.

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Updated: April 16, 2014