Farida Jalal

Farida Jalal (; born Farida Sami; 18 May 1950) is an Indian actress who has primarily worked in Hindi films. In a film career spanning almost fifty years, Jalal appeared in over 200 films. Best known for her character-driven roles in independent cinema and supporting work in mainstream Bollywood productions, Jalal has received such accolades as four Filmfare Awards and two Bengal Film Journalists Association Awards.

Jalal started her career with Taqdeer (1967). She went on to play leading and supporting roles in numerous motion pictures through the 1970s and early 80s. She is widely remembered for her roles in Aradhana (1969), Paras (1971), Henna (1991) and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), the last three of which garnered the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. She became a household name after portraying motherly roles and strong female characters in the 1990s and the early 2000s. She has also won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics) for her role in Mammo (1994). She won the Best Actress Award at the 2012 Harlem International Film Festival for her role in A Gran Plan (2012).

She has also worked in numerous shows on Indian television alongside her work in films. Some of her notable works are the sitcom Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, Dekh Bhai Dekh, and Shararat.

Career Farida Jalal, who was born on 18 May 1950 in Bombay, started her career in the 1960s when she won the United Film Producers Talent Hunt sponsored by Filmfare in 1965. She, along with Rajesh Khanna was chosen as a finalist and both were presented on stage as winners at the Filmfare Awards function. She got her first film offer for Taqdeer from Tarachand Barjatya who happened to be in the audience. In an interview in 2014, she said, when asked her about the initial part of her career: "I started my acting career when I was just out of my school St Joseph's Convent in Panchgani, in a film called Taqdeer. I took part in a talent contest and even won. Kaka (Rajesh Khanna) and I were the finalists. How was I to know that I'd soon be doing a film Aradhana with him?".

She usually played the sister or rejected fiancée of the male lead. When asked as to how she started getting typecast as a hero's sister, she quoted in an interview: "It all started with Gopi where I was offered the greatest Mr Dilip Kumar's sister's role. Forget about refusing, I jumped at the offer. Even if I had the chance to just go and observe him on the set I'd have done it. I love the man. I remember during those days each and every actor was copying Dilip Saab whether it was Dharmendra, Jeetendra, or Manoj Kumar. I was much in demand as Dilip Saab's sister. Every hero wanted the same. Every actor wanted me to play his sister. Sometimes the sister was the film's heroine. The official heroine would just sing her songs, whereas I had all the dramatic scenes. I got my recognition and the awards. In a film called Paras I was Sanjeev Kumar's sister. But I had a lot more to do than Raakhee-di who played the heroine. I got my first award for it. Then I got my second award for Majboor, a film written by Salimbhai and Javedbhai where Bachchan Saab played my brother. It was so heartening. Why would I want to be heroine when I was getting the stronger parts as the sister?"

In 2003, Jalal starred in Shararat, in which she played a leading role. In 2005, she co-hosted the 50th Filmfare Awards alongside Saif Ali Khan and Sonali Bendre, in Mumbai. In 2008, she made a special appearance in the Punjabi film Yaariyan. Later, she appeared in the soap opera Balika Vadhu.

Personal life Jalal was married to actor Tabrez Barmavar, who hailed from Bhatkal, Karnataka. She met her husband on the sets of Jeevan Rekha and fell in love in the course of the film and got married in November 1978. The couple moved to Bangalore where her husband had a soap factory business.

