Rani Begum

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Rani Begum
رانی بیگم
Born
Nasira Begum

(1946-12-08)8 December 1946
Lahore, Punjab, British India
Died27 May 1993(1993-05-27) (aged 46)
Karachi, Pakistan
Other names
  • The Dancing Queen[1]
  • Lux Girl[2]
  • Queen of Lollywood[1]
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
Years active1962 – 1993
Spouses
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1970; div. 1977)​
      Mian Javed Qamar
      ​
      ​
      (m. 1979; div. 1980)​
        ​
        ​
        (m. 1982; div. 1991)​
        Children1
        AwardsWon 3 Nigar Awards in 1968, 1971 and 1983

        Rani Begum (Punjabi, Urdu: رانی بیگم; 8 December 1946 – 27 May 1993) was a Pakistani film and television actress. She gained success in the late 1960s when she made a hit pair with Waheed Murad. She was also known as The Dancing Queen, Queen of Lollywood and Lux Girl for her portrayal of romantic and dancing roles in films.[1] She remained one of the most successful actresses of the subcontinent and was also popular for her dance performances in films.[3][2]

        Early life

        Rani Begum was born on 8 December 1946 as Nasira in Mozang, Lahore to Malik Muhammed Shafi and Iqbal Begum in an Punjabi Arain family.[2] Her father was a driver for Mukhtar Begum, a singer who was married to Agha Hashar Kashmiri, a well-known Urdu dramatist. Mukhtar Begum took over and raised Rani herself. After being raised by Mukhtar Begum, Rani moved in with her mother with whom she reconciled.[2]

        Acting career

        Rani acted in both Urdu and Punjabi movies in Pakistani cinema. In 1962, Anwar Kamal Pasha gave Rani her first role in Mehboob.[4] For several years after Mehoob, Rani appeared in supporting roles in films like Mouj Maila, Ek Tera Sahara and Safaid Khoon. Until 1965 she starred in other films, but when they flopped one after another she was dubbed a jinxed actress.[5]

        However, after the success of Hazar Dastan (1965) and Devar Bhabi (1967), Rani became a leading actress. Some of her more notable films are Chann Makhna, Sajjan Pyara, Jind Jan, Duniya Matlab Di, Anjuman, Tehzeeb, Umrao Jaan Ada, Naag Muni, Seeta Maryam Margaret, Aik Gunnah Aur Sahi and Surraya Bhopali. In Umrao Jaan Ada, she portrayed an ill-fated tawaif and poetess from Lucknow.[6] In a review of the film, The Statesman noted that she has "worked hard with dances", "acted very well in the love scenes", and "has come off very well as Umrao".[7] In 1974, she portrayed Laila in Laila Majnu, based on the eponymous legend.[6] In the same year, she portrayed a halala victim torn between her two lovers in Deedar.[6] In 1975, she portrayed a Romani girl who falls for an urban man in Dilruba.[6] In 1978, she played dual roles in Seeta Maryam Margaret, portraying twin sisters raised in different religious backgrounds.[8] She also acted in two TV serials Khuwahish and Fareb in the early 1990s.[2][9]

        Personal life

        After her initial success in the late 1960s, she married renowned director Hassan Tariq, with whom she had a daughter, Rabia. Due to conflicts, Hassan Tariq divorced Rani in the late 1970s.[2] She then married producer Mian Javed Qamar, who divorced her when it was discovered that Rani had leukemia.[2] During her treatment in London, she met famous cricketer Sarfaraz Nawaz. Soon they developed a good relationship with each other and got married. Rani helped Sarfraz in his election campaign in the late 1980s. But their relationship also did not last long and they parted.[2] After getting divorced for the third time, Rani was struck by the grief of loneliness. Cancer also struck back and this time with much more intensity as Rani did not have much desire to live but to see her daughter get married.[9]

