Biography of Suraiya

(15 June 1929 - 31 January 2004)

Suraiya was born in 1929 in Lahore. She made her debut as a child actress in 1941 in the film ‘Taj Mahal’. She also did playback singing for actress Mehtaab for the film "Sharada' in 1942.

She was launched as a singing and dancing star in the film 'Hamari Baat of the Bombay Talkies. But there was more to Suraiya than just her songs. During the years 1948-49, her highly successful films like ‘Pyar Ki Jeet', 'Badi Behen' and 'Dillagi' made her the highest-paid female star of that time. However, during the 1950's, most of her films flopped. Then her acting in Sohrab Modi's 'Mirza Ghalib' was praised by even Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

During the years 1949-50, her films ‘Afsar', 'Shayar' and ‘Jeet’ with Dev Anand were released. But amongst the six films she did with Dev Anand not a single was hit. On the personal front, her relationship with Dev Anand failed to culminate in marriage. Till date, Suraiya has remained unmarried, and stays in her flat in Marine Drive.