Farida Jalal is an Indian actress who has been in the film industry for more than 50 years performing in more than 200 films in the Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil film industries.
She is best known for her character-driven roles in independent cinema and supporting work in mainstream Bollywood productions. Jalal has received such accolades as four Filmfare Awards and two Bengal Film Journalists Association Awards.
Her career kicked off with Taqdeer in 1967 and later went on to play leading and supporting roles in numerous motion pictures through the 1970s and early 1980s.
She is widely famous for her role is the movies Paras (1971), HEnna (1991) and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995). In all of her movies, she garnered the FilmFare Award for the Best Supporting Actress.
After performing and portraying a motherly role and strong female character in the 1990s and early 2000s, she became a household name.
She has also won the FilFare critics Award for Best Performance for her role in Mammo (1994). She won the Best Actress Award at the 2012 Harlem International Film Festival for her role in A Gran Plan (2012).
Her success has effectively transitioned to numerous Indian shows on the television alongside her work in films. Some of her notable works are the sitcom Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, Dekh Bhai Dekh, Shararat, and Ammaji Ki Galli.
She was seen in the soap opera Satrangi Sasural on channel Zee TV portraying the role of Gomti Vatsal a.k.a. Dadi Maa.
She was born on 14 March 1949 in New Delhi, India. As of 70 years old as of 2019.
She stands at a height of 1.55 meters.
She is a self-spoken Islam by her religion.
Information about her parents is not known as she hardly speaks about them. This information will soon be updated. She has a brother called Khalid Mohammed.
She started her career in the 1960s when she won the United Film Producers Talent Hunt sponsored by Filmfare in 1965. She, along with Rajesh Khanna was chosen as a finalist and both were presented on stage as winners at the Filmfare Awards function.
She got her first film offer for Taqdeer from Tarachand Barjatya who happened to be in the audience. In an interview in 2014, she said, when asked her about initial part of her career: “I started my acting career when I was just out of my school St Joseph’s Convent in Panchgani, in a film called Taqdeer.
I took part in a talent contest and even won. Kaka (Rajesh Khanna) and I were the finalists. How was I to know that I’d soon be doing a film Aradhana with him?”.
she was initially married to actor Tabrez Barmavar, who hails from Bhaktal, Karnataka and died in September 2003 and had a son called Yaseen. She met her husband on the sets of Jeevan Rekha and fell in love in the course of the film and got married in November 1978.
As she wasn’t getting too many films offers after marriage, they moved to Bangalore where her husband had a soap factory business. Her son Yaseen is not interested in acting.
She has a son called Yaseen Jalal.
She once performed as the youngest daughter of Gospal with the character name Geeta. She performed the character in the movie Taqdeer.
Year | Title |
1967 | Taqdeer |
1968 | Baharon ki Manzil |
1969 | Mahal |
Aradhana | |
1970 | Puraskar |
Naya Raasta | |
Gopi | |
Devi | |
1971 | Paras |
Khoj | |
Amar Prem | |
Pyar Ki Kahani | |
1972 | Zindagi Zindagi |
Rivaaj | |
Buniyaad | |
1973 | Heera |
Bobby | |
Achanak | |
Raja Rani | |
Loafer | |
1974 | Naya Din Nai Raat |
Jeevan Rekha | |
Majboor | |
Uljhan | |
Sankalp | |
1975 | Khushboo |
Kala Sona | |
Do Jasoos | |
Dhoti Lota Aur Chowpatty | |
Dharmatma | |
Aakraman | |
1976 | Shaque |
Sabse Bada Rupaiya | |
Koi Jeeta Koi Haara | |
Bandalbaaz | |
1977 | Kasam Khoon Ki |
Alaap | |
Abhi To Jee Lein | |
Aakhri Goli | |
Shatranj Ke Khiladi | |
Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein | |
1978 | Naya Daur |
Ganga Ki Saugand | |
1979 | Jurmana |
Dhongee | |
1980 | Patthar Se Takkar |
Chambal Ki Kasam | |
Abdullah | |
1981 | Jwala Daku |
Yaarana | |
1983 | Salam e Mohabbat |
1988 | Pushpak |
1991 | Henna |
1992 | Paayal |
Bekhudi | |
Kal Ki Awaz | |
Dil Aashna Hai | |
1993 | Gardish |
1994 | Mammo |
Laadla | |
Krantiveer | |
Elaan | |
Dulaara | |
1995 | Andolan |
Jawab | |
Veergati | |
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge | |
1996 | Shastra |
Rajkumar | |
Loafer | |
Dushman Duniya Ka | |
Raja Hindustani | |
Angaara | |
Ajay | |
1997 | Saat Rang Ke Sapne |
Mrityudaata | |
Mohabbat | |
Judaai | |
Zor | |
