Farida Jalal

Farida Jalal (born Farida Sami; 18 May 1950) is an Indian actress who primarily worked in Hindi films. In a film career spanning almost fifty years, Jalal appeared in over 200 films. Best known for her character-driven roles in independent cinema and supporting work in mainstream Bollywood productions, Jalal has received such accolades as four Filmfare Awards and two Bengal Film Journalists Association Awards.^[1]

Farida Jalal
Jalal at the 2024 premiere of Heeramandi
Born	Farida Sami (1950-05-18) 18 May 1950 (age 74) Bombay, Maharashtra
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1967–present
Spouse	Tabrez Barmavar ​ ​ (m. 1978; died 2003)​
Children	1

Jalal started her career with Taqdeer (1967). She went on to play leading and supporting roles in numerous motion pictures through the 1970s and early 80s. She is widely remembered for her roles in Aradhana (1969), Paras (1971), Henna (1991) and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), the last three of which garnered the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. She became a household name after portraying motherly roles and strong female characters in the 1990s and the early 2000s. She has also won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics) for her role in Mammo (1994). She won the Best Actress Award at the 2012 Harlem International Film Festival for her role in A Gran Plan (2012).^[2]

She has also worked in numerous shows on Indian television alongside her work in films. Some of her notable works are the sitcom Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, Dekh Bhai Dekh, and Shararat.

Career

Farida Jalal, who was born on 18 May 1950 in Bombay,^[3] started her career in the 1960s when she won the United Film Producers Talent Hunt sponsored by Filmfare in 1965. She, along with Rajesh Khanna was chosen as a finalist and both were presented on stage as winners at the Filmfare Awards function. She got her first film offer for Taqdeer from Tarachand Barjatya who happened to be in the audience.^[4] In an interview in 2014, she said, when asked her about the initial part of her career: "I started my acting career when I was just out of my school St Joseph's Convent in Panchgani, in a film called Taqdeer. I took part in a talent contest and even won. Kaka (Rajesh Khanna) and I were the finalists. How was I to know that I'd soon be doing a film Aradhana with him?".^[5]

She usually played the sister or rejected fiancée of the male lead. When asked as to how she started getting typecast as a hero's sister, she quoted in an interview: "It all started with Gopi where I was offered the greatest Mr Dilip Kumar's sister's role. Forget about refusing, I jumped at the offer. Even if I had the chance to just go and observe him on the set I'd have done it. I love the man. I remember during those days each and every actor was copying Dilip Saab whether it was Dharmendra, Jeetendra, or Manoj Kumar. I was much in demand as Dilip Saab's sister. Every hero wanted the same. Every actor wanted me to play his sister. Sometimes the sister was the film's heroine. The official heroine would just sing her songs, whereas I had all the dramatic scenes. I got my recognition and the awards. In a film called Paras I was Sanjeev Kumar's sister. But I had a lot more to do than Raakhee-di who played the heroine. I got my first award for it. Then I got my second award for Majboor, a film written by Salimbhai and Javedbhai where Bachchan Saab played my brother. It was so heartening. Why would I want to be heroine when I was getting the stronger parts as the sister?"^[5]

During the 1990s, Jalal had a part in many major films, among them Raja Hindustani, Dil To Pagal Hai, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1996. Farida Jalal played the lead in the film Mammo. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi, and Jalal won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics). She acted in many television serials, such as the sitcom Dekh Bhai Dekh.^[6]

In 2003, Jalal starred in Shararat, in which she played a leading role. In 2005, she co-hosted the 50th Filmfare Awards alongside Saif Ali Khan and Sonali Bendre, in Mumbai. In 2008, she made a special appearance in the Punjabi film Yaariyan. Later, she appeared in the soap opera Balika Vadhu.

Personal life

Jalal was married to actor Tabrez Barmavar, who hailed from Bhatkal, Karnataka. She met her husband on the sets of Jeevan Rekha and fell in love in the course of the film and got married in November 1978. The couple moved to Bangalore where her husband had a soap factory business.^[4] They have a son named Yaseen.^[5] Her husband died in September 2003.^[7]