        Illness and death

        Graves of Rani and her mother
        Tombstone of Rani's Grave

        Rani died of cancer on 27 May 1993 at the age of 46 in Karachi, just a few days after her daughter Rabia's marriage. Shortly after Rani's death, her mother who was seriously ill and never knew of her daughter's death, also died. Rani's only sister also died three months later. Rani and her mother were buried side by side in Lahore in Muslim Town Cemetery.[2][9]

        Filmography

        Television series

        Year Title Role Network
        1986 Show Time Herself PTV
        1993 Khuwahish Nafeesa Begum PTV[2]
        1993 Fareb Shabahat PTV[5]

        Film

        Year Title Role Ref.
        1962Mehboob[10]
        1963Ik Tera Sahara
        Mauj Mela
        1964Aurat Ka Pyar
        Chhoti Ammi
        Chhoti Behan
        Ik Dil Do Deewane
        Safaid Khoon
        Shatranj
        1965Aakhri StationFozia[11]
        Aurat[12]
        Hazar Dastaan[11]
        Nache Nagan Baje Been[11]
        Sanam[11]
        Saaz-o-Awaz[12]
        Shabnam[12]
        Yeh Jahan Wale[12]
        1966Bhai Jaan[13]
        Ghar ka Ujala[13]
        Goonga[13]
        Insaan[13]
        Joker[13]
        Woh Kaun Thi[14]
        1967Bereham[15]
        Devar Bhabhi[16]
        Hokumat[16]
        Kafir[16]
        Nadira[16]
        Shab-ba-Khair[16]
        Sitamgar[15]
        Yatim[15]
        1968AdalatReshma[17]
        Behan Bhai[17]
        Chan Choudvin Da[18]
        Chan Makhnan[19]
        Cheen Le Azadi[19]
        Commander[17]
        Dara[17]
        Dil Mera Dharkan TeriNadira[19]
        Eik Hi Rasta[17]
        Mera Ghar Meri JannatMona[17]
        Sajjan Pyara[18]
        Zalim[19]
        1969Dilbar Jani[20]
        Dil-e-Baitab[21]
        Diya Aur ToofanSalma[20]
        Ghabru Put Punjab De[22]
        Jindjan[21]
        Khoon Nahaq[21]
        Kochwaan[22]
        Maa Beta[21]
        Mukhra Chan Warga[21]
        Panchi te Pardesi[20]
        1970Aakhri Chattan[23]
        1970AnjumanAnjuman[24]
        1970Chan Sajna[24]
        1970Dil Diyan Laggian[23]
        1970Do Nain Sawali[23]
        1970Duniya Matlab Di[25]
        1970Mehram Dil Da[23]
        1970Mr. 420[25]
        1970Rab di Shan[24]
        1970Sajjan Beli[23]
        1970Shama Aur Parwana[23]
        1970Taxi Driver[24]
        1971Babul[26]
        1971Des Mera Jidaran Da[26]
        1971Do Baghi[27]
        1971Ishq Bina ki Jeena[26]
        1971Jeyo Jatta[26]
        1971Mr. 303[27]
        1971Rab Rakha[27]
        1971Sakhi Lutera[26]
        1971Siran Nal Sardarian[26]
        1971Sucha Sauda[27]
        1971TehzeebTehzeeb[26]
        1971Uncha Naa Pyar Da[26]
        1971Wehshi[26]
        1972Azaadi
        Badley Gi Duniya Saathi
        Baharo Phool BarsaoSalma
        Bhai Bhai
        Dhol Jawanian Mane
        Dil Naal Sajjan De
        Ghairat Te Qanoon
        Khalish
        Meri Ghairat Teri Izzat
        Naag MuniNeera / Naag Muni[10]
        Sodagar
        Umrao Jaan AdaUmrao Jaan Ada[2]
        1973Ek thi Larki
        Jeib Kutra
        Pyasa
        1974Deedar
        Laila MajnooLaila
        Zulm Kade Nein Phalda
        1975Dilruba
        Aik Gunnah Aur SahiAfshan
        Pulekha
        1976Aulad
        Naag aur Nagin
        Surraya BhopaliSurraya Bhopali
        Zaroorat
        1977Begum JanBegum Jan
        Kaloo
        1978Nazrana
        Parakh
        Saheli
        Seeta Maryam MargaretSeeta/Maryam, Margaret[10]
        1979Ab Ghar Jane Do
        Aurat Raj
        Behan Bhai
        Ibadat
        Josh
        Khushboo
        Mr. Ranjha
        Naqsh-e-Qadam
        Nawabzadi
        Nai Tehzeeb
        Tarana
        1980Badnaam
        Haye Yeh Shohar
        Aap Ki Khatir
        Lahoo De Rishte
        Sheikh Chilli
        1981Gun Man
        Watan
        1982Kinara
        Aas Paas
        1983Bigri Naslen
        Deewana Mastana
        Wadda Khan
        Kala Sumandar
        Sona Chandi
        1984Chor Chokidar
        Dada Ustad
        Devar Bhabhi
        Iman Te Farangi
        Ishq Pecha
        Jagga Te Reshma
        Judai
        Laraka
        Raja Rani
        Sajawal Daku
        Ucha Shamla Jatt Da
        Aag Ka Sumandar
        Aaj Ka Inssan
        1985Ann Parh
        Babur Khan
        Chandni
        Chann Baloch
        Do Hathkarian
        Ek Dulhan
        Ghulami
        Khoon Aur Pani
        Khuddar
        Muqaddar
        Sahib Bahadur
        Thugg Badshah
        1986Chall So Chall
        Qulli
        Shehnai
        1987Kala Toofan
        Zalzala
        Zidbazi
        1988Jatt Majhay Da
        1989Aap Ki Khatir
        1991Yohnavey
        Truck Driver