Lahoo Ke Do Rang | |
Ziddi | |
Dil To Pagal Hai | |
Aflatoon | |
1998 | Salaakhen |
Duplicate | |
Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai | |
Soldier | |
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai | |
1999 | Dil Kya Kare |
Hindustan Ki Kasam | |
Khoobsurat | |
2000 | Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai |
Hey Ram | |
Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge | |
Pukar | |
Khauff | |
Kya Kehna | |
Bichhoo | |
Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa | |
Gaja Gamini | |
2001 | Farz |
Zubeidaa | |
Chori Chori Chupke Chupke | |
Lajja | |
Moksha: Salvation | |
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham… | |
2002 | Pyaar Diwana Hota Hai |
The Legend of Bhagat Singh | |
Badhaai Ho Badhaai | |
Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein | |
Deewangee | |
2003 | Pinjar |
Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai | |
Kaise Kahoon Ke… Pyaar Hai | |
Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon | |
Jaal: The Trap | |
Fun 2shh: Dudes In the 10th Century | |
2004 | Garv: Pride and Honour |
Taarzan: The Wonder Car | |
2005 | Pyaar Mein Twist |
Barsaat | |
2006 | Big Brother |
Aryan | |
2007 | Laaga Chunari Mein Daag |
Dhol | |
2010 | Aashayein |
Krantiveer – The Revolution | |
2011 | Love Breakups Zindagi |
Chala Mussaddi… Office Office | |
2012 | Chaar Din Ki Chandni |
Student of the Year | |
A Gran Plan | |
2015 | Bezubaan Ishq |
Tina Ki Chaabi | |
2017 | I’m Not A Terrorist |
2018 | Batti Gul Meter Chalu |
2019 | Student of the Year 2 |
Year | Serial/Show | Role |
1984 | Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi | Ranjit’s aunt |
1993-1994 | Dekh Bhai Dekh | Suhasini |
1994 | The Great Maratha | Chimnabai |
1995 | Junoon | |
1999 | Star Yaar Kalakaar | Host |
2003-2007 | Shararat | Sushma Mehra (Nani) |
2005 | Hero – Bhakti Hi Shakti Hai | Bebe |
2009-2012 | Balika Vadhu | Badi Masiji |
2011 | Ammaji Ki Galli | Ammaji |
2013 | Jeannie Aur Juju | Duggu Dadi |
2014 | Comedy Nights with Kapil | Herself |
2014–2016 | Satrangi Sasural | Gomti Devi Vatsal |
Farida Jalal Family
She started her career in the 1960s when she won the United Film Producers Talent Hunt sponsored by Filmfare in 1965. She, along with Rajesh Khanna was chosen as a finalist and both were presented on stage as winners at the Filmfare Awards function. She got her first film offer for Taqdeer from Tarachand Barjatya who happened to be in the audience. In an interview in 2014, she said, when asked her about initial part of her career: “I started my acting career when I was just out of my school St Joseph’s Convent in Panchgani, in a film called Taqdeer. I took part in a talent contest and even won. Kaka (Rajesh Khanna) and I were the finalists. How was I to know that I’d soon be doing a film Aradhana with him?”.
She usually played the sister or rejected fiancée of the male lead, but almost never the female lead. One of her most critically acclaimed roles is in Bobby, where she played the part of the mentally challenged would-be fiancée of Rishi Kapoor. During the 1980s, her roles progressed from sister and girlfriend to aunt, mother, or grandmother. She is also remembered for her part in Aradhana, in which she plays Rajesh Khanna’s girlfriend, and sings the song “Bagon me bahar hai, kaliyon pe nikhar hai”.
When asked as to how she started getting typecast as a hero’s sister, she quoted in an interview: “It all started with Gopi where I was offered the greatest Mr Dilip Kumar’s sister’s role. Forget about refusing, I jumped at the offer. Even if I had the chance to just go and observe him on the set I’d have done it. I love the man. I remember during those days each and every actor was copying Dilip Saab whether it was Dharmendra, Jeetendra or Manoj Kumar. I was much in-demand as Dilip Saab’s sister. Every hero wanted the same. Every actor wanted me to play his sister. Sometimes the sister was the film’s heroine. The official heroine would just sing her songs, whereas I had all the dramatic scenes. I got my recognition and awards. In a film called Paras, I was Sanjeev Kumar’s sister. But I had a lot more to do than Raakhee-di who played the heroine. I got my first award for it. Then I got my second award for Majboor, a film written by Salimbhai and Javedbhai where Bachchan Saab played my brother. It was so heartening. Why would I want to be a heroine when I was getting the stronger parts as the sister?”
She acted for over 40 years, only taking a break during 1983 and 1990 when she settled in Bangalore.
