Zarina Wahab is an Indian actress who predominantly worked in Hindi and Malayalam films. Known for critically acclaimed roles in Chitchor and Gopal Krishna in Hindi cinema and Malayalam films like Madanolsavam, Chamaram, Palangal and Adaminte Makan Abu.
Early life and education Wahab was born in Visakhapatnam. She is fluent in her mother tongue Telugu, in addition to Urdu, Hindi and English. She was trained at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune.
Career After receiving negative feedback about her appearance from film producer Raj Kapoor, Wahab worked on her appearance and attended film parties and events. She eventually got noticed and was cast in films.. Parinda.com. Retrieved 29 September 2012. She was usually cast as the middle-class girl after her first leading role in Basu Chatterjee's Chit Chor (1976) in movies like Agar, Jazbaat, Sawan Ko Aane Do, and Raees Zada. She was nominated for a Filmfare Award in the Best Actress category for Gharonda (1977).1st Filmfare Awards 1953 . Deep750.googlepages.com. Retrieved 29 September 2012. She has acted in many Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, films. Wahab made a comeback to Malayalam films with Calendar, in 2009 and has continued to act in Malayalam movies. She is still remembered for her role in the critically acclaimed Adaminte Makan Abu. She also appeared in My Name Is Khan as the mother of Rizwan Khan (Shah Rukh Khan's character).Another Addition to the Cast of My Name Is Khan Wahab currently plays older roles in television serials.The Sunday Tribune – Spectrum – Television . The Tribune. (8 February 2004). Retrieved 29 September 2012.
In 2026, she appeared in a Mmuslim social drama Teesri Begum.
Personal life Wahab met actor Aditya Pancholi on the sets of Kalank Ka Tika.The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Chandigarh Stories . The Tribune. (30 October 2003). Retrieved 29 September 2012. They married in 1986 and have a daughter, Sana and a son, Sooraj. News of their turbulent marriage, her husband's temper and rumours of infidelity have been in the gossip columns.DNA – After Hrs – ‘I have a short memory for bad things’ – Daily News & Analysis . Daily News and Analysis. (3 July 2006). Retrieved 29 September 2012. Wahab's daughter is an actress.City Times – To be or not to be... like mum?. Khaleejtimes.com (23 March 2007). Retrieved 29 September 2012. Her son, Sooraj, was arrested in June 2013, in connection with the death of Jiah Khan. He made his Bollywood debut with Sunil Shetty's daughter Athiya Shetty in 2015 in the movie Hero.
In 2024, she defended her husband and her son during controversies.
Filmography Feature films + List of Zarina Wahab film credits Year Title Role Language Notes 1974 Ishq Ishq Ishq Prema Hindi 1975 Anokha Sudha Manchanda Gajula Kishtayya Radha Telugu 1976 Chitchor Geeta P. Choudry Hindi Raeeszada Julie 1977 Gharaonda Chaya Navarathinam Pushparagam, Tamil Agar... If Anju Agarwal Hindi 1978 Tumhare Liye Rajnartaki Madanolsavam Elizabeth Malayalam Anpadh Jyoti Hindi Amara Prema Jaya Mala Telugu Tumhare Liye Rajnartaki Hindi 1979 Gopal Krishna Radha Jeena Yahan Sushma Guest appearance Salaam Memsaab Radha Sawan Ko Aane Do Chandramukhi Naiyya Geeta Do Hawaldar Paro 1980 Chamaram Indu Malayalam Naayattu Bhavani Swattu Rohini Mr. Michael Lilly Prathishta Pappu Herself Cameo Sitara Dhaniya/Sarita Hindi Aakhri Insaaf Taxi Chor Ruby Hema Hemeelu Seeta Telugu Jazbaat Sapna/Sangeeta Hindi 1981 Ek Aur Ek Gyarah Hirnibai Roohi Sajjo/Roohi Aakhri Mujra Sitara Paanch Qaidi Shanti Khoon Ki Takkar Rajju Ammakkorumma Sindhu Malayalam Palangal Usha 1982 Sara Varsham Savitha Enthino Pookunna Pookal Savithri Football Celine Veedu Sumi Barrister Hindi Tadap Shaila Maine Jeena Seekh Liya Reema Shiv Charan Bijili Karwat 1983KaivarisaiJaisankar's sisterTamil Dard-E-Dil Reshma Hindi Chor Police Anjana Paanchwin