Shaheen Bano (born 10 September 1945), known professionally as Zeba (), is a Pakistani former actress. She was one of the top stars of the Pakistani film industry in the 1960s and the early 1970s. She was voted among 25 of the greatest actors of Asia in a 2010 CNN poll.

Early life

Shaheen Bano (Zeba) was born at

Ambala Ambala () is a city and a municipal corporation in Ambala district in the state of Haryana, India, located on the border with the Indian state of Punjab (India), Punjab and in proximity to both states capital Chandigarh. Politically, Ambala ...

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another ...

on 10 September 1945. Zeba's family migrated to Pakistan from India when she was only 3 years old. She received her basic education in Pakistan. She made her screen debut in film '' Chiragh Jalta Raha'' in 1962. During a career that spanned almost three decades, Zeba appeared in numerous commercially successful as well as critically appreciated films, many of which featured her alongside actor and husband Mohammad Ali. She also starred in the 1966 film ''

Arman Arman (November 17, 1928 – October 22, 2005) was a French and American artist. Born Armand Fernandez in Nice, France, Arman was a painter who moved from using objects for the ink or paint traces they leave (''cachets'', ''allures d'objet'') t ...

'' which was produced by actor and producer Waheed Murad,

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

's first

Platinum jubilee A platinum jubilee is a celebration held to mark an anniversary. Among Monarchy, monarchies, it usually refers to a 70th anniversary. The most recent monarch to celebrate a platinum jubilee is Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and the ...

film.

Career

In 1961, producer Noor Mohammad Khan offered her a role of heroine in his film ''Zindagi'' but later, for unknown reasons, the film was shelved. By then, she accepted a role in another film ''Shakir''. Arif was the hero, and the movie was eventually released in 1962 with a different name '' Chiragh Jalta Raha''. Other debut cast were Mohammad Ali and Kamal Irani. Her second release of 1962, ''Jab say dekha hai tumhain'', opposite Darpan earned her critical success. Her next film, ''Baaji'' was released in 1963 which was also successful. Her first release of 1964 ''Taubah'' was a

Golden Jubilee A golden jubilee marks a 50th anniversary. It variously is applied to people, events, and nations. Bangladesh In Bangladesh, golden jubilee refers the 50th anniversary year of the separation from Pakistan and is called in Bengali language, ...

movie. Her pair, first with Kamal and then with Waheed Murad, who was the only producer at that time from

Karachi Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...

. Her second collaboration with Waheed Murad was in 1964 film '' Heera aur pathar''. Her next three successive releases in 1964, ''Aashiana'', ''Baghi Sipahi'' and ''Head Constable''. After the introduction of color movies, she first appeared in ''Najma''. ''Rishtah hey pyar ka'' was her first film which was shot overseas. Her first release of 1966 was '' Armaan'' which was also Pakistan's first Platinum Jubilee Urdu film. ''Armaan'' was produced by Waheed Murad himself and directed by Pervaiz Malik. The movie was released on 18 March 1966. She won her first Best Actress award from Nigar Awards for this film. During the same year, Zeba and Waheed Murad were teamed up in two other movies, i.e., ''Josh'' and ''Jaag utha insaan''. From 1965 to 1969 Zeba worked in a number of films. Some of her notable and successful films of that time are ''Eid Mubarak (1964)'', Kaneez, ''Dard-e-Dil'', ''Koh-e-Noor'', ''Josh'', ''Suhagan'', ''Taj Mahal'', ''Anjaan'', ''Mohabbat rang laye gi'', ''Ek Phool ek Pathar'' and ''Bahoo Rani''. In 1970, she played a young-to-old role in Shabab Kiranvi's film ''Insaan aur Aadmi''. Her performance was greatly appreciated and she won her second Best Actress award from Nigar Awards. One of her most memorable roles came in the 1972 film ''Mohabbat'' which was a critical and commercial success and earned her the third Best Actress award from Nigar Awards. She starred in only one Punjabi film named ''Mehndi wale hath'', even though she had worked with a total of 45 film directors over her entire career. She along with Mohammad Ali also worked in 1989 Hindi movie

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written, produced, directed by and starring

Manoj Kumar Manoj Kumar (born Harikrishan Giri Goswami; 24 July 1937 – 4 April 2025) was an Indian actor, film director, screenwriter, lyricist and editor who worked in Hindi cinema. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most successful actors in t ...

alongside an ensemble cast including

Rekha Bhanurekha Ganesan (; born 10 October 1954), better known by her mononymous stage name Rekha, is an Indian actress who appears predominantly in Hindi films. Acknowledged as one of the finest actresses in Indian cinema, she has starred in mo ...

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, Shashi Kapoor,

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and Sonu Walia. This was her only Hindi film appearance. Zeba reportedly told a major newspaper of Pakistan in 2021, "I'm not complete without Ali. He was a good husband, a great father and a good friend."

Films with Mohammad Ali

By the late 1970s, Zeba started to work opposite her husband only. Known as a couple 'Ali-Zeb' in the media, the pair did a number of movies together. Some of their most notable films are: * '' Chiragh Jalta Raha'' (1962) – This was a debut movie for both of them. * ''Aag (1967)'' * ''Jaise Jante Naheen (1969)'' * ''Baharein Phir Bhi Aaeingee'' * ''Dil Diya Dard Liya (1968)'' * ''Najma'' * ''Afsana Zindagi Ka (1972)'' * '' Mohabbat'' (1972 film) * ''Aurat Ek Paheli'' * ''Naukar'' * ''Mohabbat Zindagi Hai'' * '' Jab Jab Phool Khile'' (1975) * ''Phool Mere Gulshan Ka'' * '' Daman Aur Chingari (1973)'' Her last film ''Mohabbat Ho Tau Aesi'' released in 1989 was also with Mohammad Ali.

