Shakila (actress)

Shakila (actress) Biography

Shakila is a film star of Bollywood cinema in the 1950s. This legendary actress has worked in many of Guru Dutt’s movies like CID, Aar paar etc. Noted comedian Johny Walker was her brother-in-law. Johny’s wife Noorjehan, a Bollywood actress was Shakila’s sister. This Bollywood actress became popular with her performance in 'Hathkadi'. She retired from acting in 1963 after her marriage and got settled abroad. China Town was her last release.

 Many evergreen Bollywood songs of 1950s have been pictured on her. She was the female lead of 1963 musical thriller, Ustadon Ke Ustad, which also starred Ashok Kumar and Pradeep Kumar in the lead roles. The evergreen romantic song sung by Rafi, Sau baar janam lenge was pictured on her and Pradeep Kumar. Aakhon hi aakhom mein of CID, Babujeere Chalna from Aar Paar, Baar baar dekho, hazaar baar dekho of China Town, Laagi chutey na ab to sanam, Neend na mujhko aaye dil mera, Ae mere dile nadaan tu gam, Leke pehla pehla pyar etc were some of the songs filmed on her.

Shakila lost her parents at a young age and she had two more sisters – Noor (Noorjahan) and Nasreen. The sisters were brought up by their aunt in Mumbai. They had to face a lot of hardships during their childhood. Shakira made her film debut as a child artist in 1950 movie, Dastaan, where she portrayed Veena’s daughter role. Her big break to Bollywood was Aar Paar in 1954. The break was given by Guru Dutt and it was Shakira’s first movie as an adult actress. The song ‘Babujee dheere chalna’ was pictured on her which became an instant hit. Since then she regularly played lead and second lead in Bollywood and many golden hits were pictured on this actress. A.R. Kardar, Mehboob Khan and Guru Dutt were the leading directors with whom she worked.

Actress Shakila passed away on September 20, 2017 evening after a heart attack at the age of 82.

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Updated: September 22, 2017