Shyama was born Khurshid Akhtar in 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...

, British India on June 7, 1935 (now in 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...

). She was a Bollywood

Bollywood

Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...

 actress. Her best known roles were in Aar Paar

Aar Paar

Aar-Paar is a 1954 Indian Hindi-language film. Directed by Guru Dutt, the film has music by O.P. Nayyar and lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. A light-hearted film , Aar-Paar stars Johnny Walker, Shyama, Shakila, Jagdeep, Jagdish Sethi, Bir Sakuja, Rajendra, Amir Banu, Rashid Khan, M.A...

, Barsaat Ki Raat

Barsaat Ki Raat

Barsaat Ki Raat is a 1960 Bollywood film starring Bharat Bhushan, Madhubala, Shyama, Mumtaz Begum and K.N. Singh. It was directed by P. L. Santoshi....

and Tarana

Tarana (1951 film)

Tarana is a 1951 Hindi movie produced and written by K S Daryani and directed by Ram Daryani. The film stars Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, Shyama and Jeevan. The films music is by Anil Biswas-Plot:...

.

Director Guru Dutt

Guru Dutt

Vasanth Kumar Shivashankar Padukone , popularly known as Guru Dutt, was an Indian film director, producer and actor. He is often credited with ushering in the golden era of Hindi cinema...

 gave her the stage name Shayama by which she is credited in her movies. She had starring roles in Guru Dutt's classic Aar Paar

Aar Paar

Aar-Paar is a 1954 Indian Hindi-language film. Directed by Guru Dutt, the film has music by O.P. Nayyar and lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. A light-hearted film , Aar-Paar stars Johnny Walker, Shyama, Shakila, Jagdeep, Jagdish Sethi, Bir Sakuja, Rajendra, Amir Banu, Rashid Khan, M.A...

 and later in Barsaat Ki Raat

Barsaat Ki Raat

Barsaat Ki Raat is a 1960 Bollywood film starring Bharat Bhushan, Madhubala, Shyama, Mumtaz Begum and K.N. Singh. It was directed by P. L. Santoshi....

 which was perhaps her best performance. She was a major star in the 1950s and 60s and acted in more than 200 movies [ref needed], many in starring roles.

Selected filmography

• Payal Ki Jhankar (1980)
• Khel Khilari Ka (1977) - Mrs. Khairatilal
• Khel Khel Mein (1975)
• Sewak (1975)
• Ajanabee (1974)
• Naya Din Nayi Raat (1974) - Brothel Madame
• Honeymoon (1973) - Laxmi Choudhary
• Prabhat (1973) - Champabai
• Suraj Aur Chanda (1973)
• Gomti Ke Kinare (1972)
• Shaadi Ke Baad (1972) - Basanti's mother
• Zindagi Zindagi (1972) - Meeta's chachi (aunt)
• Kangan (1971)
• Sawan Bhadon (1970)
• Mastana (1970) - Mrs. Dhanraj
• Beti (1969) - Kamla Verma
• Aag (1967)
• Milan (1967)
• Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966) - Mala
• Janwar (1965) - Seema
• Ji Chahta Hai (1964)
• Bahurani (1963) - Nautch girl
• Ghar Basake Dekho (1963)
• Zabak (1961)
• Barsaat Ki Raat (1960) - Shama
• Apna Ghar (1960)
• Duniya Jhukti Hai (1960)
• Chhoti Bahen (1959) - Shobha
• Chandan (1958)
• Lala Rukh (1958)
• Panchayat (1958)
• Taqdeer (1958)
• Bandi (1957) - Shankar's Wife
• Bhabhi
  Bhabhi (1957 film)
  Bhabhi is 1957 Hindi urdu film directed by R Krishnan Raju and S Panju for AVM Productions. The film stars Balraj Sahni, South Indian actress Pandari Bai, Nanda in pivotal roles....
  
   (1957) - Tara
• Hill Station (1957)
• Johnny Walker (1957)
• Mai Baap (1957)
• Mirza Sahiban (1957) - Sahiban
• Sharada (1957) - Chanchal ..... Won, Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award
  Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award
  The Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Awards is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a supporting role...
  
  
• Suvarna Sundari (1957)
• Bhai Bhai (1956)
• Chhoo Mantar (1956) - Sawli
• Makkhee Choos (1956)
• Bhagwat Mahima (1955)
• Khandaan (1955)
• Musafirkhana (1955)
• Aar Paar (1954) - Nikki
• Darwaza (1954)
• Dhoop Chhaon (1954)
• Laadla (1954)
• Majboori (1954)
• Pensioner (1954)
• Pilpili Saheb (1954)
• Savdhan (1954)
• Shart (1954)
• Char Chand (1953)
• Dil-E-Nadan (1953)
• Shyama (1953)
• Suhag Sindoor (1953)
• Thokar (1953)
• Aasmaan (1952)
• Shrimati Ji (1952)
• Sazaa (1951) - Kamini
• Tarana (1951) - Sheela
• Dolti Naiya (1950)
• Jan Pahchan (1950)
• Nili (1950)
• Nishana (1950)
• Naach (1949)
• Patanga (1949)
• Roop Lekha (1949)
• Shabnam (1949)
• Shair (1949)
• Karwane Hayat (1935)

External links