1. Nargis was among the highest paid actresses of the 1950s and 1960s.
44 Facts About Nargis
1. 2.
Nargis starred in Mehboob Khan's Oscar-nominated epic drama Mother India, the highest-grossing film in India at that point of time, for which she won Filmfare Award for Best Actress.
3.
Nargis married her Mother India co-star Sunil Dutt in 1958.
4.
Nargis died in 1981 of pancreatic cancer, only three days before her son Sanjay Dutt made his debut in Hindi films with the film Rocky.
5.
Nargis was born on 1 June, 1929 as Fatima Rashid in Calcutta, in the Bengal Presidency of British India into a Punjabi Muslim family.
6.
Nargis's mother was Jaddanbai Hussain, born in Benares State, into a Punjabi Muslim family of Hindu Brahmin origin, which had converted to Islam; and was a Hindustani classical music singer, becoming one of the early pioneers of Indian cinema.
7.
Nargis' family had moved from Punjab to Allahabad in the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh before settling in Calcutta, Bengal.
8.
Nargis introduced Nargis into the movie culture unfolding in India at the time.
9.
Nargis is a Persian word meaning Narcissus, the daffodil flower.
10.
Nargis was credited as Nargis in all of her films.
11.
Nargis next starred in the 1945 period drama Humayun, opposite the leading actor of those times, Ashok Kumar and the mythological film Ramayani.
12.
In 1949, Nargis starred in Mehboob Khan's critically acclaimed drama Andaz.
13.
Nargis followed this with roles in the 1950 films Meena Bazaar, the romantic drama Jogan, Jan Pahechan, the musical drama Babul, and Aadhi Raat.
14.
Nargis therefore chose her to play a character in Awaara.
15.
Unlike the roles played by other actresses of those times, Nargis portrayed an outspoken woman-lawyer who criticises the people who regard woman as a "thing made for household chores".
16.
Nargis was seen donning a swimwear in a scene from Awaara, a bold outfit for an Indian woman to wear in that era.
17.
In 1952, Nargis starred in the romance film Bewafa, which was not a major success.
18.
Nargis revived her career with Raj Kapoor's social drama Shree 420.
19.
Nargis collaborated with Kapoor for the box office success Chori Chori, which revolves around a girl who runs away from her house in order to marry a gold digger pilot, but ends up falling for a news reporter whom she meets in a bus.
20.
Nargis won the Filmfare Best Actress Award in 1958 and became the first Indian to receive the Best Actress award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in present-day Czech Republic.
21.
Nargis made her last film appearance in the psychological drama Raat Aur Din, after being convinced to act for one last time after a long hiatus.
22.
Nargis was nominated to the Rajya Sabha from 1980 to 1981, but due to cancer she fell ill and died during her tenure.
23.
Nargis had a long-time relationship with actor Raj Kapoor, who was her co-star in the films Awaara and Shree 420.
24.
Nargis married actor Sunil Dutt; who was a Hindu, of Punjabi Mohyal descent, on 11 March 1958.
25.
Nargis became the first patron of the Spastics Society of India.
26.
Nargis loved wearing white saris, speaking over the telephone and eating panipuris sold on the streets.
27.
Nargis was an excellent swimmer and enjoyed playing cricket with her brothers.
28.
The founder of the Spastic Society of India, Mithu Alur, stated in an interview that Nargis had a dream of pursuing medicine that she could never fulfill.
29.
On 2 August 1980, Nargis fell ill during a session of the Rajya Sabha, with the initial cause assumed to be jaundice.
30.
Nargis was rushed home and admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Bombay.
31.
Nargis went into a coma on 2 May 1981 after she became seriously ill and died the next day, aged 51.
32.
Nargis's body was carried on a bier according to Hindu customs.
33.
Nargis is regarded as one of the greatest and finest actress of Indian cinema.
34.
One of the highest paid actress of the 1950s, Nargis appeared in Box Office Indias "Top Actresses" list from 1948 to 1957, and topped the list for eight years.
35.
Nargis's sarees were a major style statement in the 1950s.
36.
Nargis was known for her female characters that stood "shoulder-to-shoulder" with the male characters.
37.
Nargis is regarded among the finest and most versatile actresses of Indian cinema.
38.
Nargis was especially noted for her portrayal of strong, independent woman in her films.
39.
Nargis could be urbane and sophisticated, as in Awaara, Chori Chori and Andaz; simple and ordinary, as in Sri 420; and every inch a traditional village woman, as in Mother India.
40.
In November 1956, Nargis was sent to the Soviet Union by the Government of India, as a part of delegate - consisting of Raj Kapoor, Suraiya and Kamini Kaushal, where her films were screened.
41.
Nargis's name was removed from the awards in 2024, for unknown reasons.
42.
Nargis was inducted into the Walk of the Stars, at Bandra Bandstand, where her autograph was preserved under the name Nargis Dutt.
43.
In 2023, an exhibition at Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in Noida, named "Sitaare Zameen Par", had portraits of Nargis that were captured by JH Thakkar.
44.
Nargis's souvenirs were auctioned online, along with that of other actresses, in the same year.