Sabiha Khanum, one of Pakistan’s popular leading actresses of the 1950s, passed away in Virginia in the United States on 13th June. She was 84. The actress had been suffering from renal disease.
Khanum, born Mukhtar Begum, dominated Pakistani cinema in the 1950s and 1960s with hit movies, including Kaneez, Mukhra, Anokha, Tehzeeb and others. She gave award-winning performances in films during the 1980s and 1990s too. She also acted in television serials. In most of her movies, Sabiha played the lead roles along with her husband, late Santosh Kumar (Syed Musa Raza), playing the male lead role opposite her. The song, Wasta e rab da tu jaein ve kabutra, rendered by Munawar Sultana in Dulla Bhatti, was picturised on Sabiha Khanum. It is said that Sooraj Barjatya’s super-hit song, Kabootar ja ja ja, from Maine Pyar Kiya drew inspiration from this song.
The government of Pakistan conferred the Pride of Performance award upon her in 1986.