Zohra Sehgal
Zohra Sehgal | |
---|---|
Born | Sahibzadi Zohra Mumtazullah Khan Begum 27 April 1912 |
Died | 10 July 2014 | (aged 102)
Occupation(s) | Actress, dancer, choreographer |
Years active | 1935–2007 |
Spouse |
Kameshwar Nath Segal
(m. 1942; died 1959) |
Children | 2, including Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (2004) (2010)Padma Vibhushan |
Zohra Mumtaz Sehgal (born Sahibzadi Zohra Mumtazullah Khan Begum; 27 April 1912 – 10 July 2014) was an Indian actress, dancer, and
Sehgal's most notable films include
Sehgal was awarded the
Early life and family
Zohra Begum Mumtazullah Khan was born on 27 April 1912 in
Following the death of her mother at an early age, Sehgal and her sisters were enrolled at the Queen Mary College, Lahore. Strict purdah was observed at the institute, and men invited to give lectures and seminars were only allowed to do so from behind a screen.[7] Having witnessed her sister's failed marriage, Sehgal decided against getting married herself.[8][9] Upon graduating, her maternal uncle, Sahebzada Saeeduzzafar Khan, who was based in Edinburgh,[10] arranged for her to apprentice under a British actor. They started from Lahore by car and, en route, crossed Iran and Palestine, before reaching Damascus, Syria, where she met her cousin. Then they travelled into Egypt and caught a boat to Europe in Alexandria.[11]
In Europe, Sehgal's aunt encouraged her to enrol in Mary Wigman's ballet school in Dresden, Germany. Sehgal passed the entrance test without much prior experience in the dance form, and became the first Indian to study at the institution.[12] She stayed in Dresden for the next three years studying modern dance, while living in the house of Countess Liebenstein. A significant turning point came in her life when she met Uday Shankar at a performance of the Shiv-Parvati ballet, which he had choreographed. Shankar promised her a job on her return to India at the completion of her course.[13]
Career
Shankar contacted Sehgal through a
The two continued to work at the Cultural Centre and established themselves as leading choreographers. During their time in Almora, Kameshwar Sehgal composed a noted ballet for human puppets and choreographed the ballet Lotus Dance.
Also in 1945, Sehgal joined the theatre group,
During her stay in Bombay, Sehgal became friends with several theatre and film personalities. She continued her association with theatre, appearing in successful productions including
After her husband's death in 1959, Sehgal moved to Delhi and was appointed as the director of the newly founded Natya Academy. She worked in the same position for about three years. Later in 1962, Sehgal was awarded a drama scholarship, which required her to move to London, United Kingdom. She briefly worked as a dance instructor at a Chelsea-based school run by Bharatanatyam dancer Ram Gopal.[19] Following that, Sehgal made her television debut with a BBC adaptation of a Kipling story The Rescue of Pluffles, in 1964. She went on to appear in one episode of science fiction fantasy series Doctor Who during 1965; the episode that Sehgal worked in, however, is currently lost.[20] She also anchored 26 episodes of BBC TV series, Padosi (Neighbours; 1976–77).[21]
Sehgal's first film role came in 1982, when she was signed by
Return to India
Sehgal returned to India in the mid-1990s and lived for a few months in Burdwan. At that time she acted in several films, plays and TV series. She first performed poetry at a memorial to Uday Shankar organised by his brother,
In 1993, the critically acclaimed play Ek Thi Nani was staged in Lahore for the first time, featuring Zohra and her sister Uzra Butt (who was now staying in Pakistan). A performance of its English version A Granny for All Seasons was held at
In her career she has acted with heroes across generations - Prithviraj Kapoor, Ashok Kumar, Dev Anand, Govinda, Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Ranbir Kapoor.
In 2012, she became the first actor to have appeared on Doctor Who to celebrate their 100th birthday,[original research?] and was also the oldest living actor to have appeared on Doctor Who until 2019, when she was surpassed by Earl Cameron.[original research?]
