Asha Parekh Biography, Movies Age, Net Worth, Awards, Songs

Biography

Asha Parekh is a retired Indian actress film director and producer who has appeared in a number of commercially successful films over the course of her career. She was the highest-paid actress of her generation and one of the most successful in the 1960s and 1970s. 

She is regarded as one of the most influential actresses in Hindi cinema history. The Government of India awarded her the Padma Shri in 1992 for her contributions to the field of cinema and she was also given the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2020.

Age

Asha Parekh's age is 81 as of 2023. Asha Parekh was born in a middle-class Gujarati family on the 2nd of October 1942 in Bangalore India. Her zodiac sign is Libra.

Childhood

Asha Parekh began studying Indian classical dance at a young age. In the film, Aasmaan a Jubilee girl made her Bollywood debut as a child artiste. Bimal Roy cast her in his film Baap Beti after seeing her dance at a stage show.

The film bombed at the box office and Asha was so disappointed that she left the film industry after a few more films as a child actor and returned to school.

Family

Sudha aka Salma Parekh's mother was a Dawoodi Bohra Shia Gujarati Muslim and her father was a Hindu Gujarati. Her mother enrolled her in Indian classical dance classes when she was a child and she studied with a variety of teachers including Pandit Bansilal Bharati.

Boyfriend

Nasir Hussain

Parekh has remained unmarried claiming that her unapproachable reputation has made people hesitant to ask for her hand in marriage. In her memoir The Hit Girl, she confirmed rumours that she was romantically involved with married director Nasir Hussain but she couldn't marry him out of respect for both their families. 

Previously Parekh would only say that she had a long-term boyfriend but would not elaborate only saying that it was nice while it lasted. She claimed she had not seen Nasir Hussain in the last year of his life because he had become reclusive following the death of his wife but she did speak to him the day before he died in 2002.

She was about to marry an Indian professor living in America but he refused to give up his girlfriend so she cancelled their wedding plans. She had also attempted to adopt a child but he was born with birth defects and the doctors refused to allow her to adopt him.

Top 10 Movies of Asha Parekh

Maa

Maa is a 1952 Bombay Talkies Hindi-language social family drama directed by Bimal Roy. Bimal Roy was summoned from Calcutta to direct the film for the studio which was in financial distress. Leela Chitnis an earlier Bombay Talkies favourite was cast in the titular role of Mother. 

Roy directed his first film in Bombay. Later he would form his own production company Bimal Roy Productions. The following year he produced and directed his first film under his new banner Do Bigha Zameen (1953).

Dil Deke Dekho

PlayDil Deke Dekho is a 1959 Hindi romantic comedy film in India. After Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957) which became a big hit and gave star Shammi Kapoor a new image as a comedic dancing hero this was Nasir Hussain's second film as a director. 

With this film Hussain and Kapoor reunited. Asha Parekh a former child actress also made her film debut as a heroine in this. This is also Usha Khanna's first film as a composer.

The film was a box office success. Hussain Kapoor and Parekh reunited for Teesri Manzil (1966) which was also a big hit. Hussain would also cast Parekh in five other films as the leading lady. 

Shammi Kapoor had stated that he had initially wanted Waheeda Rehman to play his leading lady in the film and that the role had also been offered to actress Sadhana but the producer had already signed Asha Parekh and he encouraged her during filming. Asha's 17th birthday coincided with the release of the film.

Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai

Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai is a 1961 Bollywood musical comedy film that was a box office success. Nasir Hussain wrote produced and directed the film. It was the first film Hussain ever made and it starred Dev Anand and Hussain regular Asha Parekh. Pran played the antagonist in the film and Rajindernath played a supporting role.

Hussain would use elements from this film in a later film Teesri Manzil (1966). This was also the only time he used Shankar Jaikishan as a music director and Dev Anand as a lead actor. Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar provided the background vocals.

Shammi Kapoor revealed in 2010 that Nasir Hussain had boldly offered him the film. Kapoor declined the role because he was dissatisfied with his demeanour. However, he believes Hussain may have used this as an excuse because he had already signed Dev Anand.

Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon

Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon is a 1963 Hindi-language film in India. The film became a box office smash. After the success of Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, this was Nasir Hussain's second production (his first in colour) (1961). It was also written and directed by him. It starred Joy Mukherjee and Asha Parekh a regular on Nasir Hussain's show. Pran played the villain and Rajindernath played a supporting role. It also includes many songs beautifully sung by Mohammed Rafi.

