Actor

Suraiya

Acting

Career Snapshot

Explained

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Acting credits

Established

Large and steady acting portfolio.

TMDB popularity

0.9

Low visibility

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Movies: 39Series: 0Crew credits: 7

TMDB ID: 1428739

IMDb ID: nm0839534

Known for: Acting

Born: June 15, 1929

Died: January 31, 2004

Age: 74

Place of birth: Lahore, Punjab, British India

Gender: Female

Adult content flag: No

Career span: 1941 - 1967

Years active: 27

Wikidata: Q3630336

Also known as

Сурайя

Other jobs

Playback Singer (7)

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Biography

Suraiya Jamal Sheikh (June 15, 1929 – January 31, 2004), known by her mononym Suraiya, was an Indian actress and playback singer who worked in Hindi and Urdu films from 1936 to 1964. Regarded among the finest and most accomplished actresses in the history of Indian cinema, as well as the first female star, she dominated the film industry between mid-to-late 1940s and early 1950s. She was the highest paid film star at the time, being the first to be paid more than her male contemporaries. She was titled "Malika-e-Adakari" (Queen of Acting) and "Malika-e-Husn" (Queen of Beauty). Her status as the first superstar singer-actress of Indian films also earned her the title "Singing Star". Suraiya acted in over 70 films and sang hundreds songs, and even received praises from two Prime Ministers of India. Her enchanting screen presence and mesmerizing glamour has been compared to the likes of Hollywood icons Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner and Ava Gardner.