Deeba (Urdu: دِیبا; born 1 August 1947) is one of Pakistan's most popular actresses in the 1960s and 1970s. She is best 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.[4][5]

Deeba
دِیبا
Born
Raheela Begum

(1947-08-01) 1 August 1947 (age 77)
Other namesPakistani Mona Lisa[1]
Occupations
Years active1956 – present
Spouse
Naeem Rizvi
(m. 1971⁠–⁠2016)
ChildrenMadiha Rizvi (daughter)
Imran Rizvi (son)
RelativesHassan Noman (son-in-law)
AwardsPride of Performance (2020)[2]
Nigar Award:
Special Award for Sajna Door Diya (1970)[3]

Early life and career

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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.[4] 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.[4]

She got a breakthrough in Chiragh Jalta Raha (1962), a Fazal Karim Fazli's 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 hamarey khuwab tumharey (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.[5][4] She acted in several television plays in the early 2000s.

Personal life

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Childhood tragedy

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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.[6][7]

Marriage

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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.[4] She has three children, including daughter Madiha Rizvi, who is also an actress, and son Imran Rizvi, who is an actor.[8]

Pakistani Mona Lisa

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Deeba's cheerful, innocent look has earned her the nickname "the Pakistani Mona Lisa.".[1][9]

List of television projects

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Television series

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Year Title Role Network
1999 Boota from Toba Tek Singh Zohra Begum PTV
2004 Moorat Sughra ARY Digital
2005 Riyasat Shahnawaz's wife ARY Digital
2006 Manzil Mahjabeen ARY Digital
2007 Khuda Gawah Saman's mother ATV
Sarkar Sahab Shahi ARY Digital
2012 Saheliyan Nani PTV

Telefilm

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Year Title Role
2004 Mother of Desert Shabbir's mother

Filmography

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Film

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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 Urdu
Dil Ke Tukre Urdu
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[10]
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[11]
Aansoo Urdu
1972 Zindgi Ek Safar Hai Urdu[12]
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 Punjabi
1978 Amber Urdu
Seeta Maryam Margaret Urdu
1979 Goga Sher Punjabi[13]
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[14]
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

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Year Award Category Result Title Ref.
1970 Nigar Award Special Award Won Sajna Door Diya [3]
2020 Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan Won Herself [2][15][16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Fame and fidelity". Dawn (newspaper). 2 August 2007. Archived from the original on 15 May 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Veteran Actors Ghulam Mohiuddin and Deeba to Receive Pride of Performance Award". Box Office. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Pakistan's "Oscars"; The Nigar Awards". Desi Movies Reviews. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Profile of Deeba". Pakistan Film Magazine website. 17 August 2004. Archived from the original on 5 March 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  5. ^ a b Omair Alavi (1 August 2017). "Happy Birthday Deeba - Samaa TV". Samaa TV News website. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  6. ^ "الفاظ کا دیوتا: محی الدین نواب – ڈاکٹر عبدالحی". Adbi Miras. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  7. ^ "فلمی و ادبی شخصیات کے سکینڈلز۔ ۔ ۔علی سفیان آفاقی". Roznama Pakistan. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Flashback: The Face that Launched a Thousand Films". Dawn News. 23 June 2022.
  9. ^ "لالی وڈ کی مونا لیزا کہاں ہے؟". Roznama Duniya. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  10. ^ Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 263. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
  11. ^ Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 269. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
  12. ^ Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 272. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
  13. ^ Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 294. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
  14. ^ Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 341. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
  15. ^ "Deeba Rizvi Received Pride Of Performance Award". Reviewit.pk. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  16. ^ Ibne Safi, Fehmida Riaz among 116 recipients of civil awards Dawn (newspaper), Published 14 August 2019, Retrieved 5 December 2021
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