In my recent weekend blogs, I had written about the actresses who started their careers in the 1940s and 1950s and ruled the Bollywood. Today I am starting with a new series on actresses who made their debut in the early 1960s, and first on the list is ASHA PAREKH, in fact, she made her debut in late 1959.
She was born on 2nd October 1942 to Sudha and Bachubhai Parekh. In fact, her mother was a Bohri Muslim, who changed her name from Salma to Sudha after marriage.
She started her career as a child artist in 1952 and acted in many films as a child artist. At the age of 16, she tried to dabble in acting but was rejected from Vijay Bhatt’s Goonj Uthi Shenai (1959) in favour of actress Ameeta, because the filmmaker claimed she was not the star material. Immediately afterwards, producer S Mukherjee and writer-director Nasir Hussain cast her in Dil Deke Dekho (1959) opposite Shammi Kapoor; the film was a super hit.
This was the beginning of her association with Nasir Hussain, who went on to work with her in six more films: Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai (1962), Phir Wahi Dil Laya Hoon (1963), Teesri Manzil (1966), Baharn Ke Sapne (1967), Pyar Ka Mausam (1969) and Caravan (1971). In fact, Nasir Hussain and Asha Parekh owned a film distribution company in partnership.
Her other notable films were Ghunghat (1960), Gharana (1961) with Rajendra Kumar and Raaj Kumar, Chhaya (1961) with Sunil Dutt. She also acted in Ziddi (1964) and Love in Tokyo (1966) with Joy Mukherjee, Aaye Din Bahar Ke and Aaya Sawan Jhoom Ke (1968) with Dharmendra. She also worked with Manoj Kumar in Do Badan (1966) and Upkaar (1967) with Manoj Kumar. Her famous films with Rajesh Khanna were Aan Milo Sajna (1971) and Kati Patang (1970) for which she won her only Filmfare award for Best Actress.
After the mid-1970s, she switched to character roles and acted in films like Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978), Udhar ka Sindoor (1976). She also acted in a supporting role with Amitabh Bachchan in Kaalia (1981) and had a guest appearance in Nasir Hussain’s Manzil Manzil (1984).
In 1990s, she switched over to Television as a Producer/Director and made many Hindi and Gujarati Serials.
From 1994 to 2000, she was the president of the Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA). She, in 1991, along with Dilip Kumar, Sunil Dutt, Mithun Chakaravorty and Amzad Khan formed the Cine Artist Welfare Trust to provide financial assistance to deserving members of the association.. Between 1998 and 2001, she became the first woman to be appointed as Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
In the heydays of her career, she was known as ‘The Hit Girl’, which is also the title of her autobiography co-written by Khalid Mohamed.
In personal life, she never got married, but confirmed her relationship with director Nasir Hussain, but she did not persuade him for marriage to avoid being called a ‘home breaker’. In her personal life, she was/is close to Nanda, Helen, Waheeda Rehman and Saira Banu.
Presently, she is devoting her time to her dance academy and Asha Parekh Charitable Hospital. She was awarded Padma Shri in 1992 and Dada Sahed Phalke Award in 2022.
Here are my favourite Asha Parekh songs with their YouTube Link:
1 Bade Hain Dil Ke Kaale, Haan Yahi Neeli Si Ankhon Wale– Dil Deke Dekho (Film-F) 1959. Mohd Rafi & Asha Bhosle (Singer-S), Majrooh Sultanpuri (Lyricist-L), Usha Khanna( Music Director-MD). On screen with Shammi Kapoor.
https://youtu.be/ZLaH6TC390c?si=9qIzVO4yguzIerO4
2 Sau Saal Pehle Mujhe Tumse Pyar Tha- Jab Pyar kisi Se Hota Hai (F) 1962. Mohd Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar (S), Hasrat Jaipuri (L), Shankar Jaikishan (MD). On screen with Dev Anand.
https://youtu.be/sx6FTutCNaI?si=YTCUQ7b67oYJ_MB7
3 Itna Na Mujhe Se Tu Pyar Badha, Ki Main Ek Badal Awara-Jhoola (F) 1961.Talat Mehmood & Lata Mangeshkar (S), Rajender Krishan (L), Sali Chaudhary (MD). On screen with Sunil Dutt.
