Nargis
Hindi film actress best known for Mother India
- Lived
- 51 yrs
- 1929 – 1981
- Works listed
- 6
- Film
- Honours
- 3
- Most recent 1968
- Profile views
- 1
- 0 followers
Nargis was one of the leading actresses of Hindi cinema’s golden age. Her role as Radha in Mother India (1957), the first Indian film nominated for an Academy Award, is one of the most iconic performances in Indian film. She died in 1981.
Biography
Early life
Nargis was born Fatima Rashid; her mother, Jaddanbai, was a singer and one of the first women composers and producers in Indian cinema. She appeared as a child in Talashe Haq (1935) and played her first leading role at fourteen in Mehboob Khan’s Taqdeer (1943).
With Raj Kapoor
She and Raj Kapoor starred together in sixteen films, including Barsaat (1949), Awaara (1951), Shree 420 (1955) and Chori Chori (1956), forming one of the most celebrated screen couples in Indian cinema. Andaz (1949), with Dilip Kumar, was another major success.
Mother India
As Radha, a poor village woman who raises her sons through hardship in Mehboob Khan’s Mother India (1957), she gave the performance for which she is best remembered. The film was India’s first submission to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and she won the Filmfare Best Actress award. In 1958 she became the first film actress to receive the Padma Shri.
Later life
During the making of Mother India, co-star Sunil Dutt is said to have saved her from a fire on set; they married in 1958, and their son is actor Sanjay Dutt. She largely left films, though Raat Aur Din (1967) won her the first National Film Award for Best Actress. She worked for spastic children, was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1980 and died of cancer on 3 May 1981.
Timeline
-
1929
Born in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Kolkata)
-
1943
First leading role in Taqdeer
-
1949
Barsaat and Andaz
-
1951
Awaara
-
1955
Shree 420
-
1957
Mother India
-
1958
Padma Shri; marries Sunil Dutt
-
1968
First National Film Award for Best Actress
For Raat Aur Din.
-
1980
Nominated to the Rajya Sabha
-
1981
Dies of cancer
-
1981
Died, aged 51
Notable works
-
1949
Barsaat Film
-
1949
Andaz Film
-
1951
Awaara Film
-
1955
Shree 420 Film
-
1957
Mother India Film
-
1967
Raat Aur Din Film
Awards and honours
-
Filmfare Award for Best Actress
1958 · Mother India.
-
Padma Shri
1958
-
National Film Award for Best Actress
1968 · Raat Aur Din.
Did you know?
-
1
She was the first film actress to receive the Padma Shri.
-
2
A National Film Award for films on national integration is named after her.
-
3
Her son Sanjay Dutt became a film star.
Connections
Frequently asked
Who is Nargis?
Nargis was one of the leading actresses of Hindi cinema’s golden age. Her role as Radha in Mother India (1957), the first Indian film nominated for an Academy Award, is one of the most iconic performances in Indian film. She died in 1981.
When did Nargis die?
Nargis died on 3 May 1981 at the age of 51.
Where is Nargis from?
Nargis was born in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Kolkata).
What is Nargis known for?
Nargis is best known for Barsaat, Awaara, Shree 420, Mother India.
What awards has Nargis received?
Notable honours include Filmfare Award for Best Actress (1958), Padma Shri (1958), National Film Award for Best Actress (1968).
Who is Nargis married to?
Spouse: Sunil Dutt (m. 1958).
References
- Nargis — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Nargis — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Nargis — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Nargis (Q159169) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Nargis”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
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About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 27 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Nargis.” TrackFame, last updated 28 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/nargis
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