Ragini (Shamshad Begum)


Ragini was an Indian cinema and later Pakistani cinema actress, who worked in Hindi/Urdu and Punjabi films. Ragini was born Shamshad Begum in Gujranwala in 1922. She started her acting career with Punjabi film Dulla Bhatti opposite MD Kanwar. Ragini is said to be the highest-paid actress of her time, being paid 1 lakh rupees by AR Kardar for her role in Shahjahan. Known for her beautiful doe like eyes Ragini was referred as ‘Aahoo Chasm’.

Personal life

Ragini was born Shamshad Begum in Gujranwala in 1922. Her mother died when Ragini was very young and her father Seth Diwan Parmanand took her with him to Lahore. In Lahore filmmaker Roshan Lal Shorey noticed her and convinced Diwan to let him launch Ragini in films.
Ragini's married Mohammad Aslam in the early 1940s, the marriage did not last long but she had two children from her first marriage, Saira and Abid. She again got married in Pakistan in 1947 to S Gul who produced and co-starred opposite her in Beqarar.
Ragini spent the last days of her life alone and neglected in Gulberg.

Career

Ragini was launched by Roop K Shorey in the Punjabi film Dulla Bhatti opposite MD Kanwar. The film was a major success and Ragini became a star overnight. Ragini went on to act in several Lahore based productions in Hindi and Punjabi like Sehti Murad, Nishani, Ravi Par, Poonji, Daasi and Kaise Kahun.
Nek Pervin was another successful movie that consolidated Ragini's position as a top star. Filmmaker AR Kardar offered Ragini to play Mumtaz Mahal Shah Jehan, It is said that Ragini was paid rupees one lakh for the film, making her the highest-paid actress of that time,
After the partition Ragini chose to move to Pakistan but has also done a couple of Indian movies which did not fare well.

Filmography