Nargis is one of the most talented and definitely a great actress who have appeared on the Hindi movies. Daughter of actress, singer and filmmaker Jaddanbai, she was born as Fatima Rashid in Allahabad on 1 June 1929. Her father Uttamchand Mohanchand was a wealthy doctor from Rawalpindi. Her only brother, Anwar Hussain, also became a film actor. She started acting at the age of 5 when her mother introduced her as a child artiste.

Film Career of Nargis
Nargis first appeared in the movie Talashe Haq when she was six years old. However, she came to limelight with her debut film in a lead role in Mehboob Khan`s "Taqdeer" in the year 1943 and she was paired opposite to Motilal. Her acting prowess started in full swing when she starred in the movie `Humayun` in the year 1945. With people and critics realizing her potential and talent as an actress, she started getting many offers from different directors and producers. She reached her stardom with the movie `Andaaz` in the year 1949 and `Barsaat` in the same year. "Andaaz" still remains as one of the best movie based on triangle love story while a still from Barsaat became the emblem of R.K. Films. She was starred opposite Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor. Her performances in Awaara (1951), Deedar (1951) and Shree 420 (1955) are unforgettable. Her onscreen pair with Raj Kapoor is hitherto unseen on the Indian screen.

Nargis has also acted in many other outstanding cinemas in the lead role which include Mela (1948), Jogan (1950), Babul (1950), and Bewafaa (1952). The romantic song `Pyar Hua Ikraar Hua` in the movie `Shree 420` opposite Raj Kapoor is still regarded as one of the most romantic song in Bollywood. However, in the year 1956, they paired up for the last time in the movie `Chori Chori` that was inspired from Frank Capra`s `It Happened One Night` released in 1934. After `Chori Chori`, Nargis got an offer from Mehboob to act in `Mother India` in the year 1957, which is till date considered as one of the biggest blockbuster hits with record collections. She played the character of a mother in the movie. An ultimate tribute to Womanhood to Indian women, this movie gained its deserved applause and accolades from day one. She won many awards and the movie was nominated for the Oscars in the best foreign film category. She lent her voice in Sunil Dutt`s movie Yaadein (1964) and made a comeback in the movie Raat Aur Din (1967), playing the role of a woman with a split personality.

In her later life Nargis married Sunil Dutt after he proposed her for the marriage to which she agreed. Their son Sanjay Dutt is also an accomplished and a great actor. Nargis was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died on 3 May 1981. However her contributions to Indian cinema are still fresh and it is always an enthralling experience watching her on the silver screen.

Awards and Honours of Nargis
In 1957 Nargis got the Filmfare Best Actress Award for Mother India. In 1958 she was awarded the Best Actress at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival for Mother India Nargis was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1958. She became the first film personality to be conferred the award. In 1968 she was bestowed upon the National Film Award for Best Actress for Raat Aur Din. Nargis Dutt was the recipient of the "Urvashy Award", the highest honour that can be conferred on a movie actress in India. She had been conferred with a National Award for contribution to Indian Cinema. On 8 January 2001, Amitabh Bachchan and Nargis Dutt were honoured with the "Best Artists of the Millennium" award by Hero Honda and film magazine "Stardust".She was also nominated to the Rajya Sabha (Upper house of Indian Parliament) (1980-81) but fell ill and died during her tenure.

Filmography of Nargis

Talashe Haq (1935)
Tamanna (1942)
Taqdeer (1943)
Humayun (1945)
Bisvi Sadi (1945)
Nargis (1946)
Mehandi (1947)
Mela (1948)
Anokha Pyar (1948)
Anjuman (1948)
Aag (1948)
Roomal (1949)
Lahore (1949)
Darogaji (1949)
Barsaat (1949)
Andaz (1949)
Pyaar (1950)
Meena Bazaar (1950)
Khel (1950)
Jogan (1950)
Jan Pahchan (1950)
Chhoti Bhabbi (1950)
Babul (1950)
Aadhi Raat (1950)
Saagar (1951)
Pyar Ki Baaten (1951)
Hulchul (1951)
Deedar (1951)
Awaara (1951)
Sheesha (1952)
Bewafaa (1952)
Ashiana (1952)
Anhonee (1952)
Amber (1952)
Shikast (1953)
Paapi (1953)
Dhoon (1953)
Aah (1953)
Angarey (1954)
Shree 420 (1955)
Jagte Raho (1956)
Chori Chori (1956)
Pardesi (1957 film)
Mother India (1957)
Lajwanti (1958)
Ghar Sansar (1958)
Adalat (1958)
Yaadein (1964)
Raat Aur Din (1967)
Tosa oneira stous dromous (1968)