Personal life
Sehgal married Kameshwar Sehgal, a Hindu, despite some initial reluctance from her father. The ceremony was held on 14 August 1942; Jawaharlal Nehru was to attend the wedding reception, but he was arrested a couple of days earlier for supporting Gandhi's Quit India Movement.[7]
Sehgal had two children; Kiran Segal, who is an Odissi dancer and Pavan Sehgal, who works for the WHO.[27] Kiran Segal, wrote her mother's biography titled Zohra Sehgal: Fatty, which was released in 2012.[28][27]
Death
On 9 July 2014 she was admitted to the Max Hospital in
Sehgal was cremated on 11 July at Lodhi Road crematorium, Delhi.[29][30] She had dictated that upon her death she wanted to be cremated and buried without fuss or problems, and told her family to flush her ashes down the toilet if the crematorium refused to keep them.[31]
Filmography
Acting
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1935 | Romantic India | ||
1943 | Rahgeer | ||
1946 | Neecha Nagar | Bhabi | |
1946 | Dharti Ke Lal | ||
1950 | Afsar | ||
1953 | Fareb | ||
1956 | Heer | ||
1957 | Paisa | ||
1964 | The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling | Fareda / Ameera's mother / Ayah / Mrs. Hauksbee's Ayah | 5 episodes |
1965 | Doctor Who | Sheyrah | Episode: " The Knight of Jaffa"[20]
|
1967 | The Long Duel | Devi | |
1967 | Theatre 625 | Amma | Episode: "55 Columns" |
1968 | The Vengeance of She | Putri | |
1968 | The Expert | Mrs. Singh | Episode: "Miss Daley" |
1969 | The Guru | Mastani | |
1973 | The Regiment | Nanni Ji | Episode: "Women" |
1973 | Tales That Witness Madness | Malia | (segment "Luau") |
1974 | It Ain't Half Hot Mum | Rangi's Mother-in-Law | Episode: "The Road to Bannu" |
1978 | Mind Your Language | Mrs. Singh | Episode: "Many Happy Returns" |
1983 | The Courtesans of Bombay | Maria | |
1984 | The Jewel in the Crown | Lili Chatterjee | 2 episodes |
1985 | Tandoori Nights | ||
1985 | Harem | Affaf | |
1986 | Caravaggio | Jerusaleme's Grandmother | |
1987 | Partition | ||
1987 | Never Say Die | Gajmukhi | 4 episodes |
1989 | Manika, une vie plus tard | Mère de Ranjit | |
1989 | The Bill | Mrs. Gunn | 2 episodes |
1991 | Masala | Grandma | |
1990 | Mulla Nasiruddin | Old Woman / Story Teller | TV Mini-Series |
1992–1994 | Firm Friends | Suvira Bhatia | 8 episodes |
1993 | Bhaji on the Beach | Pushpa | |
1994 | Little Napoleons | Jayaben Shah | 3 episodes |
1995 | Amma and Family | Amma | TV series |
1995 | Ek Tha Rusty
|
TV series | |
1998 | Tamanna | Mrs. Chopra | |
1998 | Dil Se.. | Grandmother | |
1998 | Not a Nice Man to Know | Guest | TV series |
1999 | Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam | Dadi | |
1999 | Dillagi | Ranvir's Grand Mother | |
1999 | Khwaish | Aapa | TV series |
2000 | Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa | Elderly Lady | (in song "Agre Mein Hai Mashoor") |
2001 | Zindagi Kitni Khoobsoorat Hai | Dadi | TV series |
2001 | The Mystic Masseur | Auntie | |
2001 | Landmark | Gran | Short |
2002 | Bend It Like Beckham | Biji | |
2002 | Anita and Me | Nanima | |
2002 | Chalo Ishq Ladaaye | Dadi | |
2003 | Saaya | Sister Martha | |
2003 | Kal Ho Naa Ho | ||
2004 | Kaun Hai Jo Sapno Mein Aaya? | ||
2004 | Veer-Zaara | Bebe | |
2005 | Chicken Tikka Masala | Grandmother | |
2005 | The Mistress of Spices | First Mother | |
2007 | Cheeni Kum | Mrs. Gupta | |
2007 | Saawariya | Lilian Ji aka Lilipop | (final film role) |
Awards
- 1963 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award[32]
- 1998: Padma Shri[33]
- 2001: Kalidas Samman
- 2002: Padma Bhushan[34]
- 2004: Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship
- 2010: Padma Vibhushan[34]
Popular recognition
On 29 September 2020, Google commemorated the anniversary of the release of her 1946 film, Neecha Nagar, (on this day, the film released at the Cannes International Film Festival), with a Doodle. The accompanying write-up says, "Among Sehgal’s notable early work was a role in the film “Neecha Nagar“ ("Lowly City"), which was released on this day in 1946 at the Cannes Film Festival. Widely considered Indian cinema's first international critical success, "Neecha Nagar" won the festival's highest honour: the Palme d’Or prize."[35][36][37][38]
References
- ^ Zohra Sehgal Encyclopædia Britannica.