Manzil Meena Lal Chunariyaa Kamini Parasparam Meera Malayalam 1984 Hanste Khelte Meena Hindi Manasariyathe Sindhu Malayalam 1985 Punnaram Cholli Cholli Vinodini Choodatha Pookal Sreedevi Hum Naujawan Meenakshi Hindi 1986 Amrit Savitri Sharma Adhikar Rita Inteqam Ki Aag Seema Dahleez Jameela Ali 1987 Ee Bandha Anubandha Kannada Maashuka Hindi Dozakh Dancer Mera Yaar Mera Dushman 1989 Toofan Mrs. Laxmi Gopal Sharma 1992 Jai Kaali Divya 1995 Mera Damad Kimi/Sunita Choudhry 2001 Zindagi Geeta 2004 Dil Maange More!!! Kavita 2005 Kisna: The Warrior Poet Shanta 2006 Jaane Hoga Kya Mrs. Krishnan Prateeksha Kunti 2007 Kaisay Kahein Mrs. Rao 2008 Kabadi Kabadi Malayalam 2009 Calendar Thankam Joseph 2010 Aagathan Malathi Varma My Name Is Khan Razia Khan Hindi Rakta Charitra Jayalakshmi Hindi Telugu Rakta Charitra 2 Hindi Telugu Khilafath Malayalam Malik Ek Shanti Hindi 2011 Adaminte Makan Abu Aishumma Malayalam Naayika HerselfCameo 2012 Agneepath Suhasini Chauhan Hindi 2013 I, Me, aur Main Nisha Sabharwal Himmatwala Savitri Vishwaroopam Psychiatrist Tamil Aaru Sundarimaarude Katha Chachi Moothedan Malayalam Olipporu Olipporali's mother Club 60 Mrs. Sinha Hindi Zila Ghaziabad Satbeer's mother 2014 Bobby Jasoos Saida Love U Crazy Girl Khushi's mother 2015 Dil Dhadakne Do Smita Sangha 2016 Chalk n Duster Indu Shastry Yea Toh Two Much Ho GayaaMann's mother Anbendraale AmmaMotherTamilShort film2017Viswasapoorvam Mansoor SairabanuMalayalamThrissivaperoor KlipthamAmmachi Jia Aur Jia Jia Grewal's mother Hindi The Door Mother 2019Minnaminukalude Aakasham Malayalam The Last Meal Mother HindiAnd the Oscar Goes To... UmmukulsuMalayalamPriyapettavar Menon's motherPhoto onlyPM Narendra Modi Hiraben ModiHindiOne Day: Justice DeliveredAbdul's mom Junction VaranasiMamta Mudda 370 J&KSuraj's mother 2020Mai Gayatri Jadhav LawyerMain Mulayam Singh Yadav Mulayam's motherThe Lovers Nithya's motherThe Waiting MehakGuns of BanarasGuddu's motherStreet Dancer 3DAmrinder's mother 2021Mera Fauji Calling Maaji2022Before You Die Hero of Nation Chandra Shekhar AzadJagrani DeviLalitham SundaramMary Das MalayalamVirata ParvamRavi's mother Telugu Ishq Pashmina Hindi 2023Lafzon Mein Pyaar Devki Ajmer 92 Urmila The Purvanchal Files Ritesh Pandey's mother 2024 Devara: Part 1 Devara's mother Telugu Manamey Tony’s wife 2025 Jaat Amma Hindi 2026 The RajaSaab Gangamma Telugu Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu Vara Prasad’s mother Dacoit: A Love Story Juliet’s mother September 21 Sudha Teesri Begum Hindi
Television series Year Serial Role Notes1999Naya ZamanaDr.Shubhada Singh, Principal of college2000Babul Ki Duwayen Leti JaaProf Nafisa SiddiquiKyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Tulsi's Childhood friend2001–2003 HeenaNagma Begum2002–2004KammalRini Sanyaal2004–2005Tumhari DishaSuhasini Vijayendra Bhonsale2005KohinoorMrs Kohli, Iravati Mom2006–2007ZaaraSana Khan2006–2009Kashmakash Zindagi KiPooja's Mother2007–2008VirrudhVasudha Mother2009–2010Yahaaan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli Pratibha Jagmohan Prasad2012Savdhaan IndiaRajjo One EpisodeSajda Tere Pyaar MeinMahendra Pratap Mother2012–2013Madhubala Ek Ishq Ek JunoonMeera Malik Sultan Mother2014FIR Bajrang Pandey's Mother2014Zindagi Ek BhanwarSharda Devi2016Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hai Ketki Gaikwad
Web series
Year Title Role Language Network Ref2016Love Life & Screw UpsHoneyHindi2022TanaavNabeela RiazHindiSony Liv2023Taj: Divided by Blood Salima Sultan Begum Hindi Zee5Tooth Pari: When Love Bites Mamta Hindi NetflixKafas NeelimaHindiSony Liv P I Meena Chandana Dey Hindi Amazon Prime Video2024 Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: The Messiah Azizunnisa Begum Urdu Apple TV
Awards and nominations Nominated–Filmfare Award for Best Actress (1977) for Gharonda
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External links