        Awards and recognition

        YearAwardCategoryResultTitleRef.
        1968Nigar AwardSpecial AwardWonMera Ghar Meri Jannat[9]
        1971Nigar AwardBest ActressWonBabul[28]
        1983Nigar AwardBest ActressWonSona Chandi[9]

        See also

        References

        1. "Remembering Rani The Dancing Queen on her death anniversary". Daily Times. 28 May 2021. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
        2. "In memoriam: The Rani of our hearts lives on". Dawn (newspaper). 25 May 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
        3. Parvez, Amjad (17 October 2019). "Rani: top class heroine of Pakistani cinema's golden era — Part I". Daily Times. Archived from the original on 17 December 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
        4. "#ThrowBackThursday: Cham Cham and Raani". The Express Tribune. 23 July 2014. Archived from the original on 17 April 2025.
        5. "The power of the biopic". The News International. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
        6. Muhammad Suhayb (17 December 2023). "Flashback: Queen of Hearts". Dawn.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2025.
        7. Mohammad Owais (1972). The Statesman. Vol. 18. Pakistan. p. 8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
        8. Nate Rabe (25 May 2018). "Sound of Lollywood: 'Ay Bhai Ay Mister!' is the highlight of a virtuoso soundtrack". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 4 February 2020.
        9. "Sarfaraz Nawaz and Rani: Their Wedding and Beyond". Asian Women Magazine. Archived from the original on 7 September 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
        10. Parvez Jabri (8 December 2017). "Renowned actress Rani remembered today". Business Recorder (newspaper). Retrieved 4 July 2019.
        11. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 255. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
        12. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 254. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
        13. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 256. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
        14. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 257. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
        15. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 259. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
        16. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 258. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
        17. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 261. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
        18. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 262. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
        19. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 260. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
        20. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 263. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
        21. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 264. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
        22. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 265. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
        23. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 266. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
        24. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 267. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
        25. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 268. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
        26. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 270. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
        27. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 269. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
        28. "Pakistan's "Oscars"; The Nigar Awards". The Hot Spot Film Reviews website. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2022.