Neelo is a well known actress from Lahore and mother of the film actor Shaan.

Early life

Neelo was born on 30 June 1941 in Bhera, Sargodha

Sargodha

Sargodha is a city in the Sargodha District of Punjab province, Pakistan.Sargodha is located in the northwest of Pakistan. It is the eleventh largest city of Pakistan and also known as Pakistan's best citrus-producing area. It is an agricultural trade centre with various industries...

. She appeared as an extra standing in a mob scene in Hollywood's Bhowani Junction

Bhowani Junction (film)

Bhowani Junction is a 1956 film adaptation of the 1952 novel Bhowani Junction by John Masters made by MGM. The film was directed by George Cukor and produced by Pandro S...

(1956) which was shot in and around 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...

. A noted director of those days, Shabab Keranvi, rejected her for films when approached for acting as he was not convinced about Neelo's acting skills.

Controversies

During General Ayub Khan's rule in 1965, she was called in for a live dance performance in front of the Shah of Iran

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...

 who paid an official visit 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...

, but she refused to comply with the conditions. Harassed and threatened, Neelo faced dire consequences for refusing to obey orders.

The renowned leftist poet Habib Jalib

Habib Jalib

Habib Jalib was a Pakistani revolutionary poet. A left-wing activist and politician, he was a staunch democrat who opposed martial law, authoritarianism and state oppression.-Early life:...

 expressed his anguish and wrote the poem: "Tu keh na waqfe, adaba-e-shahnshahi hay...". Later this poem was used in film Zarqa with slight changes in the words.

Personal life

Neelo's real name was Cynthia Alexander Fernandes. To perform Muslim marriage ceremony she adopted a name Abida Riaz.

Filmography

1956 Sabira

1957 Anjaam

1957 Bholey Khan

1957 Pasban

1957 Sehti

1957 Saat Laakh

1957 Yakke Wali

1957 Aankh ka Nashah

1958 Akhri nishan

1958 Changez Khan

1958 Darbar

1958 Jan-e-Bahar

1958 Jatti

1958 Kachian Kaliyan

1958 Mumtaz

1958 Nayi Larki

1958 Neya Dour

1958 Sheikh Chilli

1958 Zehr-e-Ishq

1959 Koel

1959 Lalkaar

1959 Lukkan Mitti

1959 Neend

1959 Shama

1959 Shera

1959 Sola aanay

1959 Suchey Moti

1959 Saathi

1959 Yaar Beli

1960 Alladin ka Beti

1960 Ayaz

1960 Insaaf

1960 Khaibar Mail

1960 Manzil

1960 Neelofar

1960 Shehzadi

1960 Street 77

1961 Bara bajje

1961 Subha kahin sham kahin

1962 Azra

1962 Banjaran

1962 Barsaat mein

1962 Darwaza

1962 Dosheeza

1962 Ghoonghat

Ghunghat (1962 film)

Ghunghat is a 1962 Pakistani musical film directed by Khurshid Anwar. The film was selected as the Pakistani entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 36th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee. The film won four awards at the 1962 Nigar Awards.-Cast:* Santosh Kumar as Shahid*...

1962 Husn-o-Ishq

1962 Unche Mehal

1963 Barat

1963 Daaman

1963 Ishq par zor nahin

1963 Kala Aadmi

1963 Mouj Mela

1963 Qatal ke baad

1963 Shikwa

1964 Beti

1964 Daachi

1964 Gehra Daagh

1964 Jugni

1964 Khaibar Pass

1964 Mera Mahi

1964 Nehle peh Dehla

1964 Sher di Bachi

1965 Fareb

1965 Jeedar

1965 Raqasa

1966 Abba Jee

1966 Ann Parh

1966 Badnaam

1966 Chughalkhor

1966 Laado

1966 Mr. Allah Ditta

1966 Naghma.e-Sehra

1966 Nizam Lohar

1966 Pail ki Jhankar

1967 Chattan

1967 Dil da Jani

1967 Neeli Baar

1967 Ravi Paar

1967 Sham svera

1967 Yaar Maar

1968 Jag beeti

1968 Lala Rukh

1968 Paristan

1968 Wohti

1969 Okha Jatt

1969 Zarqa

Zarqa

Az-Zarqāʔ is a city in Jordan located to the northeast of Amman. With a population of more than one million 1000,000. It is the country's second largest city after Amman. Zarqa is the capital of Zarqa Governorate . Its name means "the blue one".- Overview :Zarqa is Jordan's industrial centre, home...

1971 Karishma

1974 Khatarnaak

1975 Athra

1975 Balwant Kour

1975 Dhan jigra Maa da

1975 Heera Phumman

1975 Izzat

1975 Jailor te Qaidi

1975 Mera naa Patey Khan

1975 Rajjo

1975 Sir da badla

1975 Sultana Daku

1975 Watan Iman

1976 Ayyash

1976 Gangu Puttar Maa da

1976 Jatt Kurian toon darda

1976 Khoufnaak

1976 Kil kil mera naa

1976 Pindiwal

1976 Wardat

1977 Ajj dian Kurian

1977 Akhri Goli

1977 Danka

1977 Jurm main keeta si

1977 Malikzada

1977 Mere Badshah

1977 Sadqe teri mout toon

1977 Tera vi jawab nein

1978 Chamman Khan

1978 Gharib da baal

1978 Ghunda

1978 Haidar Daler

1978 Inqalab

1978 Mazi, haal aur mustaqbil

1978 Nazrana

1978 Sharif Shehri

1978 Tax

1979 General Bakht Khan

1979 Mout meri zindgi

1979 Order

1980 Chhotay Nawab

1980 Heera Puttar

1982 Khatra 440

1989 Barood ki Chhaon

1990 Bulandi

1990 Jur'at

External links

• Neelo on IMDB