Acting

Khursheed

Born April 14, 1914 · Punjab, India

Died April 18, 2001 · aged 87

Khurshid started her film career way back in the late thirties and was among the two surviving actresses to have shared stellar honours with the renowned singer K.L. Saigal. Suraiya, another popular singer-actress of the forties and fifties, remains the only one now. Irshad Begum in real life, Khurshid had done a number of movies for Ranjeet Movietone and her leading men included Saigol, Motilal, …

Known For

Mumtaz Mahal

Mumtaz Mahal · 1944

MovieHistoryDrama

Mumtaz Mahal tells the story of Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal, tracing their deep love, her death during childbirth, and his grief that leads him to build the Taj Mahal in her memory.

Aage Badho

Aage Badho · 1947

In a tale that dared to challenge tradition, Aage Badho follows the heartbreaking journey of Sarla, a bride whose joy turns to sorrow as she becomes a widow on her wedding day. Trapped in a life of torment by her cruel stepmother, Sarla attempts to end it all, only to be rescued by the compassionate Uday. Can Uday help Sarla defy societal norms and embrace a second chance at love and happiness, marching ahead towards a future free from the shackles of a regressive past?

Musafir

Musafir · 1940

A prince, fresh from his foreign education, returns to find his kingdom plagued by intrigues and rigid traditions. Disillusioned, he decides to venture among the poor in search of genuine love and freedom. During his adventures, he meets a simple village maiden, and they fall in love, leading to a series of thrilling and comedic encounters. The film blends this underlying serious theme with a light-hearted, slapstick comedic approach.

Sitara

A fiery rivalry across two generations of gypsies sparks when a scorned love leads to tragedy. Decades later, a free-spirited young woman, unknowingly caught in the ancestral feud, must reconcile her wild heritage with bourgeois life when a passionate abduction reveals her true lineage and destiny.

Holi

The evil Chand (Motilal) and his rich father Mangaldas (Date) persecute the nice Sunder (Ishwarlal): he kidnaps Sunder's sister Kokila (Khursheed) and frames him for theft. Sunder is jailed. The abducted Kokila succumbs to the villain's charms and her love reforms him. When released, Sunder, unaware of the fact that his enemy has reformed, seeks revenge on the very day that Chand and Kokila are to marry.

Bhakta Surdas

Bhakta Surdas · 1942

MovieHistoryMusic

Surdas, a blind poet, embarks on a spiritual journey. He transforms into a revered saint, dedicating his life to crafting devotional poetry for Lord Krishna.

Chandni

Chandni · 1942

Two identical women, city-bred Chandni and village teacher Devi, swap clothes on a train, leading to their husbands mistakenly taking home the wrong wife. As chaotic domestic lives unfold, their interwoven fates unravel through illness, mistaken affections, and a final public revelation of their switched identities.

Beti

A pampered, sickly child escapes her privileged life, only to encounter a struggling street juggler and his daughter. Their worlds collide, sparking an unlikely romance and a journey through societal divides.

Filmography

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Mumtaz Mahal

Mumtaz Mahal · 1944

MovieHistoryDrama

Mumtaz Mahal tells the story of Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal, tracing their deep love, her death during childbirth, and his grief that leads him to build the Taj Mahal in her memory.

Mumtaz Mahal

Aage Badho

Aage Badho · 1947

In a tale that dared to challenge tradition, Aage Badho follows the heartbreaking journey of Sarla, a bride whose joy turns to sorrow as she becomes a widow on her wedding day. Trapped in a life of torment by her cruel stepmother, Sarla attempts to end it all, only to be rescued by the compassionate Uday. Can Uday help Sarla defy societal norms and embrace a second chance at love and happiness, marching ahead towards a future free from the shackles of a regressive past?

Sarla

Musafir

Musafir · 1940

A prince, fresh from his foreign education, returns to find his kingdom plagued by intrigues and rigid traditions. Disillusioned, he decides to venture among the poor in search of genuine love and freedom. During his adventures, he meets a simple village maiden, and they fall in love, leading to a series of thrilling and comedic encounters. The film blends this underlying serious theme with a light-hearted, slapstick comedic approach.

Sitara

A fiery rivalry across two generations of gypsies sparks when a scorned love leads to tragedy. Decades later, a free-spirited young woman, unknowingly caught in the ancestral feud, must reconcile her wild heritage with bourgeois life when a passionate abduction reveals her true lineage and destiny.

