Deeba (; born 1 August 1947) is a Pakistani actress of the 1960s and 1970s. She is known for her romantic and tragic roles in Urdu and Punjabi films and for her iconic beauty, earning her the nickname the Pakistani Mona Lisa. Deeba also received two major awards: the Nigar Award and the Pride of Performance.
Early life and career Named Raheela at birth, Deeba was born in Ranchi, Bihar, British India, on 1 August 1947. In the 1950s, she was living with her married sister near Karachi Cantonment railway station in a slum area of Karachi. She started her career as a child actress in the film Miss 56 (1956) and was nicknamed "Chutanki" as she was still a little girl.
She got a breakthrough in Chiragh Jalta Raha (1962), a Fazal Ahmad Karim Fazli film. Her performances in several films, such as Milan (1964), Khamosh Raho (1964), Aina (1966), Payal ki jhankar (1966), Doraha, Sangdil (1968), Dard (1969), Sajna Door Diya (1970), Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare (1971), Ansoo (1971), Pardes (1972), and Seeta Maryam Margaret (1978), have won critical acclaim. She played many supporting characters, including the on-screen mother, in several films throughout most of the 1980s and 1990s. She acted in several television plays in the early 2000s.
Personal life Childhood tragedy As a child, Deeba lost her father, and her mother was separated from her during the partition of British India into Pakistan and India. She was taken to Karachi by her aunt and uncle, not knowing the fate of her mother until she became a film actress. In 1964, during the filming of her movie "Milan", her picture was published in a Dhaka film magazine. Her mother saw that picture and recognized her as her daughter Raheela. The Bengali writer Mohiuddin Nawab, who happened to be a neighbor of Deeba's mother in Dhaka, heard her story and wrote to the magazine. When Deeba saw an article about her mother in a magazine, she immediately began searching for her and eventually found her in Pakistan. After reuniting, she brought her mother with her to Lahore, where she continued her film career.
Marriage Deeba married cameraman Naeem Rizvi in 1971 and left the silver screen for 10 years. However, financial hardships made her join the Pakistani film industry again in 1987 as a supporting actress. She has three children, including daughter Madiha Rizvi and son Imran Rizvi, who are both actors.
List of television projects Television series YearTitleRoleNetwork1999 Boota from Toba Tek Singh Zohra Begum PTV2004 Moorat Sughra ARY Digital2005 Riyasat Shahnawaz's wife ARY Digital2006 Manzil Mahjabeen ARY Digital2007 Khuda Gawah Saman's mother ATV Sarkar Sahab Shahi ARY Digital2012 Saheliyan Nani PTV
Telefilm YearTitleRole2004 Mother of Desert Shabbir's mother
Filmography Film Year Film Language 1956 Miss 56 Urdu 1959 Faisla Urdu 1962 Chiragh Jalta Raha Urdu Dosheeza Urdu Mehboob Urdu 1963 Jab Say Dekha Hay Tumhen Urdu Sazish Urdu 1964 Milan Bengali Chingari Urdu 1965 Riwaj UrduDil Ke TukreUrdu Sartaj Urdu Ham Matwalay Nojawan Urdu Zamin Urdu 1966 Payal Ki Jhankaar Urdu Aina Urdu 1967 Phir Subah Hogi Urdu 1968 Sangdil Urdu Behan Bhai Urdu 1969 Ishara Urdu C.I.D. Urdu Tumhi Ho Mehboob Meray Urdu Dard Urdu Ghar Damaad Urdu Aneela Urdu Buzdil Urdu 1970 Afsana Urdu Sajnan Door Dia Punjabi Anjuman Urdu 1971 Neend Humari Khawab Tumharay Urdu Aansoo Urdu 1972 Zindgi Ek Safar Hai Urdu Ek Raat Urdu 1974 Shama Urdu Haqeeqat Urdu 1975 Saajan Rang Rangeela Urdu Haku Punjabi Jageer Urdu Ajj Di Gall Punjabi Shikwa Urdu Nakabandi Punjabi Ajnabi Urdu 1976 Koshish Urdu 1977 Sadqay Teri Mout Tun Punjabi1978 Amber Urdu Seeta Maryam Margaret Urdu 1979 Goga Sher Punjabi Nishana Urdu 1980 Zamir Urdu Double Cross Urdu Nahin Abhi Nahin Urdu 1981 Qurbani Urdu Athra Tay Jeedar Punjabi 1983 Aakhri Dushman Punjabi 1984 Chor Chokidar Punjabi 1985 Da Veenay Daray Pashto 1987 Mera Insaf Urdu 1988 Sakhi Daata Punjabi Dushman Dada Pashto Roti Punjabi 1989 Kraye Kay Qatil Urdu Miss Allah Rakhi Punjabi Mera Challenge Punjabi Inteqam Ham Lain Gay Urdu 1990 Sarmaya Punjabi 1991 Watan Kay Rakhwalay Punjabi / Urdu 1992 Muhib Sheedi Sindhi 1993 Mr. Charlie Urdu Khuda Gawah Punjabi / Urdu Daku, Chor, Siphai Punjabi / Urdu Ilzam Punjabi / Urdu No Baby No Punjabi / Urdu Mr. Tabedar Urdu 1994 International Luteray Punjabi / Urdu 1995 Jeeva Urdu Gabhar Singh Punjabi Main Nay Pyar Kiya Punjabi / Urdu Sargam Urdu Panah Urdu 1996 Hawaen Urdu 1997 Karam Data Punjabi / Urdu Deevanay Teray Pyar Kay Urdu 1998 Deewaren Urdu Nikah Urdu Dulha Lay Kay Jaun Gi Urdu Choorian Punjabi 1999 Nikki Jei Haan Punjabi Ik Pagal Si Larki Urdu Jazba Urdu Pal Do Pal Urdu 2000 Angaray Urdu Yaar Badshah Punjabi Pehchan Urdu Meri Touba Punjabi 2001 Khoye Ho Tum Kahan Urdu Aaj Ki Larki Urdu Sapnay Apnay Apnay Urdu 2002 Kon Banay Ga Karorpati Urdu Fire Urdu 2008 Zill-e-Shah Punjabi
Awards and recognition Year Award Category Result Title Ref. 1970 Nigar Award Special Award Sajna Door Diya 2020 Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan Herself Ibne Safi, Fehmida Riaz among 116 recipients of civil awards Dawn (newspaper), Published 14 August 2019, Retrieved 5 December 2021
See also List of Pakistani actresses
References
External links