Suraiya (1929–2004)

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Suraiya (1929–2004)

Indian actress and singer. Name variations: Suraiya Mubin. Born Suraiya Jamal Sheikh, 1929, in Lahore, Punjab, British India (now Pakistan); died Jan 31, 2004, in Bombay, India; never married.

Know as the Queen of Melody, made screen debut at 12 in Taj Mahal (1941), playing the young Mumtaz Mahal; first sang in the film Sharda (1942) and came to prominence in Omar Khayyam (1946); became India's most sought after singing film star; career peaked in 1948–49 with box-office hits Pyar Ki Jeet (The Triumph of Love), Badi Behan (Big Sister) and Dillagi (Mischief); acclaimed for film Mirza Ghalib (1954); starred opposite Dev Anand in Jeet (Victory, 1949) and Do Sitare (Two Stars, 1951); retired at age 34.