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Asha Parekh Biography – Retired Indian Actress was honoured with the Padma Shri

Asha Parekh is a retired Indian actress, film director, and producer who appeared in many commercially successful films throughout her career. She was the highest paid actress of her time and was one of the most successful actresses of the 1960s and 1970s.

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Real Name: Asha Parekh
Profession: Indian actress
Birthplace: Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India
Honours: Padma Shri
Age: 79

Asha Parekh (born 2 October 1942) is a retired Indian actress, film director, and producer who appeared in many commercially successful films throughout her career. She was the highest-paid actress of her time and was one of the most successful actresses of the 1960s and 1970s. She is considered one of the most influential actresses of all time in Hindi cinema. In 1992, she was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India for her contribution to the field of cinema and was also honoured with the Dada Saheb Phalke award for 2020.

Asha Parekh Biography
Asha Parekh Biography
Asha Parekh Biography
Born 2 October 1942 (age 79)

Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India
Nationality Indian
Occupation
  • Actress
  • director
  • producer
Years active 1952–1995
Awards
  • Filmfare Award for Best Actress (1971)
  • Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (2002)
  • Kalakar Awards (2018)
Honours Padma Shri (1992)

Early life (Asha Parekh Biography)

Asha Parekh is a Gujarati born on 2 October 1942. Her mother, Sudha aka Salma Parekh, was a Bohra Muslim and her father, Bachubhai Parekh, was Hindu Gujarati. Her mother enrolled her in Indian classical dance classes at an early age and she learned from many teachers, including Pandit Bansilal Bharati.

Career

Parekh started her career as a child artist under the screen name Baby Asha Parekh. Famed film director Bimal Roy saw her dance at a stage function and cast her at the age of ten in Maa (1952) and then repeated her in Baap Beti (1954). The latter film’s failure disappointed her, and even though she did a few more child roles, she quit to resume her schooling. At sixteen she decided to try acting again and to make her debut as a heroine, but she was rejected from Vijay Bhatt’s Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959) in favour of actress Ameeta because the filmmaker claimed she did not star material. Precisely eight days later, film producer Subodh Mukherjee and writer-director Nasir Hussain cast her as the heroine in Dil Deke Dekho (1959), opposite Shammi Kapoor, which made her a huge star.

It also started a long association with Hussain who cast her as his heroine in six more films: Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai (1961), Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963), Teesri Manzil (1966), Baharon Ke Sapne (1967), Pyar Ka Mausam (1969), and Caravan (1971). She also did a cameo in Nasir Hussain’s film Manzil Manzil (1984) with whom she had earlier done 6 films. Hussain also got her involved in the distribution of 21 films, starting with Baharon Ke Sapne (1967). Parekh was primarily known as a glamour girl/excellent dancer/tomboy in most of her films until director Raj Khosla gave her a serious image by casting her in tragedienne roles in three of her favourite films; Do Badan (1966), Chirag (1969) and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978). Director Shakti Samanta gave her more dramatic roles in her other favourite films, Pagla Kahin Ka (1970) and Kati Patang (1970); the latter earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.

Many important directors repeatedly cast her in several of their films, including Vijay Anand and Mohan Segal. Parekh acted in her mother tongue by starring in three Gujarati films at the height of her fame in Hindi films, the first being Akhand Saubhagyavati (1963), which became a huge hit. She also acted in some Punjabi films, such as Kankan De Ohle (1971) opposite Dharmendra and Lambhardarni (1976) with Dara Singh, as well as the hit Kannada film Sharavegada Saradara (1989). As a leading heroine, she formed popular onscreen pairings with actors including Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor and Rajesh Khanna.

After her days as a leading lady ended, Parekh took on supporting roles as bhabhi (sister-in-law) and mother. A notable film she did in which she played such a part is Kaalia (1981), which is the only film in which she shared screen space with Amitabh Bachchan. But she called these roles the “awkward phase” of her career. So she stopped acting in films, and her friends recommended that she become a television director. She took their advice and became a television director in the early 1990s with the Gujarati serial Jyoti. She formed a production company, Akruti, and produced serials like Palash ke PhoolBaaje PayalKora Kagaz and a comedy, Dal Mein Kaala. She was the president of the Cine Artistes’ Association from 1994 to 2000. Parekh was the first female chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (Censor Board) of India. She held the post from 1998 to 2001 for which she received no salary, but plenty of controversy for censoring films and for not giving clearance to Shekhar Kapur’s Elizabeth. Later, she became the treasurer of the Cine and Television Artists Association (CINTAA) and was later elected as one of its office-bearers.

