Zaheeda, actor-producer

“I refused Lal Patthar as it required a dog to jump at me. I was petrified of dogs. ”

What were your career options at 22?

I was being asked to join beauty pageants, model and walk fashion shows. Director Raj Khosla, a family friend, cast me in his Dev Anand-starrer Saajan Ki Galiyan which never got completed.

What was your equation with your family? My father was film producer Akhtar Hussain, brother of actress Nargis. I grew up in a joint family in Marine Drive with six siblings and five cousins, actor Anwar Hussain’s children. After Nargis bua married Sunil Dutt, things changed as she was the biggest contributor to our family expenses. The films my father produced flopped and he had to sell off his studio and cars. But, we were happy at all times.

What was your bank balance at 22?

I had a small sum of money at a branch of Union Bank of India in Churchgate.

What was your idea of a Sunday well-spent? My sister and I would get mics and we would each sing to the accompaniment of tabla and harmonium, and have a recordist tape it. Guru Dutt saw this when he came home to ask me to screen test for Kaneez.

What kind of social life did you have then? I was good at western dancing and loved going for jam sessions.

Did you have a pet those days?

“ON SUNDAYS, MY SISTER AND I WOULD GET MICS AND SING TO THE ACCOMPANIMENT OF TABLA AND HARMONIUM” —ZAHEEDA

I was petrified of dogs and cats. I refused the role eventually played by Hema Malini in Lal Patthar as the script demanded that an Alsatian dog jump at me and I fall into hero Raaj Kumar’s arms. I refused another film because I had to cuddle a cat and say ‘meow’!

Wearing a Tarun Tahiliani she borrowed from a fri, for a shoot Zaheeda during her school days at The Cathedral and John Connon school

With Mrs Indira Gandhi (extreme right) and Meena Kumari (extreme left) at a star-studded charity show organised by Nargis

With Pappo (her aunt Nargis) and cousins, Sanjay and baby Anju, on a shikara ride in Srinagar where Sunil Dutt was shooting for Waqt

Zaheeda’s film with Sanjay Khan (in pic) and Sanjeev Kumar, directed by Nitin Bose of Ganga Jamuna fame, remained incomplete

Nargis giving the clap for Zaheeda’s film; (inset) Zaheeda with her favourite amongst the many dolls gifted to her by Nargis

Anju Dutt, Priya Dutt (on the table) and Zaheeda dressed up in the trendy lungi

THEN AND NOW Zaheeda at 22 (top) and at 72 (above)