- ^ "Zohra Sehgal: Naughty in her 90s!", The Times of India, 8 March 2009.
- ^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
- ^ "This Year's Padma Awards announced" (Press release). Ministry of Home Affairs. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
- ^ a b "Actress Zohra Sehgal dies at 102 due to Cardiac Arrest". news.biharprabha.com. Indo-Asian News Service. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
- ^ "Bollywood's 'Laadli of the century' Zohra Sehgal dies at 102". Hindustan Times. 10 July 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
- ^ a b Zohra Sehgal: The drama of life The Times of India, 24 August 2003.
- ^ Zohra Sehgal: ninety years young Daily Times, 8 January 2003.
- ^ "Ninety and spunky"[usurped], The Hindu, 19 December 2002.
- ^ He was the first Indian principal of Lucknow Medical College.[citation needed]
- ^ a b "Grandma of GLEE". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 4 December 2003. Archived from the original on 23 December 2003. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
- ISBN 81-7017-434-1p. 22.
- ^ a b "The dashing dadima: Zohra Sehgal", The Times of India, 8 April 2001.
- ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
- ISBN 81-7017-434-1p. 225
- ISBN 81-250-1341-5. p. 31.
- ISBN 81-7991-066-0pp. 63–64.
- ^ Baazi University of Iowa.
- ISBN 90-5702-043-2p. 26.
- ^ ISBN 0-563-40588-0.
- ^ Zohra Sehgal profile at screenonline.org.uk
- The Telegraph, 3 April 2004.
- ^ "Real life drama: Ek Thi Nani" The Hindu, 14 November 2004.
- UCLA.
- ^ "Zohra Sehgal is ‘Ladli of the Century’", The Hindu, 16 May 2008.
- The Telegraph, 23 December 2006.
- ^ ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
- ^ ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
- ^ Notice of death of Sehgal, ndtv.com. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
- ^ "Zohra Sehgal Dies at 102" India Today, 10 July 2014.
- ^ Kumar, Utpal (12 July 2014). "Zohra Sehgal: The rebel who lived and died on her own terms". India Today. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- ^ Official list of awardees – Drama – Acting Archived 6 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine the Sangeet Natak Akademi Official website.
- ^ Padma Awards- theatre personality Zohra Sehgal and... Rediff.com, 27 January 1998.
- ^ a b "Padma Awards Directory (1954–2013)" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015.
- ^ "Celebrating Zohra Segal". 29 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
- ^ "Zohra Segal".
- ^ "Zohra Sehgal: Google remembers iconic Indian actor, dedicates doodle". Hindustan Times. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
- ^ Dwivedi, Aman (29 September 2020). "Google Pays Tribute To Actress Zohra Sehgal With Special Doodle". NDTV. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
Further reading
- Stages: The Art and Adventures of Zohra Sehgal, by Zohra Sehgal, Joan Landy Erdman. Published by Kali for Women, 1997. ISBN 81-85107-59-9. (autobiography)
- Obituary of Zohra Sehgal —A jewel in the crown of Indian Performing Art.
- Theatre and Activism in the 1940s . Essay by Zohra Sehgal Crossing boundaries, by Geeti Sen. Orient Blackswan, 1998. pp. 31–39. ISBN 81-250-1341-5.
- Shashi Kapoor presents the Prithviwallahs, by ISBN 81-7436-348-3.
External links
- Zohra Sehgal at IMDb
- Zohra Sehgal at Bollywood Hungama
- Obituary of Zohra Sehgal —A jewel in the crown of Indian Performing Art.
- Zohra Segal Filmography at New York Times
- Zohra Sehgal Performing Art Archived 6 December 2021 at the Wayback Machine.
- Zohra Sehgal uncut: Of love, acting & Bloody Mary CNN IBN