In 2017, she was the victim of a death hoax. There were several fake reports on various websites about her death.^[8]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1967	Taqdeer	Geeta
1968	Baharon ki Manzil
1969	Mahal
	Aradhana[9]	Renu	Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
1970	Puraskar	Reshma
	Naya Raasta	Radha Pratap Singh
	Gopi	Nandini
	Devi	Shobha
1971	Paras	Bela Singh	Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress Bengal Film Journalists Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
	Khoj	Asha
	Amar Prem	Mrs. Nandkishore Sharma
	Pyar Ki Kahani	Lata
1972	Zindagi Zindagi	Shyama
	Rivaaj
	Buniyaad
1973	Heera
	Bobby	Alka Sharma 'Nikki'
	Achanak	Nurse Radha
	Raja Rani	Anita	Uncredited
	Loafer	Roopa (Gopinath's daughter)
1974	Naya Din Nai Raat
	Jeevan Rekha
	Majboor	Renu Khanna	Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress[10]
	Uljhan	Kamla
	Sankalp	Geeta Sehgal
1975	Khushboo	Kusum's friend
	Kala Sona	Bela
	Do Jasoos	Hema Khushalchand
	Dhoti Lota Aur Chowpatty	Rajni
	Dharmatma	Mona
	Aakraman	Asha
1976	Shaque	Mrs. Subramaniam	Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
	Sabse Bada Rupaiya	Bindiya/Shobha
	Koi Jeeta Koi Haara
	Bandalbaaz	Malti
1977	Kasam Khoon Ki	Ganga
	Alaap	Sulakshana Gupta
	Abhi To Jee Lein	The Nun
	Aakhri Goli
	Shatranj Ke Khiladi[11]	Nafisa
	Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein	Chhutki
1978	Naya Daur
	Ganga Ki Saugand	Champa	Guest appearance
1979	Jurmana	Laila	Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
	Dhongee	Geeta Khanna
1980	Patthar Se Takkar
	Chambal Ki Kasam
	Abdullah	Yashoda	Uncredited
1981	Jwala Daku	Sita (Jwala's sister-in-law)
	Yaarana	Mary (Governess)	Uncredited
1983	Salam e Mohabbat
1987	Pushpaka Vimana	Magician's wife	Dialogue-less film
1991	Henna	Bibi Gul	Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
1992	Paayal	Shanti Devi
	Bekhudi	Aunty
	Bandhu	Mausi
	Dil Aashna Hai	Razia
1993	Gardish	Lakshmi (Shiva's mother)
1994	Mammo	Mehmooda Begum Anwar Ali "Mammo"	Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics) Bengal Film Journalists Association Award for Best Actress (Hindi)
	Laadla[12]	Gayetri Verma
	Krantiveer	Mrs. Tilak (Pratap's Mother)
	Elaan	Revati Chaudhry
	Dulaara	Florence
1995	Andolan
	Jawab
	Veergati
	Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge	Lajwanti "Lajjo" Singh	Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
1996	Shastra
	Rajkumar	Panna (Dadi maa)
	Loafer	Janki Kumar
	Dushman Duniya Ka	Manager of women's shelter
	Raja Hindustani	Chachi (Raja's aunt)
	Angaara	Saraswati
	Ajay	Ajay's Mother
1997	Saat Rang Ke Sapne	Yashoda
	Mrityudaata	Mother Ghayal
	Mohabbat	Geeta Kapoor
	Judaai	Kajal's mom
	Zor
	Lahoo Ke Do Rang	Halima
	Ziddi	Jaya's mother
	Dil To Pagal Hai	Ajay's mom
	Aflatoon	Raja's mother
1998	Salaakhen	Vishal's mother
	Duplicate	Mrs. Chaudhary "Bebe"
	Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai	Komal's mother
	Soldier	Shanti Sinha
	Kuch Kuch Hota Hai	Mrs. Khanna (Rahul's mom)
1999	Dil Kya Kare
	Hindustan Ki Kasam	Mother of Ajay and Tauheed
	Khoobsurat	Sudha Chaudhary (Dadiji)
2000	Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai	Lily (Rohit's landlady)
	Hey Ram	Kasturba Gandhi	Simultaneously made in Tamil and Hindi
	Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge	Mrs. Oberoi
	Pukar	Gayetri Rajvansh
	Khauff	Mrs. Jaidev Singh
	Kya Kehna[13]	Rohini Baxi
	Bichhoo	Jeeva's mom
	Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa	Pooja's mother
	Gaja Gamini	Noorbibi
2001	Farz	Rukmani Singh
	Zubeidaa	Mammo
	Chori Chori Chupke Chupke	Asha Malhotra
	Lajja	Mother of Bride
	Moksha: Salvation	Salim's mother
	Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...	Sayeeda/Daijan/DJ
2002	Pyaar Diwana Hota Hai	Mrs. Chaudhary
	The Legend of Bhagat Singh[14]	Vidyavati
	Badhaai Ho Badhaai	Mrs. Chaddha
	Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein[15]	Mangala Vishnupratap Singh
	Deewangee	Mrs. Goyal
2003	Pinjar	Mrs. Shyamlal
	Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai	Jiji
	Kaise Kahoon Ke... Pyaar Hai
	Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon	Mrs. Kapoor
	Jaal: The Trap	Sudha Kaul
	Fun 2shh: Dudes In the 10th Century	Mrs. DiSouza/Hiraka
2004	Garv: Pride and Honour	Mrs. Shakuntala Dixit
	Taarzan: The Wonder Car	Mrs. Chaudhary[16]
2005	Pyaar Mein Twist	Ms. Arya
	Barsaat
2006	Big Brother
	Aryan
2007	Laaga Chunari Mein Daag
2010	Krantiveer – The Revolution (2010)
	Aashayein	Madhu
2011	Love Breakups Zindagi
	Chala Mussaddi... Office Office	Shanti	Special appearance
2012	Chaar Din Ki Chandni[17]	Pammi Kaur
	Student of the Year	Abhimanyu's grandmother
	A Gran Plan	Satvinder Kaur Bedi	Harlem International Film Festival Award for Best Actress
2015	Bezubaan Ishq	Savitri
	Tina Ki Chaabi
	An Untold Story of a Known Irony		Short film
2017	I'm Not A Terrorist	Zabira	Malaysian-Bollywood film
2018	Batti Gul Meter Chalu	Lalita's Grandmother
2020	Jawaani Jaaneman	Jazz's Mother
2021	Lines	Dadi	[18]
TBD	Karmaa Meets Kismet		[19]
2025	Abir Gulaal †	TBA	Post-Production