During the 1990s, Jalal had a part in many major hits in India, among them Raja Hindustani, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dil To Pagal Hai, Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham… and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, for which she won a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1995. Farida Jalal played the lead in the film Mammo. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. Jalal won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance. She acted in many television serials, such as the hit sitcom Dekh Bahi Dekh.
She was grandly acclaimed for her role in the 1994 film Mammo, for which she received the Filmfare Best Performance Award. Earlier, she was also nominated multiple times for ‘Best Supporting Actress Award’, one for the Amitabh Bachchan-Parveen Babi-Pran starrer Majboor where she played Amitabh’s handicapped sister.
Farida Jalal though, could not get a major break as heroine against any big star except Rajesh Khanna in Aaradhana, but she played the lead role in Jeevan Rekha in which her husband Tabrez was the hero. Pran and Ajit were also in the film. A song of the film; “Yaar mere, meri baahon me Aaja” by Mohammed Rafi from this film had become popular, and is still popular.
Jalal starred in Shararat (Thoda Jadu, Thodi Nazaakat), in which she played a leading role. The comedy is currently airing on the Disney Channel.
In 2005, she co-hosted the 50th Filmfare Awards alongside Saif Ali Khan and Sonali Bendre, in Mumbai. In 2008, she made a special appearance in the Punjabi film Yaariyan. Recently, she appeared in the soap opera Balika Vadhu.
In 2017, she was the victim of a death hoax. On 19 February, rumors did the rounds that she had died. Annoyed, the lady asked her publicist to put the rumors to rest.
She has an estimated net worth of $58 million. which is equivalent to 430 crores.
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Veteran actress Farida Jalal calls herself a “filmwali to the core”. She loves to act, but is not comfortable with the idea of mouthing dialogues in an unfamiliar language in a regional film.
In her almost 50-year-long career, she has never acted in a regional film.
Asked about it, Farida told IANS in a telephonic interview from Mumbai: “Be it Bhojpuri, Punjabi or Gujarati films, so many offers have come to me. When the actor is not okay with the language, he or she will not say the lines properly — no matter how much he or she learns them by heart. It doesn’t come from the heart because they don’t know what they are saying.
“That kind of hesitation… you will see in my eyes. I am a transparent kind of a person. Whatever I have done…dialogues or shots, I have done with immense confidence. I said no because I don’t know the language and now I am too old to learn a new language.”
But retirement is not on her mind.
“Why should I even think that? Physically you have to be fit… I know that; but when I am on set, I am full of energy,” said the 68-year-old.
She is thrilled about her short film “Mehram”, which had its digital premiere on ZEE5 on Eid. The film is an emotional drama that revolves around an old Muslim woman who is keen on going on Hajj but faces many obstacles.
“I loved what they narrated. It is saying something so I thought that I might as well do this,” she said.
“I am a Muslim and I believe in what my Quran says. In our film, we have shown this woman who is hell-bent on going on Hajj but there is nobody to go with her. She has even collected money for it,” she said.
The film raises questions about religion and gender.
Personally, she will “never ever go against what my religion has taught me” irrespective of the number of characters she plays on-screen.
“You can’t distort the rules that are laid down. There are reasons behind these rules,” she said.
“Mehram” released on a digital platform and she is happy about it. “It reaches a bigger audience.”
But she believes in the “magic of celluloid”.
“It takes you to another world. I don’t think there is any kind of a replacement for celluloid,” said the actress, known for films like “Bobby”, “Aradhana”, “Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai” and “Student of the Year”.
Farida has often played a mother on the big screen. Has the definition of a mother changed with time in Bollywood?
“It’s gone. Where are the roles? They (current roles) are caricatures of roles that we have done. What would be exciting for me to do such roles all over again? They don’t go into the background of heroes and heroines. It is very rare,” she said.
She has one film, “Batti Gul Meter Chalu”, ready to release next month.
“I like the man who is making it — Shree Narayan Singh. He is very humble. I had seen ‘Toilet: Ek Prem Katha’ and I loved it. He said something so important in a woman’s life and it was a love story. So well done.
“It (her role in ‘Batti Gul…’) is not a meaty or lengthy role at all. It was fun working with Shahid Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor. Such nice people. I play her (Shraddha’s) dadi. I loved doing the film,” said Farida.
Farida is also a popular face on television. She has starred in shows like “Shararat”, “Balika Vadhu” and “Satrangi Sasural”.
“There are so many good offers. But doing a daily soap is not easy. I am first of all a ‘filmwali’. So, I need to give some space to do a film. If I get a film, I will jump on that. If I do a daily soap, it won’t be possible (to do films) because you have to give 20 to 25 days of a month.
“I don’t want to commit myself totally to television. I won’t do that. Films will always be my priority. I am ‘filmwali’ to the core,” she signed off.
Source: business-standard
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