Zubeida

Acting

Zubeida

Born January 1, 1911 · Surat, Gujarat, India

Died September 21, 1988 · aged 77

Zubeida was a pioneering Indian actress who became a star of the silent film era and is best known for being the leading lady in Alam Ara (1931), the first Indian talkie film. Born in 1911 in Surat, Zubeida was the daughter of Nawab Sidi Ibrahim Muhammad Yakut Khan III and Fatima Begum, an actress who would later become one of India's first female film directors. Zubeida's two sisters, Sultana an…

Known For

Alam AraAlam Ara · 1931
Alam Ara
★ 6.51931
MovieFantasy
A period fantasy that told of the ageing king of Kamarpur, and his two rival queens, Navbahar and Dilbahar, and their rivalry when a fakir predicts that Navbahar will bear the king's heir. Dilbahar unsuccessfully tries to seduce the army chief Adil (Vithal) and vengefully destroys his family, leaving his daughter Alam Ara (Zubeida) to be raised by nomads. Eventually, Alam Ara's nomad friends invade the palace, expose Dilbahar's schemes, release Adil from the dungeon and she marries the prince of the realm.
DevdasDevdas · 1936
Devdas
★ 5.41936
MovieDramaRomance
Devdas, the son of a zamindar, and Parvati, his neighbour's daughter, are childhood sweethearts. However, class and caste differences prevent their marriage. Devdas is sent off to Calcutta, while Paro is married off to an aged rich widower. In Calcutta, as remorse drives him to alcohol, Devdas meets Chandramukhi, a tawaif.
The Black ThiefThe Black Thief · 1925
The Black Thief
★ 8.01925
Movie
An early silent drama centered on a notorious "black thief"
IndrasabhaIndrasabha · 1925
Indrasabha
★ 7.01925
Movie
A silent fantasy film centered on the court of the god Indra. Based on Agha Hasan Lakhnavi's play Indrasabha
ZarinaZarina · 1932
Zarina
★ 8.01932
Movie
An early Indian sound film, Zarina is a dramatic tale featuring Zubeida as a vibrant and passionate circus girl. The film explores a bold romance that reportedly pushed the boundaries of on-screen intimacy for its era, leading to early censorship debates.
Heer RanjhaHeer Ranjha · 1970
Heer Ranjha
★ 7.71970
MovieRomanceMusic
An epic Love story in which two lovers Heer and Ranjha get along with each other but unfortunately their Love story is not easy. Ranjha fights his way to get Heer but he is not able to do so.
Gul-e-BakavaliGul-e-Bakavali · 1924
Gul-e-Bakavali
★ 8.01924
Movie
Based on a popular legend, this silent film tells the story of the fairy Bakavali and her divine flower, the Gul, which possesses healing powers. Taj-ul-Mulk, a prince from the East, seeks the flower to cure his blind father. The legend's origins are debated: one version traces it to a 19th-century translation of a Persian tale, while another points to a 16th-century narrative from Abely Sheikh. The story was a favorite on the Parsee stage, particularly the scenes where Taj-ul-Mulk battles his villainous brothers, who steal the flower. The tale also features Bakavali turning to stone and her eventual human rebirth.
Fairy of PunjabFairy of Punjab · 1933
Fairy of Punjab
★ 8.01933
Movie
A musical romance drama centered on a character known for their beautiful singing from the Punjab region

Filmography

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