Nadira’s 90th birth anniversary: When the ‘Aan’ actress said no to Sanjay Leela Bhansali | Hindi Movie News

The formidable Nadira who was born on this day in 1932 never got her due. Filmmakers of her time found her way too westernised for Indian audiences. Hence the imperious actress who started with Mehboob Khan’s Aan, where she played an arrogant princess, soon slid into vamp’s roles.

Jaya Bachchan, who worked with Nadira in ‘Ek Nazar’, where Nadira was cast as the intimidating madame of a brothel, describes Nadira as “a scene-chewing marvel” who could make mincemeat of any co-star who dared to face the camera with her. Success as a character actress came to Nadira with Julie in 1973 where she played an anglo-Indian woman struggling to keep her family together.

When Sanjay Leela Bhansali turned director with Khamoshi: The Musical, he wanted to cast Nadira in the film. She called him over to his home, offered him a drink, heard him out and said no. “I’ve worked with the likes of Mehboob Khan, Raj Kapoor and Kamal Amrohi. I need to have more to do,” she had dismissed the debut director.

The role (of Salman Khan’s mother) was eventually played by Helen. After seeing Khamoshi: The Musical, Nadira had the grace to admit she made a mistake in turning down the film.