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Nargis

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Nargis was a legendary figure in the history of Hindi cinema.

Nargis Dutt 1993 stamp of India
Nargis Dutt 1993 stamp of India

She was widely regarded as one of the greatest actresses to ever work in Indian film. Throughout her career, she often portrayed sophisticated and independent women. She moved easily between different genres, including screwball comedy and serious literary drama. Because of her immense talent and popularity, she was among the highest-paid actresses during the 1950s and 1960s. In 2011, the website Rediff.com even listed her as the greatest Indian actress of all time.

Her career began when she was a very young child. She made her screen debut in a minor role in the 1935 film Talash-E-Haq. At that time, she was credited as Baby Nargis. Her professional acting career truly began with the film Tamanna in 1942. By the age of 14, she landed her first leading role in the film Taqdeer. This performance was a box office success and earned her extensive praise. Her stage name, Nargis, is a Persian word meaning the Narcissus, or daffodil flower.

Nargis became famous for her frequent collaborations with the director Raj Kapoor. They worked together on more than a dozen films. One major success was the 1951 crime drama Awaara. In this film, Nargis played a pivotal role as an outspoken lawyer. This was a bold character choice for that era in Indian cinema. She even wore swimwear in one scene, which was considered very daring at the time. Awaara was a massive success both in India and overseas in places like Greece and the United States.

Her career reached new heights with the 1957 epic drama Mother India. This film was an Oscar-nominated production and became a massive commercial hit. It was the highest-grossing film in India at that point in time. For her role in this movie, Nargis won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She also became the first Indian actress to win a Best Actress award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Some estimates suggest Mother India had over 100 million footfalls at the domestic box office when adjusted for inflation.

Sunil Dutt and Nargis Dutt
Sunil Dutt and Nargis Dutt

Nargis’s personal life was also deeply connected to the film industry. She was born in Calcutta as Fatima Rashid on June 1, 1929. Her mother, Jaddanbai, was a Hindustani classical music singer and a pioneer in Indian cinema. In 1958, Nargis married her Mother India co-star, the actor Sunil Dutt. Before their marriage, she converted to Hinduism and took the name Nirmala Dutt. Together, they had three children, including the actor Sanjay Dutt. They also formed the Ajanta Arts Culture Troupe to hold stage shows in border areas.

In her later years, Nargis turned her attention toward social work. In the early 1970s, she became the first patron of The Spastic Society of India. Her dedicated work with this organization brought her great recognition. This service eventually led to her being nominated to the Rajya Sabha, which is the upper house of the Indian Parliament, in 1980. Her final film appearance was in the 1967 psychological drama Raat Aur Din. She won the inaugural National Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in that film.

Nargis passed away in 1981 due to pancreatic cancer. Her death occurred only three days before her son, Sanjay Dutt, made his film debut. To honor her legacy, Sunil Dutt established the Nargis Dutt Memorial Cancer Foundation in 1982. Additionally, the National Film Awards now present the Nargis Dutt Award. This specific honor is given to the Best Feature Film on National Integration. Her life remains a significant part of India's cultural and cinematic history.

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File:Sunil Dutt and Nargis Dutt.jpg
Sunil Dutt and Nargis Dutt.jpg
File:Nargis Dutt 1993 stamp of India.jpg
Nargis Dutt 1993 stamp of India.jpg
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