Salma Agha (born 25 October 1956) is a British singer and actress who worked in Indian and Pakistani films and in the 1980s and the early 1990s. She is best known for her acting and singing the song "Dil ke Armaan" in the film Nikaah (1982).
Early life Salma Agha was born in Karachi, Pakistan to Liaqat Gul Agha (born Liaqat Gul Tajik) and his wife Nasreen (born Zarina Ghaznavi). Salma started singing songs in school festivals and other programs, she was raised in London, where she received several film offers from Indian directors.
Salma's father was a tradesman dealing in rugs and belonged to an Urdu-speaking Pashtun family from Amritsar. Agha traces the origin of her surname 'Aagha' to her Pashtun ancestors from Afghanistan. Her father traded in precious stones and antiques in Iran. He was given the title Aagha there, an honorific given to a businessman of repute."
Her mother, a musician, was the daughter of music composer Rafiq Ghaznavi and his wife Anwari Bai Begum, who was one of the earliest actresses of Indian cinema, starring in Heer Ranjha (1932). Anwari and Rafiq Ghaznavi separated after Nasreen's birth, and Anwari then married an Indian businessman named Jugal Kishore Mehra, who legally adopted Nasreen. Mehra was a Punjabi Hindu who converted to Islam and took the name Ahmed Salman and later moved to Pakistan after the partition of India.
Mehra was a first cousin of Indian actors Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor of the Kapoor family, because their mother, Ramsarni Kapoor (née Mehra), was the sister of his father.
Raj Kapoor, who met Agha in London when she was young saw her and was interested in casting her in his film Henna. However, Mehra, Agha's maternal grandfather, objected. Later, at Neetu Singh and Rishi Kapoor's wedding ceremony in London, Raj Kapoor introduced Agha to director and film producer B. R. Chopra, who cast her as the female lead in his blockbuster 1982 film Nikaah, replacing Zeenat Aman.
Career Her first film was the romance Nikaah (1982), in which she starred as the female lead and also sang several of the film's songs herself. She was nominated for the Filmfare awards that year in both the Best Actress category and the Best Female Playback Singer category. It was for her singing that she won the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award. She is also known for her role in Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki (1984) opposite Mithun Chakraborty, and for her song "Come Closer" from the same film.
Personal life
Salma Agha was in a relationship in the 1980s with London-based businessman Mahmud Sipra. This relationship lasted many years, during which time Salma made her film debut, but it did not develop into marriage.
She has been married three times. Her first husband was Pakistani actor Javed Sheikh in the 1980s. She was then married to the Pakiatani squash player Rahmat Khan of the Khan squash family (and the father of Natasha Khan through his first marriage) from 1989 to 2010 and they have two children together – Zara "Sasha" Agha Khan and Ali Agha Khan (Liaqat Ali Khan).
In 2011, she married Manzar Shah, a Dubai-based businessman. She lives in Mumbai, where her daughter Zara works in Bollywood films.
In January 2017, she was granted Overseas Citizenship of India status by the Indian government.Pakistani singer Salma Agha to get lifelong Indian visa Dawn (newspaper), Published 31 May 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2018
Filmography Film Indian films Year Title Role Notes 1982 Nikaah Nilofar Won—Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback SingerNominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress 1984 Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki Leena Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer 1985 Salma Salma Banarasi Oonche Log Poonam Singh 1988 Jungle Ki Beti Bela Paanch Fauladi Julie Mahaveera Don's dancer Kanwarlal Item girl 1990 Pati Patni Aur Tawaif Gauri 1991 Meet Mere Man Ke Jyoti 1992 Jethaa 1996 Gehra Raaz Vasundhara 2010 Bachao – Inside Bhoot Hai...
Pakistani films Year Title Role Language Notes 1984 Bobby Urdu 1985 Ham Aur Tum Urdu 1986 Ham Ek Hayn Urdu 1986 Da Mor Inteqam Pashto 1986 Bhabi Dian Choorian Aamna Punjabi 1987 Ek Say Barh Kar Ek Urdu 1988 Qatilon Kay Qatil Urdu 1988 Choron Ka Badshah Urdu 1988 Aag Hi Aag Urdu 1988 Daagh Punjabi 1988 Bazar-e-Husn Urdu 1988 Da Bhabhi Bangri Pashto 1988 Gharibon Ka Badshah Urdu 1988 Sherni Punjabi / Urdu 1989 Taqat Ka Toofan Urdu 1989 Phoolan Devi Punjabi 1990 Damoor Inteqam Pashto 1990 Number One Punjabi / Urdu 1991 Aakhri Shikar Punjabi / Urdu film 1991 Cobra Punjabi / Urdu 1993 Ghunghru-o-Klashankoff Pashto 2016 Hijrat Feriha Urdu
Discography
Songs Film Co-singer "Dil Ke Armaan" Nikaah Solo "Dil Ki Yeh Arzoo Thi" Nikaah Mahendra Kapoor "Chehra Chupa Liya Hai" Nikaah Asha Bhosle, Mahendra Kapoor "Faza Bhi Hai Jawaan Jawaan" Nikaah Solo "Zara Zara Tu Pyaar kar" Maine Jeena Seekh Liya Salma Agha"Chala hai Balamwa" Sheeshay ka GharSalma Agha"Mukhtaar si baat" Sheeshay ka GharSalma Agha"Na Todo piya" Sheeshay ka GharSalma Agha"Tarana" Sheeshay ka GharSalma Agha "Maa hoon na Suhagan hoon" Kanoon Meri Mutthi Mein Salma Agha "Tu Mera Kya Lage" Oonche Log Kishore Kumar "Shah-E-Madina" Salma Solo "Tarasti Hain Deedar Ko" Salma Anwar "Zindagi Tere Dar Pe" Salma Solo "Kehna Na Tum Yeh Kisise" Pati Patni Aur Tawaif Mohammed Aziz "Mujhe Log Kehte Hain" Pati Patni Aur Tawaif Solo "Teri Mohhabbat Meri Jawani" Pati Patni Aur Tawaif Mohammed Aziz "Mera Naam Salma" Aap Ke Saath Solo "Chumma Chumma" Pataal Bhairavi Solo "Ae Mere Mehboob" Salma Shabbir Kumar "Kaahe Baithe Ho" Salma Penaz Masani "Come Closer" Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki Solo "Dance Dance" Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki Bappi Lahiri "Jeena Bhi Kya Hai Jeena" Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki Bappi Lahiri "Pyar Ek Nasha Hai" Kanwarlal Solo "Pehla Pehla Pyaar Na Bhoole" Mazdoor Solo "Aaina Haseen Hua Hai" Dunno Y2... Life Is A Moment Solo " Meet mere Man ke (Title Track)" Meet Mere Man ke 1991 Solo "Chale Aao" Meet Mere Man ke 1991 Salma Agha & Manhar Udas "Shama Hoon Main Jalna" Meet Mere Man ke 1991Salma Agha (Solo) "Jahan Aaj Hum Mile Hain" Bobby 1984 (Urdu)Salma Agha (Solo) "Ek Baar Milo Humse" Bobby (Urdu)Salma Agha (Solo) & With Ghulam Abbas "Ghar Nahi Jana" Gumraah Salma Agha (Zahrah Khan & Armaan Malik )
Awards and recognition Year Award Category Result Title Ref.1983 30th Filmfare Awards Best Female Playback Singer Nikaah Best Actress 1985 32nd Filmfare Awards Best Female Playback Singer Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki 1988 Nigar Award Best Actress Bazar-e-Husn
References
External links
FilmfareAwards Salma Agha to raise funds for Indian hockey – Times Of India