Sabira Begum better known as Asha Posley (Punjabi, ; 31 May 1927 – 25 March 1998) was a Pakistani actress and singer. She is recognized as the first heroine of Pakistani films when she acted in Pakistani's first film Teri Yaad. The recipient of the Nigar Award For 30 Years of Excellence, she debuted in Lollywood films with Teri Yaad (1948), and also appeared in television dramas.
Some of her notable films, include Sassi (1954), Noukar (1955), Dulla Bhatti (1956), Noor-e-Islam (1957), Ishq-e-Laila (1957), Mukhra (1958), Aaina (1966), Insaniyat (1967) and Main Zinda Hun (1968).
Early life Asha Posley was born as Sabira Begum in Patiala, Punjab, British India in 1927.
Asha Posley was the daughter of music composer Inayat Ali Nath, who worked with His Master's Voice in Delhi, and the sister of renowned film playback singer Kausar Parveen and her other sisters were Rani Kiran and Najma Begum. She started singing at the age of four and used to sing in children's radio programmes at All India Radio in Delhi. Asha's younger brother Shamsher Ali was a musician. She started performing in theatre plays and dramas in Urdu and Punjabi. During that time her theatres dramas became very popular and she was trained in singing by her father Inayat Ali Nath. She was skilled in singing ghazal, geet, tappe, thumri and dadra.
In 1940 she moved from Delhi to Lahore along with her family. She accompanied her father to the studios to watch the shooting of director B. R Sethi's 1942 film Gawandhi and he offered her a role in the film which she accepted.
Career She made her debut as a supporting actress in Lahore-made Punjabi film Gawandi (1942), then the lead role in Hindi film Champa (1945), filmed in British India. She was given her professional name Asha Posley by the renowned music director Ghulam Haider. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, she migrated with her family to the newly created Pakistan.
She was the heroine of the first-ever released film in Pakistan in Urdu language, Teri Yaad (1948). She played the female lead opposite Nasir Khan, famous Indian actor Dilip Kumar's brother, who played the male lead in the film. After playing the female lead role in films during 1940s, 1950s and 1960s then she was cast mainly in supporting roles especially opposite comedian actors Nazar and Asif Jah in most of her films. She acted in 143 films during her film career spanning over 4 decades.(Karan Bali) Asha Posley profile on Upperstall.com website Retrieved 28 June 2021
In 1982 she was honored with Nigar Award For 30 Years of Excellence which was given to her by Ilyas Rashidi for her contributions towards the film industry.
Later she transitioned to television and worked in numerous drama serials by appearing in various character roles in television dramas. In 1995 she appeared in drama Red Card which was written by Rimsha it aired on both PTV and STN.
Personal life Posley's younger sister Kausar Parveen was playback singer in 1950s and 1960s. Her other younger sister Najma was the actress of Urdu and Punjabi television dramas. Asha's younger brother Shamsher Ali was a musician.
Death Asha Posley died on 26 March 1998 at Lahore, Pakistan at age 70.
Filmography Television series YearTitleRoleNetwork1976 Asha Tamasha Asha PTV1983 Silver Jubilee Herself PTV1995 Red Card Nani PTV
Films Year Film Language Role 1942 Gowandhi Punjabi 1945 Champa Hindi / Urdu 1946 Shehar Say Door Aai Bahar Badnami Kamli Punjabi Khamosh Nigahen Hindi / Urdu Paraye Bas Mein 1947 Ek Roz Roop Lekha Arsi Papiha Ray Barsat Ki Ek Raat Visakhi Punjabi 1948 Papiha Re Hindi Teri Yaad Urdu 1950 Galat Fehmi 1952 Shola 1953 Awaz Shehri Babu Barkha Mehbooba 1954 Sassi Parvaz 1955 Pattan Punjabi Noukar Urdu Bulbul Punjabi Jheel Kinaray Urdu Toofan Nazrana Khizan Kay Baad 1956 Dulla Bhatti Punjabi Morni Kismet Urdu Chhoti Begum Peengan Punjabi Intezar Urdu Pawan Wehshi Hatim Guddi Guddi Punjabi 1957 Aas Pas Urdu Ishq-e-Laila Seestan Pholay Khan Punjabi Sardar Urdu Noor-e-Islam Pasban 1958 Sheikh Chilli Punjabi Changez Khan Urdu Mukhra Punjabi Neya Zamana Urdu Anarkali Tamanna Ghar Jawai Punjabi 1959 Alam Ara Urdu Muskarahat Pardesan Punjabi Lukkan Meeti Naghma-e-Dil Urdu 1960 Noukari 1961 Son of Ali Baba Gul Bakavli Ham Ek Hayn Muftbar Punjabi 1963 Maa Kay Aansoo Urdu 1964 Ishrat Ashiana Malang Punjabi 1965 Hadd Harram Dil Ke Tukre Urdu Zamin 1966 Gowandhi Punjabi Majboor Urdu Jalwa Goonga Punjabi Ghar Ka Ujala Urdu Aaina 1967 Bahadur Insaniyat Wohti Punjabi Mela 1968 Mehndi Meri Dosti Mera Pyar Urdu Ashiq Main Zinda Hun Ghar Pyara Ghar 5 Darya Punjabi 1969 Run Murid Pak Daaman Urdu 1970 Afsana BeQasoor Gul Bakavli Punjabi Insan Aur Aadmi Urdu Bahadur Kissan Punjabi 2 Baghi Urdu Dera Sajna Da Punjabi 1971 Sher Puttar Yaaden Urdu Insaf Aur Qanoon Parai Aag Des Mera Jeedaran Da Punjabi Mastana Mahi Aansoo Bahaye Pathron Nay Urdu 1972 Khan Chacha Punjabi Dil Naal Sajjan Day Sohna Jani Changa Khoon Nizam 1973 Sehray Kay Phool Urdu Daku Tay Insan Punjabi Wichhria Sathi Ghairat Meray Veer Di Rangeela Aur Munawar Zarif Urdu 1974 Sohna Daku Punjabi Chakkarbaz Urdu 1976 Raja Jani Insan Aur Farishta Kharidar Jatt Kurian Tun Darda Punjabi Mafroor Goonj Uthi Shehnai Urdu Zaroorat 1977 Aj Diyan Kurrian Punjabi 1978 Nidarr Aali Jah Ghazi Ilmuddin Shaheed Santri Badshah Curfew Order 1979 Ham Sab Chor Hayn Urdu Chaltay Chaltay 1980 Takkar Punjabi 1981 Sala Sahib Yeh Zamana Aur Hay Urdu 1982 Ek Din Bahu Ka Wohti Jee Punjabi 1984 Shanakhti Card Kalyar Dil Maa Da 1985 Khuddar 1986 Insaf 1996 Raju Ban Geya Gentleman Urdu
Awards and recognition Year Award Category Result Title Ref. 1982 Nigar Award For 30 Years of Excellence Contribution to Cinema
See also List of Pakistani actresses
References
External links