Sardar Akhtar

Early life Akhtar was born in 1915, in Lahore, British India. She started as a supporting "dancer-artiste" and commenced her film career by acting in stage plays produced by Madan Theatres Ltd.

Career Akhtar started her career at Saroj Movietone doing what were then termed as "stunt" films. She acted in films directed by A. P. Kapoor (Anand Prasad Kapoor) like Roop Basant, Id Ka Chand, Malti Madhav, all in 1933. Some of the action films she did at Saroj were directed by J. P. Advani (Jagatrai Pesumal Advani), including Gafil Musafir, Johare-Shamsheer, Shah Behram and Tilasimi Talwar. In 1934, she acted in Hothal Padmini directed by Kanjibhai Rathod.

In 1935, Akhtar acted in Delhi Express, directed by Madanrai Vakil. In 1936, she starred with K. L. Saigal in the farcical-comedy Karodpati. The comedy was a rare departure from Saigal's normally serious films. Akhtar played a masked avenger in Vijay Bhatt-directed State Express (1938). It was stated to be a "successful film," doing well at the box office. The main draw was a "performing gorilla" and Sardar Akhtar's songs and performance. It was cited by Rajadhyaksha and Willemen as one of the "best stunt films" from Bhatt, who normally made mythologicals.

In 1939, Sardar Akhtar was cast because of her natural earthy looks in Sohrab Modi's Pukar as the washer-woman Rami Dhoban. Her husband has been accidentally killed by an arrow shot by Empress Nur Jahan. Rami demands justice of Emperor Jehangir, evoking his tenet "A life for a life". Akhtar's role was appreciated by the public and the critics; it was a turning point in her career — from doing stunt roles to big production socials.

1940 had Akhtar working in Ali Baba. The film was directed by Mehboob Khan, someone Akhtar had been trying to meet for some time. The role displayed Akhtar's acting potential fully, and her "interpretation of the mother figure" was lauded. Akhtar described it as her favourite film performance.

Pooja in 1940 was termed as a "thundering success" by Baburao Patel in his review. Produced by National studios and directed by A. R. Kardar, the review title described it as "Kardar Produces The Best Picture Of The Year". The story, inspired by The Old Maid (1939) by Warner Pictures, was about sisters played by Akhtar and Sitara Devi. Akhtar was commended for performing her role with sincerity.

Personal life Sardar Akhtar, Bahar (Mrs. A. R. Kardar), Rita Carlyle, Naseem Banu, and Flo Gubby Sardar Akhtar was the older sister of Bahar Akhtar, also an aspiring actress.

Though Akhtar stopped working after 1945, she was, as stated by Mehboob, his inspiration for making films like Aan (1952), Andaz, and the remake of Aurat: Mother India (1957). Fond of watching films, her favourite actors were Bette Davis, Norma Shearer, Vivien Leigh, and Charles Boyer.