Many super-hit songs were featured in the film including the classic Dekho Bijli Dole Bin Badal Ki sung by Asha Bhosle and Usha Mangeshkar. It also included rhythmic solo melodies like Aankhon Se Jo Utri Hai Dil Mein Mujhe Pyar Mein Tum Na Ilzam Dete and Mujhe Pyar Mein Tum Na Ilzam Dete.

Teesri Manzil

Teesri Manzil is a 1966 Indian musical thriller film directed and produced by Vijay Anand. Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh starred in it as did Laxmi Chhaya Premnath Prem Chopra Iftekhar Helen K. N. Singh and Salim Khan. The film was a box office success. 

With the music and songs breaking records this film is regarded as one of R.D. Burman's best offerings and one of his early breakthroughs. The DVD and VCD versions of the film run for 145 minutes while the theatrical version runs for 175 minutes. 

Between Ruby's jealous sniping at minute 76 and Mohammed Rafi's song Dekhiye Sahiban Woh Koi Aur Thi approximately 30 minutes of footage is missing. The film was a success and is still widely seen today. 

Even though it is a murder mystery it continues to draw repeat viewers despite the fact that the identity of the murderer is no longer a mystery. Shammi last appeared in a Nasir Hussain film Teesri Manzil. Asha would go on to star in three of the remaining four films.

Hussain and Vijay never collaborated again after Teesri Manzil. Hussain would return to directing all of his films and would only hand over the helm to his son after three of his films flopped in the 1980s. Salim Khan appeared in the musical number Oh Haseena Zulfon Waali as Shammi Kapoor's musician friend who pretends to be Rocky

Upkar

Manoj Kumar directed the 1967 Indian Hindi film Upkar. In 1967 the film dominated the box office. Manoj Kumar made his directorial debut with this film. Then India's Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri suggested that Kumar create a film about our farmers and soldiers. 

It was the year's highest-grossing film. It is regarded as a classic film. The film set against the backdrop of the 1965 war praised village life farmers' and soldiers' contributions to the nation. It received accolades for its story photography songs lyrics and acting. 

Asha Parekh as a doctor promoting family planning Kamini Kaushal and Pran in his first positive character role also appear in the film.

Pyar Ka Mausam

Pyar Ka Mausam is a 1969 Indian Hindi-language musical romance film produced by Nasir Hussain. The film was written produced and directed by Hussain.

It starred Shashi Kapoor and Asha Parekh a Nasir Husain regular. It also featured Bharat Bhushan Nirupa Roy Madan Puri Tahir Hussain and Rajendranath another Nasir Husain regular. Nasir's nephew Faisal Khan then three years old plays Shashi Kapoor's character as a child.

The memorable songs were written by two more Husain regulars: lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri and music composer R.D. Burman. Homi Mullan played the musical instrument duggi in the song Ni sultana re. R.D. Burman also appeared in the film as an actor. The film went on to become a Silver Jubilee hit.

Kati Patang

Shakti Samanta produced and directed the 1971 Indian Hindi-language musical drama film Kati Patang. It was a box office hit. The film stars Asha Parekh as a woman pretending to be a widow and follows her through her trials and tribulations with her charming neighbour Rajesh Khanna. Parekh's performance as Madhavi was widely praised and she received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.

Nazir Hussain Bindu Prem Chopra Daisy Irani and Sulochana Latkar also appear in the film. The film was the second in a series of nine on which Samanta and Khanna worked together. R.D. Burman composed the music which was a huge hit. Kishore Kumar's songs Ye Shaam Mastani and Pyaar Deewana Hota Hai were particularly well-known.

The performances of Parekh and Khanna were lauded by both the audience and the critics. The film was one of Khanna's 17 consecutive hits between 1969 and 1971 and it was the second of four films in which he worked with Parekh. Later the film was remade in Tamil as Nenjil Oru Mul (1981) and in Telugu as Punnami Chandrudu (1987).

Dharm Aur Qanoon

Rajesh Khanna Dharmendra Vinod Mehra Jaya Prada Asha Parekh and Danny Denzongpa star in the 1984 crime thriller Dharm Aur Qanoon with Supriya Pathak Manmohan Krishna Iftekhar and Om Shivpuri in supporting roles.

