Actress Zaheeda Hussain, widely recognised by her mononym, is a retired Hindi film actress with limited Bollywood projects. At the age of 79, she has been absent from the film industry for an extended period. Despite being an initial hit film, Zaheeda is among the actresses who faded into obscurity. Interestingly, she is Sanjay Dutt’s sister and was once enamoured with Dev Anand.
Numerous enchanting actresses left a lasting impact on Bollywood. While some remain unforgettable over the years, others gained momentary fame before fading into anonymity. In the realms of the 60s and 70s, the captivating Zaheeda Hussain stands out in the memories of cinema enthusiasts. Even now, her fans fondly recall her through the timeless charm of her popular song Churi Nahin Ye Mera Dil Hai.
Zaheeda, the daughter of Akhtar Hussain, was related to blockbuster actress Nargis, as they shared a family connection through Nargis’s mother, Jaddanbai. Jaddanbai’s complex marital history included marriages to Narottam Das Khatri (Bachhubhai), Irshad Meer Khan (resulting in a son Akhtar Hussain and a daughter Zahida), and Mohanchand Uttamchand Tyagi (Abdul Rashid), who is the father of Nargis. Consequently, Sanjay Dutt (Nargis’s son) and Zaheeda (Akhtar Hussain’s daughter) are siblings in this intricate family lineage.
Despite a limited filmography, Zaheeda carved a distinctive niche in cinema. Dev Anand played a pivotal role in launching her Bollywood career, offering Zaheeda her first opportunity. Her debut as a lead actress came in 1968 with Anokhi Raat, followed by the 1970 film Prem Pujari, where she shared the screen with Dev Anand.
Coming from a film-oriented family, Zaheeda harboured aspirations of emulating her aunt Nargis and grandmother Jaddanbai. Her dream materialised in 1971 when director Amarjeet cast her as the lead actress in the film Gambler.
After two successful collaborations, Zaheeda had the opportunity to work with Dev Anand again in the blockbuster Hare Rama Hare Krishna. However, she declined the role as it required her to play Dev Anand’s sister, whereas she aspired for a romantic role alongside him. Consequently, Zeenat Aman took on the part and charmed the audience, leaving an indelible mark on the film.
Facing a slowdown in her career, Zaheeda Hussain chose a different path and married businessman Kesri Nandan Sahay. The couple had two sons, Nilesh Sahay and Brajesh. Nilesh entered the film industry with his debut in Ganesh Acharya’s 2011 film Angel. Following her marriage, Zaheeda bid farewell to the film industry, embracing the role of a homemaker and gradually faded from the public eye.
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