Suraiya was a prominent actress and playback singer in the Hindi film industry during the 1940s and 1950s. She was born on June 15, 1929, in Lahore, British India (now Pakistan), and her full name was Suraiya Jamal Sheikh. Suraiya started her career as a child artist and later became a leading actress known for her beauty, acting skills and melodious voice.
Actress Suraiya remains an iconic figure in the history of Indian cinema, remembered for her contributions to both acting and music during the golden era of Hindi films. On her birth anniversary today, here’s looking at some of the lesser known facts about the ‘Malika-e-Husn’ of Hindi Cinema’s Golden Era. Suraiya began her film career as a child artist.
She made her debut as a child actor in Jaddan Bai’s (1936) before making her debut as a heroine in (1941) in which she portrayed the character Mumtaz Mahal. Suraiya, renowned during her prime, earned the titles of ‘Malika-e-Husn’ (Queen of Beauty) and ‘Malika-e-Adakari’ (Queen of Acting) for her extraordinary allure and exceptional talent. Suraiya and Dev Anand were celebrated as one of the most successful onscreen pairs of their time.
Their chemistry captivated audiences in several films. However, their cinematic partnership came to an end with the film , after which they never collaborated on another project. Suraiya was a prominent actress and playback singer in the Hindi film industry during the 1940s and 1950s.
She was born on June 15, 1929, in Lahore.