Sitara

Holi

The evil Chand (Motilal) and his rich father Mangaldas (Date) persecute the nice Sunder (Ishwarlal): he kidnaps Sunder's sister Kokila (Khursheed) and frames him for theft. Sunder is jailed. The abducted Kokila succumbs to the villain's charms and her love reforms him. When released, Sunder, unaware of the fact that his enemy has reformed, seeks revenge on the very day that Chand and Kokila are to marry.

Kokila (as Khursheed)

Bhakta Surdas

Bhakta Surdas · 1942

MovieHistoryMusic

Surdas, a blind poet, embarks on a spiritual journey. He transforms into a revered saint, dedicating his life to crafting devotional poetry for Lord Krishna.

Chintamani

Chandni

Chandni · 1942

Two identical women, city-bred Chandni and village teacher Devi, swap clothes on a train, leading to their husbands mistakenly taking home the wrong wife. As chaotic domestic lives unfold, their interwoven fates unravel through illness, mistaken affections, and a final public revelation of their switched identities.

Chandni/Devi

Beti

A pampered, sickly child escapes her privileged life, only to encounter a struggling street juggler and his daughter. Their worlds collide, sparking an unlikely romance and a journey through societal divides.

Kiran

Shahenshah Babar

Shahenshah Babar · 1944

Shahenshah Babar

Following his conquest of India, Emperor Babar faces a crisis of loyalty among his troops and nobles. His most devoted subject, Sardar Sheikh, faces a dilemma when his daughter, Hamida, falls in love with Prince Humayun. Sheikh sends Hamida away, prompting Babar to intervene. However, a great sacrifice is ultimately demanded of the Emperor to save his son and reconcile the conflict.

Hamida

Pardesi

Pardesi · 1941

An earthquake separates wealthy siblings Premnath and Mala, leaving Premnath with amnesia and in love with beggar girl Mira. As Mala seeks to reunite with her brother, the film questions whether true love can bridge societal divides.

Mira

Laila Majnu

Laila Majnu · 1931

A romantic tragedy where two earnest lovers Laila and Majnu couldn't succeed in their love and meet their demise eventually.

Jaag Utha Insaan

Jaag Utha Insaan · 1966

Jaag Utha Insaan

A Pakistani Classic movie about freedom fighters, starring Muhammad Ali, Waheed Murad, Firdous, and Zeba.

Playback Singer

As You Please

As You Please · 1939

An everyday man, Govindlal (secretly wealthy Seth Bansilal), wins a Kashmir trip in a crossword puzzle, as does unemployed Sumant. They land in the same hotel, leading to a hilarious room mix-up. As Sumant and Bansilal's niece Shashi fall for each other amidst comic blunders, a blackmail plot by another guest, Manjri, adds to the chaos.

Manjri

Meri Zindagi Hay Naghma

Meri Zindagi Hay Naghma · 1972

Meri Zindagi Hay Naghma

MovieRomanceMusic

Film starring Rangeela and Sangeeta.

Playback Singer

Moorti

A sculptor falls for an amnesiac woman found after a bombing, whose strange behavior hides a past that threatens their unconventional romance and a brewing love triangle.

Anami

Shadi

A devoted traditional wife heals her ailing husband, only for him to abandon her for a dancing girl. Can a modern, educated woman's revolutionary ideas mend the broken marriage and restore love?

Shobha

Tansen

Renowned, talent singer Tansen is settled in a small village. He has a lover whom he loves madly namely Tani. His singing talent pampers everyone in his village namely the animals, the Maharaja's and other living organisms.

Tani

Babul

Two fathers, one poor and the other rich, hope that a wealthy postmaster will wed one of their daughters.

Munshi's Wife

Phoolwari

Phoolwari · 1946

A spoiled heiress scorns all suitors until a welfare officer's blunt honesty forces her to confront her arrogance. A misunderstanding nearly derails their engagement, sending her on a journey of regret and redemption to reunite with the man who changed her.

Lali

Imaan Farosh

Imaan Farosh · 1937

A social drama or a moralistic tale exploring themes of betrayal, disloyalty, or a crisis of faith/principles

Prabhu Ka Ghar

Prabhu Ka Ghar · 1946

A story centered on a village girl named Alka, whose character exhibits contradictory traits and possibly a violent nature. Her life intersects with other village inhabitants, including Nanda, and a figure described as a "ruthless dacoit" who undergoes a transformation into a "dacoit-devotee" and is involved in an unusual burial ritual. The narrative attempts to weave in themes related to divinity and spiritual protest through these characters and events.

Alka

Meri Aankhen

Meri Aankhen · 1939

Film starring Khursheed and Sitara Devi