Filmography List: Year Film Director Co-stars Studio1933 Id Ka Chand A. P. Kapoor (Anand Prasad Kapoor) Ashraf Khan, Zebunisa Saroj Movietone1933 Malati Madhav A. P. Kapoor Ashraf Khan, Gulab, Zebunisa Saroj Movietone1933 Roop Basant A. P. Kapoor Ashraf Khan, Gulab, Zebunisa Saroj Movietone1933 Naqsh-e-Sulemani a.k.a. Tilasmi Taveez A. P. Kapoor Jani Babu, Zebunisa Saroj Movietone1933 Husn Ka Gulam J. P. Advani (Jagatrai Pesumal Advani) Ashraf Khan, Gulab, Zebunisa Paramount1934 Johar-e-Shamsheer a.k.a. The Feats Of The Sword J. P. Advani Nissar, Jani Babu Zebunisa Saroj Movietone1934 Gafil Musafir a.k.a. Careless Traveller J. P. Advani Ashraf Khan, Ghulam Mohammed, Prabhashankar Saroj Movietone1934 Tilasmi Talwar a.k.a. Magic Sword a.k.a. Shaif-e-Sulemani Nanubhai Desai Ashraf Khan, Zebunisa, Gulab Saroj Movietone1934 Hothal Padmini Kanjibhai Rathod Ashraf Khan, Zebunisa Saroj Movietone1934 Ajamil A. R. Kabuli Ashraf Khan, Zebunisa Saroj Movietone1934 Dilara J. P. Advani Ashraf khan Zebunisa, Ebrahim Hindustan Cine1934 Jaan Nissar Kanjibhai Rathod Sultana, Jani Babu, Zebunisa Sarla Cinetone1935 Shah Behram J. P. Advani Zebunisa, Master Nissar, Dulari, Jani Babu Saroj Movietone1935 Farebi Duniya J. P. Advani Zebunisa, Navin Yagnik Golden Eagle1935 Misar Ka Khazana Rajhans Zebunisa, Master Nissar, Ganpat Bakre, Jani Babu Saroj Movietone1935 Dharma Ki Devi a.k.a. Religious Woman Hiren Bose Kumar, feroze Dastur, Hari Shivdasani, Rafiq Ghaznavi Eastern Arts1935 Delhi Express Madanrai Vakil Zohra, Ghulam Farid, Master Mohan, Roshan Ara Roshanare1936 Piya Ki Jogan a.k.a. Purchased Bride Hiren Bose Pramod Chandra, Asha Lata, Krishna Kumari Golden Eagle1936 Pratima Ram Daryani Nazir, Gope, Indu Kumari Daryani Productions1936 Prem Bandhan C. N. Lala Sitara Devi, Benjamin, Putli Golden Eagle1936 Sangdil Samaj Ram Daryani Nazir, Gope, Padma Devi, Omkar Devaskar, Hari Shivdasani Daryani Productions1936 Sher Ka Panja Dwarka Khosla Nazir, Gope, Yasmin, Omkar Devaskar, Hari Shivdasani, Asha Lata, Gope Eastern Arts1936 Fida-E-Watan a.k.a. The Patriot G. R. Sethi Indu Rani, Gope Daryani Productions1936 Karodpati a.k.a. Millionaire Hemchandra Chunder K. L. Saigal, Pahari Sanyal, Trilok Kapoor, Molina New Theatres Ltd1937 Bismil Ki Arzoo B. S. Higle Ramola, Noor Jehan, Mirza, Tara U. P. Cinetone1937 Khwab Ki Duniya Vijay Bhatt Jayant, Shirin Banu, Umakant, Madhav Marathe Prakash Pictures1937 His Highness Balwant Bhatt Jayant, Gulab, Shirin Prakash Pictures1938 State Express Vijay Bhatt Jayant, Shirin Banu, Umakant Prakash Pictures1938 Poornima Balwant Bhatt Ranjit, Gulab, Badriprasad, Noor Jehan, Umakant Prakash Pictures1939 Pukar Sohrab Modi Chandra Mohan, Naseem Banu, Sohrab Modi Minerva Movietone1940 Ali Baba Mehboob Khan Surendra, Wahidan, Ghulam Mohammed Sagar Movietone 1940 Aurat a.k.a. Woman Mehboob Khan Surendra, Yakub, Jyoti National Studios1940 Bharosa Mehboob Khan Chandra Mohan, Naval, Sheela Minerva Movietone1940 Pooja a.k.a. Worship A. R. Kardar Sitara Devi, Zahur Raja, Jyoti National Studios1941 Aasra Lalit Mehta Husn Banu, Amar, Veena National Studios1941 Nai Roshni Chimankant Gandhi Husn Banu, Meena Kumari, Kanhaiyalal National Studios1942 Ghar Sansar Vishnu Vyas Jehanara Kajjan, Mazhar Khan, Nazir Sunrise Pictures 1942 Uljhan a.k.a. The Dilemma N. R. Acharya Mazhar Khan, Anjali Devi Acharya Art1942 Phir Milenge Sohrab Modi Meena Shorey, K. N. Singh, Sohrab Modi Minerva Movietone1942 Duniya Ek Tamasha a.k.a. The World's A Show Dwarka Khosla Urmila, Gope, W. M. Khan Saubhagya Pictures1943 Masterji Krishna Gopal Harish, Veena Kumari, Pande Raja Movies1943 Fashion S. F. Hasnain Chandra Mohan, Sabita Devi, Bhudo Advani Fazil Bros.1945 Rahat Ramnik Desai Jairaj, Indira, Kanhaiyalal Kirti Pictures1971 Hulchul O. P. Ralhan Kabir Bedi, Sonia Sahni, Helen O. P. Ralhan1973 Bandhe Haath O. P. Goyal Amitabh Bachchan, Mumtaz, Kumud Chhugani O. P. Ralhan