Asha Parekh is an Indian film actress, director, producer and trained classical dancer, widely regarded as one of the leading female stars of Hindi cinema during the 1960s and early 1970s. Known for her work in light romances, family dramas and dance-oriented roles, she appeared in a long line of commercially successful films and was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1992 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest cinematic honour, in 2020 (for the year 2020).
Key Facts
| Full name | Asha Parekh |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 October 1942, Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actress, director, producer, classical dancer |
| Years active | 1952 onwards (as child artiste); lead roles from 1959 |
| Debut as lead | Dil Deke Dekho (1959) |
| Notable honours | Padma Shri (1992); Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2020) |
| Public office | Chairperson, Central Board of Film Certification (1998–2001) |
| Dance training | Indian classical dance, including Bharatanatyam and Kathak |
Background and Early Life
Asha Parekh was born on 2 October 1942 in Bombay (now Mumbai). Her father, Bachubhai Parekh, was a Gujarati Hindu, and her mother, Sudha Parekh, was a Bohra Muslim, making her household notably interfaith. She trained extensively in Indian classical dance from a young age and gave stage performances as a child, which brought her to the attention of filmmakers.
She first appeared on screen as a child artiste in the early 1950s. Director Bimal Roy cast her in Maa (1952), and she also featured in Baap Beti (1954). After a brief gap during which she focused on schooling and dance, she returned to films as an adult lead.
Film Career
Rise to stardom
Filmmaker Sashadhar Mukherjee of Filmalaya cast her opposite Shammi Kapoor in Dil Deke Dekho (1959), directed by Nasir Hussain. The film was a major success and launched her as a leading lady. Her partnership with Nasir Hussain proved especially fruitful; she went on to star in several of his productions and directorial ventures, including Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai (1961), Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963), Teesri Manzil (1966), Pyar Ka Mausam (1969) and Caravan (1971).
Peak years
Through the 1960s, Asha Parekh became one of the highest-paid female stars in Hindi cinema, often billed for her dancing skills as much as her acting. Notable films from this period include:
- Ghoonghat (1960)
- Bharosa (1963)
- Ziddi (1964)
- Mere Sanam (1965)
- Love in Tokyo (1966)
- Do Badan (1966)
- Aaye Din Bahar Ke (1966)
- Upkar (1967)
- Shikar (1968)
- Kanyadaan (1968)
- Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke (1969)
- Chirag (1969)
- Kati Patang (1970)
Her performance in Kati Patang (1970), directed by Shakti Samanta and based on a Gulshan Nanda novel, earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. The film, in which she played a young widow, marked a shift towards more dramatic roles.
Later work and television
From the mid-1970s, she gradually reduced her output as a heroine and moved into character roles, including in Kaalia (1981) and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978). In the 1990s she turned to direction and production for television, producing serials in Gujarati and Hindi through her banner Akruti, including Jyoti, Palash Ke Phool, Baaje Payal and Kora Kagaz.
Other Roles
Asha Parekh served as Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), India's film certification body, from 1998 to 2001 — the first actress to hold the post. She has long been active in dance, running a dance academy named Kara Bhavan, and has performed and toured extensively as a classical dancer. She has also been associated with charitable work in healthcare, including a hospital in Santacruz, Mumbai, that bears her name.
In 2017, her autobiography The Hit Girl, co-written with film journalist Khalid Mohamed, was published.
Awards and Honours
- Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kati Patang (1971)
- Padma Shri, Government of India (1992)
- Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (2002)
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2020), conferred in 2022
Significance
Asha Parekh's career is regarded as emblematic of the glamorous, song-and-dance-driven Hindi cinema of the 1960s. Her collaborations with Nasir Hussain helped define the template of the youthful musical romance, while later roles in films such as Do Badan and Kati Patang demonstrated dramatic range. Her tenure at the CBFC and her continued work in dance and philanthropy have extended her public profile well beyond her film career.
Personal Life
Asha Parekh has remained unmarried. She has spoken in interviews and in her autobiography about her decision to focus on her career and family responsibilities, and about her long association with the film fraternity in Mumbai.
Related Topics
- Hindi Cinema
- Nasir Hussain
- Shammi Kapoor
- Shakti Samanta
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award
- Padma Shri
- Central Board of Film Certification
- Filmfare Awards
- Kati Patang
- Teesri Manzil
References
- Parekh, Asha; Mohamed, Khalid. The Hit Girl: An Autobiography. Om Books International, 2017.
- Government of India, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting – announcements of the Padma Shri (1992) and Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2020).
- Filmfare Awards official records.
- Central Board of Film Certification – list of past chairpersons.