Ragini (Shamshad Begum)
Ragini (1922–2007) was an Indian cinema and later Pakistani cinema actress, who worked in Hindi/Urdu and Punjabi films. Ragini was born Shamshad Begum in Gujranwala in 1922. She started her acting career with Punjabi film Dulla Bhatti (1940) opposite MD Kanwar. Ragini is said to be the highest-paid actress of her time, being paid 1 lakh rupees by AR Kardar for her role in Shahjahan. Known for her beautiful doe like eyes Ragini was referred as ‘Aahoo Chasm’.[1][2]
Ragini | |
|---|---|
 Ragini in early 1940s | |
| Born | Shamshad Begum 1922 Gujranwala, Punjab, British India |
| Died | 27 February 2007 (aged 85) |
| Resting place | Lahore |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1940–1983 |
| Spouse(s) | Mohammad Aslam, S. Gul |
| Children | Abid, Saira |
Personal life
Ragini was born Shamshad Begum in Gujranwala in 1922. Her mother died when Ragini was very young and her father Seth Diwan Parmanand took her with him to Lahore. In Lahore filmmaker Roshan Lal Shorey noticed her and convinced Diwan to let him launch Ragini in films.
Ragini's married Mohammad Aslam in the early 1940s, the marriage did not last long but she had two children from her first marriage, Saira and Abid. She again got married in Pakistan in 1947 to S Gul who produced and co-starred opposite her in Beqarar. Ragini spent the last days of her life alone and neglected in Gulberg.
Career
Ragini was launched by Roop K Shorey in the Punjabi film Dulla Bhatti (1940) opposite MD Kanwar. The film was a major success and Ragini became a star overnight. Ragini went on to act in several Lahore based productions in Hindi and Punjabi like Sehti Murad (1941), Nishani (1942), Ravi Par (1942), Poonji (1943), Daasi (1944) and Kaise Kahun (1945).
Nek Pervin (1946) was another successful movie that consolidated Ragini's position as a top star. Filmmaker AR Kardar offered Ragini to play Mumtaz Mahal Shah Jehan (1946), It is said that Ragini was paid rupees one lakh for the film, making her the highest-paid actress of that time,
After the partition Ragini chose to move to Pakistan but has also done a couple of Indian movies which did not fare well.
Filmography
- 1941 Himmat
- 1943 Poonji
- 1944 Dasi
- 1945 Shirin Farhad
- 1945 Dhamki
- 1945 Nek Pervin
- 1946 Bindiya
- 1946 Shahjehan
- 1947 Manmani
- 1947 Farz
- 1948 Memories
- 1949 Mundri
- 1950 Beqarar
- 1950 Kundan
- 1951 Akaely
- 1953 Ghulam
- 1954 Gumnam
- 1955 Naukar
- 1955 Shararey
- 1955 Nazrana
- 1955 Iltija
- 1957 Bedari
- 1958 Bahar
- 1958 Anarkali
- 1958 Mumtaz
- 1964 Gehra Daagh
- 1965 Naila
- 1970 Sayyan
- 1971 Ucha Naa Pyar Da
- 1971 Sultan