Asha stopped acting in 1995 to pursue directing and producing television serials. Parekh received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002. She has continued to receive other Lifetime Achievement Awards: the Kalakar Award in 2004; the International Indian Film Academy Awards in 2006; the Pune International Film Festival Award in 2007; and the Ninth Annual Bollywood Award in Long Island, New York in 2007. She received the Living Legend Award from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).

In 2008, she was a judge on the reality show Tyohaar Dhamaaka on the Indian entertainment channel 9X. In 2017, her autobiography (co-written by Khalid Mohamed) titled “The Hit Girl” was released.

Personal life (Asha Parekh Biography)

Parekh has remained unmarried, claiming that her reputation of being unapproachable made people hesitate in asking for her hand in marriage. In her memoir “The Hit Girl”, she confirmed rumours that she was romantically involved with director Nasir Hussain who was already married, but out of respect for both their families, she couldn’t marry him. Previously, Parekh would only state that she had a longtime boyfriend but declined to elaborate on the relationship, only stating that “it was nice while it lasted.” She said she had not seen Nasir Hussain during the last year of his life, as he became reclusive because of his wife’s death, but she did speak to him the day before he died in 2002. She almost married an Indian professor living in America, but he didn’t want to give up his girlfriend, so she called off their wedding plans. She had also tried to adopt a child, but he had birth defects, and the doctors refused to let her adopt him.

Helen, Waheeda Rehman And Asha Parekh
Helen, Waheeda Rehman And Asha Parekh

Today, Parekh concentrates on her dance academy Kara Bhavan and the Asha Parekh Hospital in Santacruz, Mumbai, named in her honour because of her many humanitarian contributions.

Filmography (Asha Parekh Biography)

 
Year Title Role Notes
1952 Maa Child artist Film Debut
Aasmaan Child artist
1954 Dhobi Doctor Child artist
Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Child artist
Baap Beti Child artist
1956 Ayodhyapati
1957 Ustad Child artist
Aasha Asha Special Appearance
1959 Dil Deke Dekho Neeta Narayan Debut as a Lead actress
1960 Hum Hindustani Sudha
Ghunghat Laxmi
Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai Nisha R. Singh
1961 Gharana Usha Gupta
Chhaya Sarita J. Choudhary
1962 Apna Banake Dekho
1963 Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon Mona
Meri Surat Teri Ankhen Kavita
Bin Badal Barsaat Sandhya Gupta
Bharosa Gomti
Akhand Saubhagyavati Usha
1964 Ziddi Asha Singh
1965 Mere Sanam Neena Mehra
1966 Teesri Manzil Sunita
Love in Tokyo Asha
Do Badan Asha
Aaye Din Bahar Ke Kanchan
1967 Upkar Kavita
Baharon Ke Sapne Geeta
1968 Shikar Kiran
Kahin Aur Chal Rajni
Kanyadaan Rekha
1969 Sajan Rajni
Pyar Ka Mausam Seema Kumar
Mahal Roopa Devi
Chirag Asha Chibber
Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke Aarti
1970 Pagla Kahin Ka Dr. Shalini “Shalu”
Naya Raasta Shallo
Kankan De Ohle Punjabi film
Bhai-Bhai Taaj
Aan Milo Sajna Varsha/Deepali
1971 Kati Patang Madhavi “Madhu” Filmfare Award for Best Actress
Mera Gaon Mera Desh Anju
Jwala Ranjana
Jawan Mohabbat Komal Mathur
Caravan Sunita/Soni
Nadaan Seema
1972 Samadhi Champa
Rakhi Aur Hathkadi Janki/Kiran
1973 Heera Asha
1974 Anjaan Raahen Geeta
1975 Rani Aur Lalpari Kamla
Zakhmee Asha
1976 Udhar Ka Sindur Shanta
1977 Kulvadhu Chandan
Adha Din Aadhi Raat
1978 Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki Tulsi Chouhan
1979 Prem Vivah Jamuna
Bin Phere Hum Tere Sheela
1980 Sau Din Saas Ke
Bulundi
1981 Aakhri Mujra
Khel Muqaddar Ka
Kaalia Shanti
1984 Pakhandi
Dharm Aur Qanoon
Manzil Manzil Vijay’s mother
1985 Lava Amar’s mother
1986 Preeti
Car Thief
1988 Sagar Sangam Mrs. Mehera
Main Tere Liye
Hamara Khandaan Priti
Hum To Chale Pardes Sharda Singh, Vishal’s mother
1989 Hathyar Avinash’s mother
Batwara Bade Thakur’s wife
Sharavegada Saradara Janaki
1993 Insaaf Ka Khoon
Professor Ki Padosan Shobha, the professor’s wife
Bhagyawan Savitri
1994 Ghar Ki Izzat Seeta
1995 Andolan
1999 Sar Aankhon Par Herself Cameo