https://youtu.be/Q__-cYB1u18?si=SPDo5WfsslzJGKfZ
4 Ankhon Se Utri Hai Dil Mein, Tasveer Hai Ek Begaane Ki– Phir Wahi Dil Laaya Hoon (F) 1963. Asha Bhosle (S), Majrroh Sultanpuri (L), OP Nayyar (MD).
https://youtu.be/Q__-cYB1u18?si=SPDo5WfsslzJGKfZ
5 Jaaiye Aap Kahan Jaayenge, Yeh Nazar Laut Ke Phir Aayegi-Mere Sanam (F) 1965. Asha Bhosle (S), Majooh Sultanpuri (L), OP Nayyar (MD).
https://youtu.be/MpawL4IZfKg?si=5aIGnzpEWdalyEYT
6 O Mere Sona Re Sona Re, De Doongi Jaan Juda Mat Hona Re– Teesri Manzil (F) 1966. Mohd Rafi & Asha Bosle (S), Majrooh Sultanpuri (L), RD Burman (MD).
https://youtu.be/5ReU7xVQVys?si=lMdl3-vZl-2f_u0_
7 Jab Chali Thandi Hawa, Jab Uthi Kaali Ghata- Do Badan (F) 1966. Asha Bhosle (S), Shakeel badayuni (L), Ravi(MD)
https://youtu.be/FFt2iiWS8YA?si=0FTrZpCVrYeUMXd5
8 Aaja Piya Tohe Pyar Doon, Gori Baiyan Tope Waar Doon– Baharon Ke Sapne (F) 1967. Lata Mangeshkar (S), Majrooh sultanpuri (L), RD Burman (MD).
https://youtu.be/T1FcSe-J2HQ?si=rSYSCWtrNy6GQdL_
9 Parde Mein Rehne Do, Parda Na Uthao– Shikar (F) 1968. Asha Bhosle (S), Hasrat Jaipuri (L), Shankar jaikishan (MD).
https://youtu.be/-PMyhpzlsS0?si=w81HuiDsTS-yRE3L
10 Ni Sultana Re, Pyar Ka Mausam Aaya– Pyar ka Mausam (F) 1969. Mohd Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar (S), Majrooh Sultanpuri (L), RD Burman (MD).
https://youtu.be/-PMyhpzlsS0?si=w81HuiDsTS-yRE3L
11Teri Ankhon Ke Siva Duniya Mein Rakha Kya– Chiraag (f) 1969. Lata Mangeshkar, Majrooh Sultanpuri (L), madan Mohan (MD).
https://youtu.be/VDHAEC4oPIU?si=2c7hsN8WSHE7XGgy
12 Achcha To Hum Chalte Hain, Phir Kab Milogi– Aan Milo Sajana (F) 1961.Lata Mangeshkar & Kishore Kumar (S), Anand Bakshi (L), Laxmikant Pyarelal (MD)
https://youtu.be/E9NpotAjWIU?si=DO-5LNoqhnCDw499
13 Na KoiUmang Hai, Na Koi Tarang Hai- Kati Patang (F) 1971. Lata Mangeshkar (S), Anand bakshi (L), RD Burman (MD)
https://youtu.be/8WzzJkuva7Q?si=aMm-mMkgK_LYtqQK
14 Kitna Pyara Waada Hai, In Matwali Ankhon Ka– Caravan (F) 1971, Mohd Rafi & Lata Mangeshkar (S), Majrooh Sultanpuri (L), RD Burman (MD).
https://youtu.be/K-6rS_EjRMU?si=iOsRdHyZd_FdTIkX
15 Main Tulsi Tere Angan Ki, Koi Nahin Main Tere Sajan Ki– Main Tusli Tere Angan Ki (F) 1978. Lata Mangeshkar (S), Anand Bakshi (L), Laxmikant Pyarelal (MD)
https://youtu.be/ZyjI8d0USpk?si=DRYmvpfPE3pJqG0c
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
24th April 2026