Farida Jalal

Career

Farida Jalal, who was born on 18 May 1950 in Bombay, started her career in the 1960s when she won the United Film Producers Talent Hunt sponsored by Filmfare in 1965. She, along with Rajesh Khanna was chosen as a finalist and both were presented on stage as winners at the Filmfare Awards function. She got her first film offer for Taqdeer from Tarachand Barjatya who happened to be in the audience. In an interview in 2014, she said, when asked her about the initial part of her career: "I started my acting career when I was just out of my school St Joseph's Convent in Panchgani, in a film called Taqdeer. I took part in a talent contest and even won. Kaka (Rajesh Khanna) and I were the finalists. How was I to know that I'd soon be doing a film Aradhana with him?".

She usually played the sister or rejected fiancée of the male lead. When asked as to how she started getting typecast as a hero's sister, she quoted in an interview: "It all started with Gopi where I was offered the greatest Mr Dilip Kumar's sister's role. Forget about refusing, I jumped at the offer. Even if I had the chance to just go and observe him on the set I'd have done it. I love the man. I remember during those days each and every actor was copying Dilip Saab whether it was Dharmendra, Jeetendra, or Manoj Kumar. I was much in demand as Dilip Saab's sister. Every hero wanted the same. Every actor wanted me to play his sister. Sometimes the sister was the film's heroine. The official heroine would just sing her songs, whereas I had all the dramatic scenes. I got my recognition and the awards. In a film called Paras I was Sanjeev Kumar's sister. But I had a lot more to do than Raakhee-di who played the heroine. I got my first award for it. Then I got my second award for Majboor, a film written by Salimbhai and Javedbhai where Bachchan Saab played my brother. It was so heartening. Why would I want to be heroine when I was getting the stronger parts as the sister?"

During the 1990s, Jalal had a part in many major films, among them Raja Hindustani, Dil To Pagal Hai, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1996. Farida Jalal played the lead in the film Mammo. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi, and Jalal won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics). She acted in many television serials, such as the sitcom Dekh Bhai Dekh.

In 2003, Jalal starred in Shararat, in which she played a leading role. In 2005, she co-hosted the 50th Filmfare Awards alongside Saif Ali Khan and Sonali Bendre, in Mumbai. In 2008, she made a special appearance in the Punjabi film Yaariyan. Later, she appeared in the soap opera Balika Vadhu.

Personal life

Jalal was married to actor Tabrez Barmavar, who hailed from Bhatkal, Karnataka. She met her husband on the sets of Jeevan Rekha and fell in love in the course of the film and got married in November 1978. The couple moved to Bangalore where her husband had a soap factory business. They have a son named Yaseen. Her husband died in September 2003.

In 2017, she was the victim of a death hoax. There were several fake reports on various websites about her death.

Filmography

Film

Television

Web

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. "Farida Jalal Awards: List of awards and nominations received by Farida Jalal {{!}} Times of India Entertainment".
2. 15 January 2019. (15 January 2019). "This is what filmmakers tell Farida Jalal on her wish to play negative character".
3. "Farida Jalal: The Iconic Character Artist | Tabassum Talkies".
4. (2000). "Farida Jalal – Interview (2000)". cineplot.com.
5. (9 December 2014). ""I virtually grew up and grew old in the industry" – Farida Jalal". [[Bollywood Hungama]].
6. Singh, Nisha. (12 December 2019). "Throwback Thursday: Dekh Bhai Dekh, the TV show that made India keep up with Diwans".
7. (14 March 2021). "Farida Jalal birthday: The veteran actress' throwback photos will take you down the memory lane". [[Zoom (Indian TV channel).
8. Basu, Nilanjana. (20 February 2017). "Farida Jalal Is Not Dead, Internet. 'Stop Spreading Fake News' Please - NDTV Movies". [[NDTV]].
9. Charukesi Ramadurai. (31 July 2012). "The best of Rajesh Khanna".
10. "Rakhi special: Bollywood's endearing bhai-bahen portrayals".
11. "Exclusive excerpt from Manik And I, My Life with Satyajit Ray".
12. (7 May 2011). "13 songs to dedicate this Mother's Day".
13. (April 2025). "Kya Kehna!".
14. "Bhagat Singh Films | Outlook India Magazine".
15. "rediff.com, Movies: Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein: Story in Pictures". Rediff.com.
16. "Taarzan The Wonder Car".
17. "Chaar Din Ki Chandni - Indian Express".
18. (29 July 2021). "Lines Movie Review: Hina Khan drives this film on love across Indo-Pak border".
19. "The Great Shamsuddin Family starring Farida Jalal, Sheeba Chaddha gets premiere date; trailer unveiled".
20. Kaur, Loveleen. (27 January 2026). "Welcome To The Jungle: Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon’s film to hit cinemas on June 26".
21. (20 May 2023). "Vaishnavi Macdonald To Play A Single Mother In Sanjay Mishra, Farida Jalal Starrer 'Karmaa Meets Kismet'".
22. (21 November 2014). "Funny, sweet dadi of Bollywood turns grumpy? I haven't got my due, says Farida Jalal".
23. (2014-11-22). "Dekh Bhai Dekh duo Farida Jalal-Bhavana Balsaver back after 20 years". The Times of India.
24. Chandra, Anupama. (31 January 1996). "A flourish of the pen". [[Living Media]].
25. (23 August 1998). "Recalling the Raj". The Tribune.
26. (6 October 1997). "Actors or anchors? Most telestars can be both with ease".
27. (6 April 1998). "Celebrities come calling on TV glamour shows".
28. "Tribuneindia... Film and tv".
29. Khosla, Mukesh. "Magic in the air waves...again! - The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum - Television".
30. (15 July 2005). "Frida Jalal meets 'Hero'".
31. (11 April 2009). "Farida Jalal hurt by SRK-Karan-Chopra - Times of India".
32. Seth, Shruti. (21 February 2010). "Farida Jalal makes a guest appearance in RISHTA.COM tonight at 8PM on Sony. I hope you'll all be watching".
33. (16 June 2011). "SAB TV launches 'Ammaji Ki Galli'".
34. (8 November 2022). "Farida Jalal joins Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi". The Times of India.
35. (April 2016). "Farida ji is a brilliant actress: Kulbhushan Kharbanda".
36. "Farida Jalal-starrer short film Mehram receives standing ovation at 5th Woodpecker International Film Festival held in Delhi".
37. (24 January 2019). "Farida Jalal: Want to play a negative character but no filmmaker wants to take that risk".
38. (22 January 2019). "Ruskin Bond's 'The Wind On Haunted Hill' on ZEE5: Here's what this ghost story is all about!".