Firdous

Real name Parveen, Firdous was introduced by Nakshab in Fanoos (1963) as a supporting actress, while the main leads were played by Komal and Salam Peerzada. The film was about a haunted Haveli, where a dancer is seen performing her classical dances, and making occasional appearances at the old gate of the palatial home of Nawab, who had died long ago. However, the film flopped due to some vital technical flaws in the film.

When Firdous started her career, she didn’t enjoy immediate success and most of her earlier films flopped including Khandaan, Malang, Lai Laag and Aurat. With the success of the Punjabi film Malangi in 1965, she was finally accepted by the audiences. One of the songs from this film “Mahi vay sanoun bhul na javein” sung by Noor Jehan and picturized on Firdous was one of the main reasons for the success of this film. The acceptance turned into adulation as her pairing with the Punjabi superstar Akmal clicked in a huge way and two started scoring one jubilee hit after another (Akbara, Chacha Jee etc). When Firdous danced those energetic thumka filled numbers with her hair let loose dervish style, the public was mesmerized by her charm. Soon Akmal and Firdous were having a torrid love affair (many people insist that they had married). Akmal died suddenly in 1967, and insiders in the industry claim that there was more to his death than just death by overdose or liver failure. Insiders claim that it was Firdous’ disgruntled brothers who were responsible for poisoning Akmal – a star who is still talked about as King of the 60′s.

Despite the loss of Akmal, Firdous soldiered on relentlessly and featured in many hit films with the top Punjabi actors  of that time including Habib, Sudhir, Yusuf Khan and the man who would eventually play a major part in her life – Ejaz Durrani. Producer Masood Parvez bought Firdous and Ejaz together for the folk tale of Mirza Jat in 1967 which became a raging success. Then he followed up with the same Firdous – Ejaz combination for the similar Murad Baloch and other producers quickly began to cash in on the hottest pair in Lollywood with films like Jawani Mastani, Dilan De Sauday, Sheran Dee Jorri, Hameeda, Yaar te Pyaar, Ishq na Poochay Zaat all following in rapid succession. Then Masood Parvez hit the jackpot in 1970 casting the two for the legend of Heer Ranjha. The film, its songs and its stars became a rage and is still considered to be among the finest films ever to have come out of Lollywood and certainly the best ever Punjabi film.

However, by then Ejaz and Firdous were involved with each other romantically and Noor Jehan refused to sing songs for any film featuring Firdous. Because of this, Firdous’ career started to go downhill and one by one producers stopped signing Firdous for their upcoming projects and work began to dry up completely for the once super-busy actress. Noor Jehan refusal to sing songs for her effected her career to such an extent that Firdous was forced to play character role in Urdu film Aansoo (1971) during the height of her career!

Based on Riaz Arshad’s novel “Andhi Jawani”, Aansoo was one of the best films made during the early period of colored Lollywood films. The film dealt with the sensitive issue of rape and its after effects. In Ansoo, Firdous played Shahid’s mother and reminded her adoring fans of her ability as a performer. She was quiet stunning, even if in the unfamiliar role of a mother.

However, even the success of Ansoo couldn’t save her career and that coupled with the arrival of new Punjabi heroines including Mumtaz, Aasiya and Anjuman plus her scandal with Shahid hit the final nail in her coffin. Firdous left film industry in 1976 and joined it again after 8 years in 1984 as an unsuccessful character actress in films including Yeh kaisey hua (1984), Hitler (1986) etc. Nowadays, Firdous lives a retired life in Lahore.

Shammi

Younger sister of actress Salma Mumtaz, Shammi belonged to very poor family. Shammi (Shimmi) was introduced by director Munshi in the Punjabi film of the same name Shammi (1950), opposite Santosh Kumar, Ajmal and Shola. At that time Pakistani film industry was at its nascent stage and was generally unable to compete with the technically superior Indian films. Even then, Shammi did average business because if its soulful music composed by Master Inayat Hussain. Shammi was produced by Malaika Pukhraj and her husband Syed Shabbir Hussain Shah. Malaika Pukhraj sang an Urdu song in this film “Kia sunain majboor zindagi ka afsana”. Other popular songs from this film were “Suhe chorey walie” by Inayat Husain Bhatti and “Meri Akh Mustani Pharhke” by Iqbal Begum.

Later she appeared in a few more films including Beqarar, Ilzam, Mehbooba, Tadap, Roohi, Khizan Kai Baad, Sohni and Pawan. Of these special mention must be made of Roohi, which became the first film banned by the Film Censor Board of Pakistan. The government said the film generated ‘class hatred’, and portrayed a ‘rich married woman having an affair with a young, unmarried man’.