In 2017, she was the victim of a death hoax. There were several fake reports on various websites about her death.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes1967 Taqdeer Geeta 1968 Baharon ki Manzil 1969 Mahal Aradhana Renu Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress1970 Puraskar Reshma Naya Raasta Radha Pratap Singh Gopi Nandini Devi Shobha 1971ParasBela Singh Khoj Asha Amar Prem Mrs. Nandkishore Sharma Pyar Ki Kahani Lata 1972 Zindagi Zindagi Shyama Rivaaj Buniyaad 1973 Heera Lahariya Bobby Alka Sharma 'Nikki' Achanak Nurse Radha Raja Rani Anita Uncredited Loafer Roopa 1974 Naya Din Nai Raat Jeevan Rekha Majboor Renu Khanna Uljhan Kamla Sankalp Geeta Sehgal 1975 Khushboo Kusum's friend Kala Sona Bela Do Jasoos Hema Khushalchand Dhoti Lota Aur Chowpatty Rajni Dharmatma Mona Aakraman Asha 1976 Shaque Mrs. Subramaniam Sabse Bada Rupaiya Bindiya/Shobha Koi Jeeta Koi Haara Bandalbaaz Malti 1977 Kasam Khoon Ki Ganga Alaap Sulakshana Gupta Abhi To Jee Lein The Nun Aakhri Goli Shatranj Ke Khiladi Nafisa Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein Chhutki 1978 Naya Daur Jenny Ganga Ki Saugand Champa Guest appearance1979 Jurmana Laila Dhongee Geeta Khanna 1980 Patthar Se Takkar Chambal Ki Kasam Abdullah Yashoda Uncredited1981 Jwala Daku Sita Yaarana Mary Uncredited1983 Salam e Mohabbat 1987 Pushpaka Vimana Magician's wife Silent film1991 Henna Bibi Gul 1992 Paayal Shanti Devi Bekhudi Aunty Bandhu Mausi Dil Aashna Hai Razia 1993 Gardish Lakshmi (Shiva's mother) 1994 Mammo Mehmooda Begum Anwar Ali "Mammo" Laadla Gayetri Verma Krantiveer Mrs. Tilak (Pratap's Mother) Elaan Revati Chaudhry Dulaara Florence 1995 Andolan Jawab Veergati Parvati Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge Lajwanti "Lajjo" Singh 1996 Shastra Rajkumar Panna Loafer Janki Kumar Dushman Duniya Ka Manager of women's shelter Raja Hindustani Chachi Angaara Saraswati Ajay Ajay's Mother 1997 Saat Rang Ke Sapne Yashoda Mrityudaata Mother Ghayal Mohabbat Geeta Kapoor Judaai Kajal's mom Zor Lahoo Ke Do Rang Halima Ziddi Jaya's mother Dil To Pagal Hai Ajay's mom Aflatoon Raja's mother 1998 Salaakhen Vishal's mother Duplicate Mrs. Chaudhary "Bebe" Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai Komal's mother Soldier Shanti Sinha Kuch Kuch Hota Hai Mrs. Khanna 1999 Dil Kya Kare Nandita's aunt Hindustan Ki Kasam Mother of Ajay and Tauheed Khoobsurat Sudha Chaudhary 2000 Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai Lily Hey Ram Kasturba Gandhi Simultaneously made in Tamil and Hindi Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge Mrs. Oberoi Pukar Gayetri Rajvansh Khauff Mrs. Jaidev Singh Kya Kehna Rohini Baxi Bichhoo Jeeva's mom Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa Pooja's mother Gaja Gamini Noorbibi 2001 Farz Rukmani Singh Zubeidaa Mammo Chori Chori Chupke Chupke Asha Malhotra Lajja Mother of Bride Moksha: Salvation Salim's mother Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham Sayeeda/Daijan 2002 Pyaar Diwana Hota Hai Mrs. Chaudhary The Legend of Bhagat Singh Vidyavati Badhaai Ho Badhaai Mrs. Chaddha Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein Mangala Vishnupratap Singh Deewangee Mrs. Goyal 2003 Pinjar Mrs. Shyamlal Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai Jiji Kaise Kahoon Ke... Pyaar Hai Lakshmi Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon Mrs. Kapoor Jaal: The Trap Sudha Kaul Fun 2shh: Dudes In the 10th Century Mrs. DiSouza/Hiraka Double role 2004 Garv: Pride and Honour Mrs. Shakuntala Dixit Taarzan: The Wonder Car Mrs. Chaudhary 2005 Pyaar Mein Twist Ms. Arya Barsaat Anushka Sanghi 2006 Aryan Mrs. Braganza 2007 Big Brother Sita devi Laaga Chunari Mein Daag 2010 Krantiveer – The Revolution Aashayein Madhu 2011 Love Breakups Zindagi Beeji Chala Mussaddi... Office Office Shanti Special appearance2012 Chaar Din Ki Chandni Pammi Kaur Student of the Year Abhimanyu's grandmother A Gran Plan Satvinder Kaur Bedi Harlem International Film Festival Award for Best Actress2015 Bezubaan Ishq Savitri Tina Ki Chaabi An Untold Story of a Known Irony Short film 2017 I'm Not A Terrorist Zabira Malaysian film 2018 Batti Gul Meter Chalu Lalita's Grandmother 2020 Jawaani Jaaneman Jazz's Mother 2021LinesDadi 2025Aabeer GulaalNaniLove in VietnamBebbeThe Great Shamsuddin Family AkkoJioHotstar film 2026O'RomeoDaadi Welcome to the JungleBadi Bi

Television Year Series Role Notes 1984 Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi Ranjit's aunt 1993–1994 Dekh Bhai Dekh Suhasini 1993–1998 Junoon Ganga 1994 The Great Maratha Chimnabai 1995–1996 Beauty Parlour 1997–1999 Star Yaar Kalakaar Host 1997–1998 Daal Mein Kala 1998 Is Duniya Ke Sitare Host 1999 Aashiqui Shobha 2003–2006 Shararat Sushma Mehra 2005 Hero - Bhakti Hi Shakti Hai Bebe Guest 2009–2012 Balika Vadhu Badi Masiji 2010 Rishta.com Ruchika's mother Guest 2011 Dolly Aunty Ka Dream Villa Dolly Aunty 2011 Ammaji Ki Galli Ammaji 2013 Jeannie Aur Juju Duggu Dadi

Web

Awards and nominations