Nargis is one of the most talented and definitely a great actress who have appeared on the Hindi movies. Her performances were of highest quality that never looked artificial and had a touch of reality. Her performances are still remembered and are regarded amongst the very best. Daughter of actress, singer and filmmaker Jaddanbai, she was born as Fatima Rashid in Allahabad. She started acting at the age of 5 when her mother as a child artiste as Baby Rani introduced her. 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 by the same filmmaker as Hamida Bano. 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 greatest movie based on triangle love story. She was starred opposite to Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor. She gave a sterling performance and captured the hearts of million audiences. As an actress and star, she had few rivals. Her film career began with Talash-e-Haq as Baby Rani at the tender age of 5 years. The performances in R.K. Films` Awaara, Barsaat and Shree 420, to name just three, are unforgettable - a still from Barsaat became the emblem of R.K. Films! The Raj Kapoor and Nargis pair had chemistry hitherto unseen on the Indian screen. The passion that each had for the other poured out on the screen as they romanced each other in several films - The song Pyar Hua Ikrar Hua from Shree 420 (1955) with Nargis and Raj under the umbrella in heavy rain is subliminal romance at its best.

Her on-screen characters were the kind that seemed doomed by their own beauty, and are seen by many critics as stereotypes from Islamic literature. Clearly, her films, her directors and co-stars were such that her talent had an appropriate launch pad. She worked with the best. Her characterization was always natural and convincing - and she imbued her screen personas with a dignity that is sorely missed in the 80s and 90s. The cinema of these decades can boast of stars and superstars but there are no legends.

Some of the outstanding cinemas, which had Nargis in the lead role, include Mela (1948), Andaaz (1949), Jogan (1950), Babul (1950), Deedar (1951) and Bewafaa (1952). Her romantic role in the movie "Shree 420" opposite to Raj Kapoor is still regarded as one of the most romantic movies ever made and the song, "Pyar Hua Ikraar Huan" is still considered as one of the most romantic songs ever made in Hindi movies. Romance at its sublime best, "Shree 420" was an instant box-office hit. She was more commonly known as `Lady in White` because she used to wear white dresses in most of Raj Kapoor`s movies. 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 still now is considered 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 the Best Actress award at the prestigious Karlovy Vary film festival and the movie was nominated for the Oscars in the best foreign film category. Nargis was the first film personality who received the Padamshri award for her achievements and contribution to Indian cinema. She did lend her voice in Sunil Dutt`s `one actor movie monument` Yaadein (1964) and she did make a comeback while expertly playing a woman with a split personality in Raat Aur Din (1967) winning the National Award for the same.

In her later life Nargis married Sunit Dutt after Mr.Dutt proposed her for the marriage to which she agreed. Their son Sanjay Dutt is also an accomplished and a great actor. A talented individual that Nargis was, she unfortunately dies of cancer, however her contributions to Indian cinema are still fresh and it is always an enthralling experience watching her on the silver screen.