Shammi married her co-star of several films Sudhir and bid adieu to her film career to become a devoted house wife. However, she did appear in two films Sahil (1960) and Baghawat (1963) after getting married, both produced by her husband Sudhir.

Nadeem with Shabana

He may have made his debut as Pakistan’s answer to Dilip Kumar but Mirza Nazeer Baig Mughal has evolved from a super-hit actor into a superstar during his 43-year career. The journey that began with Chakori in 1967 is still going strong. Not only has Nadeem outlived his contemporaries but also inspired generations with his charismatic personality and professional ethics.

Born on 19th July, 1941, in Madras (now Chennai), India, to a family with no links to showbiz, he made his debut in Chakori when the intended hero of the film, Azeem, quit days before shooting was to commence. He not only impressed the audience with his acting skills and dashing looks but also belied critics who didn’t consider him a threat in the beginning.

With countless hits to back him, Nadeem achieved iconic status in the ’70s and gave a hard time to Waheed Murad, Mohammad Ali and Shahid during the decade that saw him churn out hits with directors Pervez Malik, Nazrul Islam, S. Suleman and many others.

He has so far worked in 200-plus films since Chakori. Although he hasn’t tried his hand at direction but has been active on the scene for the past 43 years, winning fans all over the world and all awards imaginable.

Little Known Facts about Nadeem

1. Nadeem gave playback to Mohammad Qavi Khan in the film Mr Buddho (1973), The song was Kitne Ashq Piye Hain Phir Bhi Zinda Hoon, with the late playback singers Mala and Ahmed Rushdi lending their vocals for Deeba and Rangeela, respectively.

2. Waheed Murad, Mohammad Ali and Nadeem actred in three films together. Their first film together was Phool Mere Gulshan Ka (1974) followed by Shama (1974) and Jab Jab Phool Khile (1975). Nadeem also has the distinction of working with great artistes including Santosh Kumar, Darpan, Alauddin, Kamal, Shahid, David, Shashi Kapoor and Raj Babbar during his career.

3. Nadeem played the angry young man Tony in Bollywood’s Doordesh in 1983, where he was pitted against Bangladeshi actress Babita and Indian actors Shashi Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore, Parveen Babi, Raj Babbar and David. The film was directed by Ambrish Sangal and was by the Canadian Production house Friends Film International.
4. His role in the multi-starrer Shama (1974) had shades of grey, but in Samaj and Suhaag he played a full-throttle villain. Mohammad Ali was the good guy in Samaj whereas Zia Mohyuddin played the bespectacled hero in Suhaag.
5. Nadeem was the first actor in Pakistan to play triple roles in a film. He played three roles simultaneously in Jaltay Sooraj Kay Neechay which was released in 1971, and was produced by Afzaal Chaudhry in the then East Pakistan.

6. Both the leading ladies — Aaminah Haq and Nosheen Tariq — in Nadeem’s debut TV serial Bisaat, directed by Ghazanfar Ali were born after Nadeem made his big screen debut in Chakori (1967). Yet he seemed at ease against the youngsters, fitting in as the leading man;

7. Nadeem is the only actor in Pakistan to work with four female directors who have also been his co-stars. The directors of the three films — Shamim Ara (Playboy), Sangeeta (Ishq Ishq) and Samina Peerzada (Inteha) — on numerous occasions played Nadeem’s leading ladies during his career. Shamim Ara in Parai Aag and Suhaag, Sangeeta in countless flicks including Anari and Mutthi Bhar Chawal and Samina Peerzada in Bazaar-i-Husn and Bulandi. The director of Koi Tujh Sa Kahan — Reema Khan — has worked with Nadeem in over a dozen films mostly as his daughter or the son’s love interest.

8. Nadeem never directed a film, but he has produced not one but two films. Mitti Kay Putlay (1974) was his first movie as a producer whereas the Punjabi film Mukhra (1988) once again saw him in the role of the producer;

9. Many believe that Nazrul Islam’s Bandish was the first film in which Nadeem changed his hairstyle, which is incorrect. Pervez Malik’s Pakeeza (1979) was the first flick in which he experimented with his hair. When his character loses his memory, his hairstyle changes… and when he regains his memory it’s back to the ’70s hairdo;

10. Nadeem has worked in not one but three films with the same name – Sangdil, Anari and Talaash. While the first Anari and Sangdil were black and white flicks, and the others were in color, the first Talash was released in 1976 and the other one a decade later. Not only were the stories of all these flicks different but also the directors.