Nargis, born Fatima Rashid on June 1, 1929, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), was one of the finest actresses of Bollywood’s Golden Age. She began acting as a child and soon became one of the industry’s leading stars.

Her partnership with Raj Kapoor produced classics such as Barsaat, Awaara, and Shree 420. However, her career-defining performance came in Mother India (1957), where she portrayed a resilient village mother struggling against adversity. The film earned international acclaim and was India’s first Oscar-nominated movie.

After marrying actor Sunil Dutt, she devoted much of her time to social work and later served as a member of the Rajya Sabha. She remains a symbol of dignity and excellence in Indian cinema.