Philanthropy (Asha Parekh Biography)

Parekh has opened a hospital for those in need, called “Bcj Hospital And Asha Parekh Research Centre.” She stated that the hospital had been closed and reopened at various times.

Asha Parekh Biography
Asha Parekh Biography

Awards and nominations (Asha Parekh Biography)

  1. Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2020 by the Government of India
  2. Gujarat State Award for Best Actress for Akhand Saubhagyavati (1963)
  3. Filmfare Award Nomination as Best Actress for Chirag (1969)
  4. Filmfare Award for Best Actress for Kati Patang (1971)
  5. Filmfare Award Nomination as Best Supporting Actress for Udhar Ka Sindur (1976)
  6. Filmfare Award Nomination as Best Supporting Actress for Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978)
  7. Padma Shri awarded in the Arts (1992)
  8. Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (2002)
  9. Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) felicitated Parekh for her outstanding contribution to the Indian film industry (2003)
  10. Kalakar Awards – Lifetime Achievement Award (2004)
  11. International Indian Film Academy Awards for outstanding achievement in Indian cinema (2006)
  12. Saptarang Ke Saptashee Award (2006)
  13. Gujarati Association of North America (GANA)’s First International Gujarati Convention—Lifetime Achievement Award (2006)
  14. Pune International Film Festival—Lifetime Achievement Award (2007)
  15. Bollywood Award—Lifetime Achievement Award (2007)
  16. Living Legend Award from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
  17. Film Federation of India honoured Parekh at its Golden Jubilee celebration ceremony (2008)
  18. Sahyadri Navratna Award given to Parekh for being a “woman of substance” (2008)
  19. Solitaire for Life Award from the ABN Amro Solitaire Design Awards show (2008)
  20. Nashik International Film Festival—Lifetime Achievement Award (2009)
  21. ‘Lachchu Mahraj Puraskar’ Award for Parekh’s contribution to dance and acting (2009)
  22. 40th International Film Festival of India felicitated Parekh for completing 50 years in Hindi cinema (2009)
  23. ‘Legends Live Forever Award’ from the Immortal Memories Event (2009)
  24. Golden Laurel Award—Ninth Gr8 Women Achievers Awards (2010)
  25. Prakarti Ratan Award (2010)
  26. Jaipur International Film Festival—Lifetime Achievement Award (2011)
  27. Bhishma Award by the Ashram Arts Academy (2012)
  28. Kalakar Awards – Living Legend Award (2018)
  29. “Walk of the Stars” honour, where a tile bears her handprint (2013)
  30. Stardust-Lifetime Achievement Award (2015)
  31. Most Stylish Lifetime Style Icon Award—Hindustan Times Most Stylish Awards (2017)
  32. Second Best Book Award for her memoir “The Hit Girl” at the 5th annual Pune International Literary Festival (PILF) (2017)
  33. Bimal Roy Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award (2019)
  34. Global Cinema Festival-Lifetime Achievement Award (2020)
  35. Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Award for “Outstanding Contribution to Film Industry” (2022)
  36. Master Deenanath Puraskar Award for “dedicated services in the field of cinema” (2022).

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