Farhat Ezekiel Nadira

Farhat Ezekiel Nadira, also known as Nadira, was an Iraqi-born Indian actress who worked in the Hindi film industry. She was born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1932 to a Baghdadi Jewish family. Her family migrated to Mumbai, India when she was an infant. She made her film debut in Mauj (1943) when she was 11 years old. She rose to fame with her role as a Rajput princess in Aan (1952) opposite Dilip Kumar. She was known for her fair complexion, sharp features and Westernized looks, which made her suitable for playing vamp or temptress roles. She appeared in many films from the 1950s to the 1990s, such as Shree 420 (1955), Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960), Pakeezah (1972), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) and Josh (2000). She won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for her role as the mother of the titular character in Julie (1975). She was one of the highest-paid actresses of her time and one of the first Indian actresses to own a Rolls-Royce. She lived a lonely life in her later years, as most of her relatives had moved to Israel or the United States. She suffered from various health problems, such as tubercular meningitis, paralysis and alcoholic liver disorder. She died on 9 February 2006 in Mumbai, at the age of 73, following a cardiac arrest and a stroke. She was buried at a Jewish cemetery in Mumbai. She is remembered as one of the most glamorous and versatile actresses of Bollywood.