Sabiha Khanum

Sabiha Khanum was born Mukhtar Begum in a village near Gujrat in Punjab, British India, to Mohammad Ali (Maahia) and Iqbal Begum (Baalo).[2] She was raised in a conservative rural environment by her grandparents, but got her first acting opportunity on stage in Lahore, after moving there to be with her father.

A cultural delegation visited a cinema house in Sialkot, Pakistan in 1948. Mukhtar Begum (then a young girl in 1948), who was part of the delegation, sang the Punjabi song "Kithhay gae yoon pardesia way" from the film Sassi Punnoon (which starred Baalu and Aslam). Her performance was praised, and soon Mohammad Ali introduced his daughter to a stage drama writer and poet, Nafees Khaleeli. Noting her determination, Khaleeli offered her a role in the drama Buut Shikan, which she accepted. Nafees Khaleeli gave her the screen name of Sabiha Khanum.

On Nafees Khaleeli's request, the film director Masood Pervez offered her a role in the film Beli (1950), giving Sabiha her debut as a film actress in 1950. Beli was also the first film of Masood Pervez as a director. The film, with the Partition of India as backdrop, did not do well at the box office.

Next Sabiha played the role of 'Noori' in famous director/producer Anwar Kamal Pasha's Do Ansoo (1950), starring Santosh Kumar, Gulshan Ara and Sabiha.[2] It was the first film to celebrate a Silver Jubilee in the new film industry of Pakistan. The film was based on an earlier Noor Jehan's hit Bhai Jaan (1945) and looks at how a man inadvertently ruins the lives of his wife and daughter. In fact, such was the impact of the film that it was re-made twice subsequently in Pakistan, as Dillan day Souday (1969) in Punjabi and Anjuman in Urdu.[1]

Sabiha gained some more recognition in her next movie Aaghosh, directed by Murtaza Jilani, starring Santosh, Sabiha, and Gulshan Ara. Her role, in the film 'Ghulam', released in 1953, directed by Anwar Kamal Pasha, with Santosh was also well received. Film directors admired her ability to improvise because she was talented and ambitious.

Her role in the film Gumnaam (1954) was also appreciated by the movie-goers. The movie was directed by Anwar Kamal Pasha, starring Seema, Sudhir and Sabiha Khanum. This film is a story about a mentally retarded girl, played by Sabiha, and is a pleasure to watch. She played the role of 'Nooran' in the romantic Punjabi film, Dulla Bhatti (1956) directed by M.S. Daar and this movie celebrated its Golden Jubilee at the Pakistani cinemas.

Movie-goers were treated to a succession of films about popular romance like the film Waada (1957) starring Sabiha and Santosh. This film was followed by another spate of magnificent movies, which provided countless hours of pleasure for millions of their fans. Sheikh Chilli (1958), Aas Paas (1957), Sassi (1954), Sohni (1955), Choti Begum (1956), Daata (1957), Hatim (1956), Saat Laakh (1957), Dil Mein Tu (1958), Ayaz (1960), Mehfil (1955) , Pervaaz (1954), Toofan (1955) and Ishq-e-Laila (1957) are some names to mention.

Sassi (1954) was based on the well-known tragic love story of Sassui Punnhun and went on to become the first Golden Jubilee film of Pakistan.[2][6]

Sabiha's achievement along with Santosh Kumar in the following films is still noteworthy ; Mukhra (1958), Muskurahat (1959), Rishta (1963), Hasrat (1958), Ishrat, Shikwa (1963), Teray Baghair (1959), Mauseeqar (1962), Dulhan, Kaneez (1965 film), Dewar Bhabi (1967), Shaam Dhalay (1960), Pak Daman (1969), Anjuman (1970), Sarfarosh (1956), Inteqaam (1955), Qatil (1955), Sawaal (1966), Commander (1968), and Mohabbat (1972). Her role in the film Anjuman (1970 film) was very well-liked, as were director Hasan Tariq's films Tehzeeb (1971) and Ik Gunah Aur Sahi (1975), director Zia Sarhadi's film Rah Guzar (1960), director Zahoor Raja's film Deewana (1964) and director Jameel Akhtar's film Aik Raat.[2]

Altogether, Sabiha starred in 202 movies and mainly in Urdu language.[7] She was awarded 5 Nigar Award and Pride of Performance Award on her acting career.

Sabiha ventured into television serials in 1980s. The most notables are Dasht and Ehsaas.

She also sang two patriotic songs

• Sohni dharti Allah rakhay qadam qadam aabad tujhay
• Jug jug jeeye mera pyara watan, lub pay dua hai dil mein lagun

In Anwar Maqsood's stage show Silver Jubilee in 1982, she rendered the song Yaad karoon tujhay shaam saweray from the film Mauseeqar (1962). As the final lyrics faded away that evening, the audience stood up and applauded.

Sabiha Khanum, who had been in the public eye for four decades, finally retired, and lived with her eldest daughter in the United States. Her other children also settled there.

Sabiha married co-star Santosh Kumar on 1 October 1958.

Santosh was already a married man with children. The two, after initial opposition from Sabiha’s father, married during the making of Hasrat (1958).[1] They starred together in 47 movies and played as a couple in the majority of them.[7] They had three children together.

She lived with her daughter in Leesburg, Virginia until her death on 13 June 2020 at the age of 84.[8][9]

Sabiha Khanum has won several Nigar awards during her lifetime:

• Nigar Award for Best Actress in film Saat Lakh (1957)[10]
• Nigar Award for Best Actress for film Shikwa (1963)[11]
• Nigar Award Special award for film Devar Bhabi (1967)[12]
• Nigar Award Special award for film Ik Gunah Aur Sahi (1975)
• Nigar Award Special award for her thirty years of acting career (1981)
• Nigar Award Best supporting actress in director Hassan Tariq's film Sangdil (1982)
• Pride of Performance Award in 1986 by the President of Pakistan[13]

• Sabiha Khanum at IMDb
• Sabiha Khanum on PakMag