Veteran Actress Nazima Passes Away at 77

Veteran actress Nazima, remembered for portraying the affectionate sister and loyal best friend in numerous Hindi films of the 1960s and 70s, passed away on Monday at the age of 77. She spent her later years in Dadar with her two sons. Born Mehrunnisa on March 25, 1948, in Nashik, Nazima came from a family deeply connected to cinema, with her aunt Husn Bano married to filmmaker Aspi Irani.

Nazima began her journey in films as a child artiste under the screen name Baby Chand. One of her earliest appearances was in Bimal Roy’s classic Do Bigha Zamin, where she played the elder of two sisters ferried to school by Balraj Sahni’s character. She was also seen in Devdas as young Paro’s classmate and in Biraj Bahu as the sister of Abhi Bhattacharya. Her charm was noticed early on in Raj Kapoor’s children’s film Ab Dilli Door Nahin, paving the way for a career filled with warm and memorable roles.

As she moved into mainstream cinema, Nazima shared the screen with some of the biggest stars of her time. She was paired opposite Sanjeev Kumar in Nishan and Raja Aur Runk, delivering popular songs like Hai Tabassum Tera and O Firki Wali. She also worked with Rajesh Khanna in films such as Aurat and Doli and appeared in notable titles including Abhinetri, Manchali, Prem Nagar, Anurag, Beimaan, Doli and Arzoo, where her intense scream on discovering her brother, played by Rajendra Kumar, had lost a leg became an unforgettable moment.

Nazima also excelled in lighter, playful parts. She played Asha Parekh’s sister in Aaye Din Bahaar Ke, where her character humorously fell down a staircase twice in a bid to catch Dharmendra’s attention. She was the spirited friend to Hema Malini in Abhinetri and a trusted companion to Leena Chandavarkar in Manchali, leaving behind a legacy as one of Hindi cinema’s most loved and endearing supporting actors.

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