Rani

Rani Begum was a prominent Pakistani film and television actress who achieved significant fame during the late 1960s. Known by titles such as The Dancing Queen, Queen of Lollywood and Lux Girl, she became a celebrated figure in the subcontinent for her romantic and dance-oriented roles. Her career spanned several decades and included notable work in both Urdu and Punjabi cinema.

Early life and education

Born Nasira on 8 December 1946, Rani Begum grew up in Mozang, Lahore. She belonged to a Punjabi Arain family consisting of her parents, Malik Muhammed Shafi and Iqbal Begum. Her father worked as a driver for the singer Mukhtar Begum, who was married to the Urdu dramatist Agha Hashar Kashmiri. Because of this connection, Mukhtar Begum took over the responsibility of raising Rani. Although she lived with the singer for a time, Rani eventually reconciled and moved in with her mother.

Career

Rani began her acting journey in 1962 when Anwar Kamal Pasha cast her in the film Mehboob. She spent several years performing in supporting roles within movies such as Mouj Maila, Ek Tera Sahara and Safaid Khoon. A period of professional difficulty followed when a string of unsuccessful films led people to label her a jinxed actress. This reputation changed after she achieved success in Hazar Dastan in 1965 and Devar Bhabi in 1967.

She transitioned into a leading actress and formed a successful on-screen pair with Waheed Murad. Her filmography includes diverse titles such as Chann Makhna, Sajjan Pyara, Jind Jan and Duniya Matlab Di. In the film Umrao Jaan Ada, she played a poetess from Lucknow. The Statesman reported that she worked hard with her dances and performed well in love scenes during this production. She also appeared in films like Anjuman, Tehzeeb, Naag Muni, Seeta Maryam Margaret, Aik Gunnah Aur Sahi and Surraya Bhopali.

Rani continued to take on varied roles throughout the 1970s. In 1974, she played Laila in the film Laila Majnu and portrayed a halala victim in Deedar. She appeared as a Romani girl in Dilruba in 1975. During 1978, she performed dual roles as twin sisters in Seeta Maryam Margaret. Her work eventually extended to television, where she acted in the serials Khuwahish and Fareb during the early 1990s.

Personal life

Following her rise to fame, Rani married director Hassan Tariq and they had a daughter named Rabia. The couple divorced in the late 1970s due to various conflicts. She later married producer Mian Javed Qamar, but he divorced her after she was diagnosed with leukemia. While receiving medical treatment in London, she met and married the cricketer Sarfaraz Nawaz. Rani supported his election campaign in the late 1980s before the two eventually parted ways.

The actress faced significant emotional hardship after her third divorce. She struggled with loneliness while battling an intense recurrence of cancer. Her primary motivation during this period was to witness the marriage of her daughter. Rani died on 27 May 1993 at the age of 46 in Karachi. This occurred only a few days after Rabia's wedding. She and her mother are buried together in the Muslim Town Cemetery in Lahore.

Awards and recognition

Rani Begum received Nigar Awards during her career in the film industry. Her performances in dance and romantic roles earned her lasting popularity across the subcontinent.