It grossed 6.5 crores at the box office in 1984 and the film was both a commercial and critical success in India.
 
Dharm Aur Qanoon was a remake of director Joshiy's Malayalam film Aarambham which was released on September 1, 1982. With an ensemble cast, Aarambham was the highest-grossing film in Malayalam in 1982.

That same year the film was remade in Tamil as Ezhuthatha Sattangal ('Unwritten Laws ' directed by K. Shankar.

Sagar Sangam

Sagar Sangam is a Hindi-language film from 1988. It was a family drama with a long delay in release. The film was announced in 1985 and the soundtrack was released in 1986.

Raakhee Asha Parekh Shatrughan Sinha Mithun Chakraborty Padmini Kolhapure Anita Raj Nana Patekar Johnny Walker Prem Chopra and Utpal Dutt are among the cast members. Bappi Lahiri composed the music.

Ganga's husband is charged with robbery and sentenced to prison while outside the court a conman kidnaps her son and goes to sell it to Chagganlal but his wife Yashoda adopts the son because she believes they are childless as a result of Chagganlal's crimes which force children to beg.

Career Timeline

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Net Worth

The total net worth of Asha Parekh is $23.5 million.

Social Work

Parekh now focuses on her dance academy Kara Bhavan. She has a hospital named after her in Santacruz Mumbai called BCJ Hospital and Asha Parekh Research Centre to which she donated funds for the medical and surgical wings. She claimed that the hospital had been closed and reopened several times.

Awards Won by Asha Parekh

• In 2002 Parekh received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award. 
• Other Lifetime Achievement Awards Asha has received include the Kalakar Award in 2004 the International Indian Film Academy Awards in 2006 the Pune International Film Festival Award in 2007 and the Ninth Annual Bollywood Award in Long Island New York in 2007.
• The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry honoured her with the Living Legend Award (FICCI)
• Asha Parekh Won – Gujarat State Award for Best Actress for Akhand Saubhagyavati 
• Ash Parekh Won – Filmfare Award for Best Actress for Kati Patang

16 Interesting Facts about Asha Parekh

• Bimal Roy saw her dance at a stage performance and cast her in the 1954 film 'Baap Beti' when she was twelve years old.
• She quit acting after a couple of child roles to return to school.
• She attempted to make her debut as a heroine when she was 16 years old. However in Vijay Bhatt's 1959 film 'Goonj Uthi Shehnai ' she was rejected because she was not star material. Eight days later Nasir Hussain cast her in his film 'Dil Deke Dekho' opposite Shammi Kapoor catapulting her to stardom.
• Nasir Hussain cast her in six more of his films.
• She also worked as a distributor for Nasir Hussain's films for 21 years.
• In most of her films, she became a symbol of glamour an excellent dancer and tomboy. She did, however, play serious roles in three of her favourite films: 'Do Badan' (1966) 'Chirag' (1969) and 'Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki' (1970). (1978).
• She appeared in three Gujarati language films including the hugely successful 'Akhand Saubhagyavati' (1963).
• She also appeared in a few Punjabi films including 'Kankan De Ohle' (1971) in which she co-starred with Dharmendra and the hit Kannada film Sharavegada Saradara (1989).
• She began playing supporting roles in films after playing the lead roles of Bhabhi (sister-in-law) and Mother. She did however describe it as a awkward phase of her career.
• She established the production company 'Akruti ' which produced serials such as 'Baaje Payal ' 'Palash Ke Phool ' 'Kora Kagaz ' and a comedy serial 'Daal Me Kaala.'
• She was President of the Cine Artists' Association from 1994 to 2000.
• She was a judge on the 9X Channel's reality show 'Tyohaar Dhamaaka' in 2008.
• She remained unmarried her entire life. However, in an interview, she revealed that she had a long-term boyfriend but declined to elaborate.
• After her mother died Asha sold her bungalow and moved into a smaller house to care for her ailing father who died later.
• She is currently focused on her dance academy 'Kara Bhavan ' and the Asha Parekh Hospital (named in her honour) in Santa Cruz Mumbai.
• Salman Khan published her autobiography 'The Hit Girl ' in 2017 (co-written with Khalid Mohammed).

Profile Summary