Television

Year	Series	Role	Notes
1984	Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi	Ranjit's aunt	[20]
1993–1994	Dekh Bhai Dekh	Suhasini
1993–1998	Junoon	Ganga
1994	The Great Maratha	Chimnabai
1995–1996	Beauty Parlour		[22]
1997–1999	Star Yaar Kalakaar	Host	[23]
1997–1998	Daal Mein Kala		[24]
1998	Is Duniya Ke Sitare	Host	[25]
1999	Aashiqui	Shobha	[26]
2003–2006	Shararat	Sushma Mehra	[27]
2005	Hero - Bhakti Hi Shakti Hai	Bebe	Guest[28]
2009–2012	Balika Vadhu	Badi Masiji	[29]
2010	Rishta.com	Ruchika's mother	Guest[30]
2011	Dolly Aunty Ka Dream Villa	Dolly Aunty
2011	Ammaji Ki Galli	Ammaji[31]
2013	Jeannie Aur Juju	Duggu Dadi
2014–2016	Satrangi Sasural	Gomti Devi Vatsal	[21]
2024	Heeramandi	Qudsia Begum	[32]

Web

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2016	Love Shots	Mrs. Chaudhary	Episode 4[33]
2019	Mehram	Muslim woman	Short film[34]
2019	Parchhayee	Ricky's Dadi	[35][36]

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Nominated work	Category	Result	Ref.
Major awards
1971	Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards	Paras	Best Supporting Actress (Hindi)	Won
1996		Mammo	Best Actress (Hindi)	Won
1970	Filmfare Awards	Aradhana	Best Supporting Actress	Nominated
1972		Paras		Won
1976		Majboor		Nominated
1978		Shaque		Nominated
1980		Jurmana		Nominated
1992		Henna		Won
1995		Mammo	Best Actress (Critics)	Won
1996		Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge	Best Supporting Actress	Won
2003	Indian Television Academy Awards	Shararat	Best Actress (Popular)	Nominated
Best Actress – Comedy	Won
2004	Indian Telly Awards		Best Actress in a Comic Role	Nominated
2007				Nominated
1998	People's Choice Awards India	Duplicate	Best Comic Performance	Nominated
		Kuch Kuch Hota Hai	Best Supporting Actress	Nominated
1998	Zee Cine Awards	Dil To Pagal Hai	Best Actress in a Supporting Role	Nominated
1999		Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai		Nominated
Other awards
2012	Harlem International Film Festival	A Gran Plan	Best Actress	Won
2015	Los Angeles Indian Film Festival	An Untold Story of a Known Irony	Best Actress	Won