Personal life

Her first marriage was to Khawaja Rehmat Ali (1959–1962), and her second to film actor Sudhir (1964–1966). Although Zeba had met Mohammad Ali on the set of their debut film '' Chiragh Jalta Raha (1962)'' but their affection for each other was rekindled on the set of film ''Tum mile pyar mila (1966)'', and they married while the film was still under production on 29 September 1966. The couple remained married until Ali's death from

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...

on 19 March 2006. Zeba had a daughter from her first marriage named Samina, after marrying Mohammad Ali, he legally adopted Samina, giving her the name Samina Ali.

Awards and recognition

Hilal-i-Imtiaz The ''Hilal-e-Imtiaz'' (; ), also spelled as ''Hilal-i-Imtiaz,'' is the second-highest (in the order of "Imtiaz") civilian award and honour given to both civilians and military officers of the Pakistan Armed Forces by the Government of Pakist ...

(Crescent of Excellence) Award in 2016 by the

President of Pakistan The president of Pakistan () is the head of state of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The president is the nominal head of the executive and the supreme commander of the Pakistan Armed Forces.

She received the Nigar Awards three times in her film acting career: * Nigar Award for Best Actress in film '' Armaan'' in 1966 * Nigar Award for Best Actress in film ''Insaan Aur Aadmi'' in 1970 * Nigar Award for Best Actress in film ''Mohabbat'' in 1972 She had also received two special awards from Nigar Awards illennium award in 1999and lyas Rashidi gold medal in 2002

Filmography

1962 * '' Chiragh Jalta Raha'' * ''Jab se dekha hai tumhen'' 1963 * '' Baaji'' * ''Dil ne tujhe maan liya'' * ''Sumeera'' * ''Mehndi wale hath'' (Punjabi) 1964 * ''Taubah'' * '' Ashiana'' * '' Heera aur pathar'' * ''Head constable'' * ''Baghi Sipahi'' 1965 * '' Kaneez'' * '' Eid Mubarak'' * ''Aisa bhi hota hai'' * ''Rawaaj'' * ''Tere shehar mein'' 1966 * '' Armaan'' * ''Josh'' * ''Koh-e-Noor'' * ''Lori'' * ''Tasveer'' * ''Jokar'' * ''Dard-e-Dil'' * '' Jaag utha Insaan'' 1967 * '' Insaniyat'' * '' Ehsaan'' * '' Rishta hai pyar ka'' * ''Maa Baap'' * ''Aag'' * ''Suhagan'' * ''Waqt ki pukar'' 1968 * ''Mafroor'' * ''Baalam'' * ''Adalat'' * ''Pakeeza'' * ''Asmat'' * ''Mujhe jeeney do'' * ''Mahal'' * ''Dil diya dard liya'' * ''Taj Mahal'' (1968 film) 1969 * ''Tum mile pyar mila'' * ''Jaise jante nahin'' * ''Zindgi kitni haseen hai'' * ''Bahu Rani'' * ''Jang-e-Azadi'' 1970 * ''Insaan Aur Aadmi'' * ''Mohabbat rang laye gi'' * ''Ik Phool ik Pathar'' * ''Anjaan'' * ''Najma'' * ''Noreen'' 1971 * ''Insaaf Aur Qanoon'' * ''Duniya na maney'' * ''Yaden'' * ''Teri soorat meri Ankhen'' * ''Salam-e-Mohabbat'' * ''Aansoo bahaye Pathron ne'' 1972 * ''Afsana Zindgi ka'' * ''Ilzaam'' * ''Sabbaq'' * '' Mohabbat'' * ''Badley gi Duniya saathi'' * ''Dil ik Aaina'' 1973 * '' Daman Aur Chingari'' * ''Nadiya ke paar'' 1974 * ''Phool Mere Gulshan Ka'' * '' Tiger Gang'' * ''Shama'' * ''Parchhaen'' 1975 * '' Jab Jab Phool Khile (Pakistani film)'' * ''Noukar'' * '' Bin Baadal Barsat'' * ''Aarzoo'' * Mohabbat Zindagi Hai * ''Sheerin Farhad'' * ''Gumrah'' * ''Palki'' * ''Isar'' 1976 * ''Aurat ek paheli'' * ''Phool aur Sholay'' * ''Goonj uthi Shehnai'' * ''Dharkan'' * ''Aap ka Khadam'' 1977 * ''Bharosa'' 1978 * ''Kora Kaghaz'' * ''Takrao'' 1979 * ''Chori Chori'' * ''Ibadat'' 1989 * ''

'' * ''Mohabbat ho to aisi''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Zeba Zeba Zeba Nigar Award winners Punjabi women 20th-century Pakistani actresses 1945 births Recipients of Hilal-i-Imtiaz Pakistani expatriate actresses in India Actresses in Hindi cinema Actresses in Urdu cinema People from Punjab Province (British India)