Begum Khurshid Mirza
Encyclopedia
Begum Khurshid Mirza (aka Renuka Devi (Hindi
: रेणुका देवी ) ) (1918–89) was a Pakistani television
actress and film actress in the pre-partition era
.
. Her father was a practising lawyer and philanthropist who was keen to bring education and enlightenment to Muslim women. Khurshid grew up in Aligarh and married in 1934 to a police officer Akbar Mirza.
, she acted in few of their films including Bhakti (1939), Badi Didi (1939), Jeevan Prabhat (1937), Bhabhi (1938) and Naya Sansar (1941), under the screen name Renuka Devi. She moved to Lahore
film industry and played leading roles in box-office hits Sahara (1943), Ghulami (1944) and Samrat ChandraGupta (1945). Besides acting, she also used to sing for her films.
She announced her retirement from the Indian film industry in February 1944.
, she migrated to Pakistan
. Several years later when Pakistan Television Corporation
began its transmission and its drama serials started earning household fame, there was a need for professionals to the young media crew. It was a Haseena Moin
's serial, entitled Kiran Kahani, which rediscovered Khurshid. Her performance gained her rave reviews, even though she said in a later interview that it was slightly off-key. The next serial she worked in was Zer Zabar Pesh, also written by Haseena Moin
. Her performance was regarded by many as one of the finest acting performances in that role, and this set the tone for the rest of her acting career.
She remained a character actress for Karachi
television centre and had a dozen of popular series on her credit, including Parchhain, Uncle Urfi
and a special play Massi Sherbate written by Fatima Surayya Bajia
. She retired in 1985, with her last performance coming in Ana. She moved to Lahore
permanently to be with her daughters and their children.
, married life, Indian film industry, migration to Pakistan
, adjusting to Karachi
, and working on television.
The autobiography was originally appeared in Pakistani monthly magazine Herald
as a nine-part serial, from August 1982 to April 1983, under the title The Uprooted Sappling. Later, the collection was compiled in 2005 as a book under the title A woman of substance:
the memoirs of Begum Khurshid Mirza.
as a volunteer helping destitute women. When her husband was transferred to Quetta
, she took charge of an APWA centre for healthcare in a rural area called Ismail Killi. She has also aired programmes on women’s issues on radio.
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
: रेणुका देवी ) ) (1918–89) was a Pakistani television
Pakistan Television Corporation
The Pakistan Television Corporation is Pakistan's national television broadcaster. The first live transmission of PTV began on November 26, 1964, in Lahore...
actress and film actress in the pre-partition era
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
.
Early life
Begum Khurshid Mirza was born as Khurshid Jehan to Sheikh Abdullah and Waheed Jahan Begum, the founders of Aligarh Women’s CollegeAligarh Muslim University
Aligarh Muslim University ,is a residential academic university, established in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan as Mohammedan Angelo-Oriental College and later granted the status of Central University by an Act of the Indian Parliament in 1920...
. Her father was a practising lawyer and philanthropist who was keen to bring education and enlightenment to Muslim women. Khurshid grew up in Aligarh and married in 1934 to a police officer Akbar Mirza.
Film career
Khurshid Mirza’s left the cloistered world of Aligarh and pursued film career in Bombay. Mostly associated with Bombay TalkiesBombay Talkies
The Bombay Talkies Limited was a movie studio produced 102 movies, founded in 1934 in Malad, Bombay , India, by Himanshu Rai, Rajnarayan Dube and Devika Rani along with businessmen like F. E...
, she acted in few of their films including Bhakti (1939), Badi Didi (1939), Jeevan Prabhat (1937), Bhabhi (1938) and Naya Sansar (1941), under the screen name Renuka Devi. She moved to Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
film industry and played leading roles in box-office hits Sahara (1943), Ghulami (1944) and Samrat ChandraGupta (1945). Besides acting, she also used to sing for her films.
She announced her retirement from the Indian film industry in February 1944.
Television career
After the partition of IndiaPartition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
, she migrated to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Several years later when Pakistan Television Corporation
Pakistan Television Corporation
The Pakistan Television Corporation is Pakistan's national television broadcaster. The first live transmission of PTV began on November 26, 1964, in Lahore...
began its transmission and its drama serials started earning household fame, there was a need for professionals to the young media crew. It was a Haseena Moin
Haseena Moin
Haseena Moin is a notable Pakistani dramatist, playwright and writer for radio and television.A native of Kanpur, the most populous city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Hassena Moin received her early education in her ancestral region and, after the partition of India, migrated...
's serial, entitled Kiran Kahani, which rediscovered Khurshid. Her performance gained her rave reviews, even though she said in a later interview that it was slightly off-key. The next serial she worked in was Zer Zabar Pesh, also written by Haseena Moin
Haseena Moin
Haseena Moin is a notable Pakistani dramatist, playwright and writer for radio and television.A native of Kanpur, the most populous city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Hassena Moin received her early education in her ancestral region and, after the partition of India, migrated...
. Her performance was regarded by many as one of the finest acting performances in that role, and this set the tone for the rest of her acting career.
She remained a character actress for Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
television centre and had a dozen of popular series on her credit, including Parchhain, Uncle Urfi
Uncle Urfi
Written by Hasina Moin and directed by Mohsin Ali and Shirin Vaqar Azim, Uncle Urfi was a Pakistan Television Corporation serial drama of early seventies. It was aired in 1972 and had such a powerful appeal that it turned into an instant smasher. It twenty-six 30-minute episodes used to be...
and a special play Massi Sherbate written by Fatima Surayya Bajia
Fatima Surayya Bajia
Fatima Surayya Bajia PP , is a renowned Urdu novelist, playwright and drama writer of Pakistan. She has been awarded various awards at home and abroad including Japan's highest civil award in recognition of her works...
. She retired in 1985, with her last performance coming in Ana. She moved to Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
permanently to be with her daughters and their children.
Literature
Begum Khurshid Mirza penned her autobiography in 1982, which discussed the life of a literary person in British India, journalism education and work in LucknowLucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
, married life, Indian film industry, migration to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, adjusting to Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, and working on television.
The autobiography was originally appeared in Pakistani monthly magazine Herald
Herald (Pakistan)
The Herald is a monthly magazine published in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It is a political magazine owned by Pakistan Herald Publications Limited , which also publishes the Dawn Group of Newspapers. It is considered to be a neutral magazine and produces many large or breaking stories...
as a nine-part serial, from August 1982 to April 1983, under the title The Uprooted Sappling. Later, the collection was compiled in 2005 as a book under the title A woman of substance:
the memoirs of Begum Khurshid Mirza.
Social Works
After migration, Khurshid Mirza worked for the All Pakistan Women’s Association (APWA)All Pakistan Women's Association
The All Pakistan Women's Association, or APWA, as it is commonly known, is a non-profit and non-political Pakistani organization whose fundamental aim is the furtherance of the moral, social and economic welfare of the women of Pakistan....
as a volunteer helping destitute women. When her husband was transferred to Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
, she took charge of an APWA centre for healthcare in a rural area called Ismail Killi. She has also aired programmes on women’s issues on radio.