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Neelo (Begum) Shahid 1940 - 2021

Neelo (Begum) Shahid was born on June 3, 1940 in Bhera, Sargodha County, Punjab Pakistan, and died at age 80 years old on January 30, 2021 in Lahore.

Neelo (Begum) Shahid

Born: Cynthia Alexander Fernandes. After converting to Islam: Abida Riaz.

June 3, 1940

Bhera, Sargodha County, Punjab, Pakistan

January 30, 2021

Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

Female

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Neelo (Begum) Shahid Neelo Shahid (1940 - 2021)

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Neelo (Begum) Shahid's History: 1940 - 2021

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Introduction

Famous Pakistani and Punjabi Movie Star. Neelo Begum (born Cynthia Alexander Fernandes) 3 June 1940 – 30 January 2021. was a Pakistani film actress from Lahore, and the mother of film actor Shaan Shahid. Early life and career Neelo was born on 30 June 1940 in Bhera, Sargodha, Pakistan. At age 16, she appeared in Bhowani Junction (1956), a Hollywood film shot in and around Lahore. She got her big breakthrough in Pakistani films when she performed the song, "Aaye Mausam, Rangilay Suhanay" in the film Saat Lakh (1957) with music by Rasheed Attre. Controversies In 1965, at the peak of her popularity, she was summoned by Nawab Malik Amir Mohammad Khan, then Governor of West Pakistan, to dance on stage for the Shah of Iran during his official visit to Pakistan; but she refused to do it for her own reasons. Harassed and threatened, Neelo faced dire consequences for refusing to obey official orders. She was allegedly gang molested and attempted suicide on the way to the Governor's house and was taken to a hospital instead, where the doctors saved her life. News of the incident generated a widespread public backlash against the Nawab. The renowned leftist poet Habib Jalib, on hearing of the incident, expressed his anguish in his poem over her attempted suicide: "Tu kay nawaqif-e-aadab-e-ghulami hae abhi...raqs zanjeer pehan ker bhi kya jata hae" (meaning: "unaware art thou yet of the rites of enslavement...dance can be performed even while enchained".) Later this poem was used in the film Zarqa (1969) with slight changes in the words and ended up becoming a super-hit film song in Pakistan. The film song became much more relevant, effective and popular because it was picturized on Neelo herself and was based on similar real life events in Neelo's life. She also won the Best Actress Nigar Award for the film Zarqa (1969). It had superb music by Wajahat Attre and was sung by Mehdi Hassan. Film Zarqa (1969) was produced and directed by Riaz Shahid who also wrote its screenplay. Neelo helped her husband, Riaz Shahid, produce this film and it became the best-known film of her career. Personal life Neelo was born into a Christian family. (Episcopalian or Church of England) She adopted the name Abida Riaz after accepting Islam at the time of her marriage to film screenwriter and film director Riaz Shahid.
06/3

1940

Birthday

June 3, 1940

Birthdate

Bhera, Sargodha County, Punjab Pakistan

Birthplace

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Religious Beliefs

Her mother, Mrs. Begum was very religious and helped support an Episcopalian Church in Pakistan. Neelo was devoted to her children and her family.
Professional Career

Filmography • 1956 Bhowani Junction • 1956: Sabira • 1957: Anjaam • 1957: Bholey Khan • 1957: Pasban • 1957: Sehti • 1957: Saat Laakh • 1957: Yakke Wali • 1957: Aankh Ka Nashah • 1958: Akhri Nishan • 1958: Changez Khan • 1958: Darbar • 1958: Jan-e-Bahar • 1958: Jatti • 1958: Kachian Kaliyan • 1958: Mumtaz • 1958: Nayi Larki • 1958: Neya Daur • 1958: Sheikh Chilli • 1958: Zehr-e-Ishq • 1959: Koel • 1959: Lalkaar • 1959: Lukkan Mitti • 1959: Neend • 1959: Shama • 1959: Shera • 1959: Sola Aanay • 1959: Suchhey Moti • 1959: Saathi • 1959: Yaar Beli • 1960: Alladin Ka Beta • 1960: Ayaz • 1960: Insaaf • 1960: Khyber Mail • 1960: Manzil • 1960: Neelofar • 1960: Shehzadi • 1960: Street 77 • 1961: Bara Bajje[4] • 1961: Do Raste[5] • 1961: Subha Kahin Sham Kahin[5] • 1962: Azra • 1962: Banjaran • 1962: Barsaat mein • 1962: Darwaza • 1962: Dosheeza • 1962: Ghunghat • 1962: Husn-o-Ishq • 1962: Unche Mahal • 1963: Barat • 1963: Daaman • 1963: Ishq par zor nahin • 1963: Kala Aadmi • 1963: Mouj Mela • 1963: Qatal ke baad • 1963: Shikwa • 1963: Aman • 1964: Beti • 1964: Daachi • 1964: Gehra Daagh • 1964: Jugni • 1964: Khyber Pass • 1964: Mera Mahi • 1964: Nehle peh Dehla • 1964: Sher di Bachi • 1965: Fareb • 1965: Jeedar • 1965: Raqqasa • 1966: Abba Jee • 1966: Ann Parh • 1966: Badnaam • 1966: Chughalkhor • 1966: Laado • 1966: Mr. Allah Ditta • 1966: Naghma.e-Sehra • 1966: Nizam Lohar • 1966: Payal Ki Jhankar • 1967: Chattan • 1967: Dil Da Jani • 1967: Neeli Baar • 1967: Ravi Paar • 1967: Sham Savera • 1967: Yaar Maar • 1968: Jag Beeti • 1968: Lala Rukh • 1968: Paristan • 1968: Wohti • 1969: Aukha Jatt • 1969: Zarqa • 1971: Karishma • 1974: Khatarnaak • 1975: Athra • 1975: Balwant Kaur • 1975: Dhan Jigra Maa Da • 1975: Heera Phumman • 1975: Izzat • 1975: Jailor te Qaidi • 1975: Mera Naa Patey Khan • 1975: Rajjo • 1975: Sir Da Badla • 1975: Sultana Daku • 1975: Watan Iman • 1976: Ayyash • 1976: Gangu Puttar Maa Da • 1976: Jatt Kurrian Taun Darda • 1976: Khaufnaak • 1976: Kil Kil Mera Naa • 1976: Pindiwal • 1976: Wardat • 1977: Ajj Dian Kurrian • 1977: Akhri Goli • 1977: Danka • 1977: Jurm main keeta si • 1977: Malikzada • 1977: Mere Badshah • 1977: Sadqay Teri Mout Tun • 1977: Tera vi jawab nahin • 1978: Chamman Khan • 1978: Gharib da baal • 1978: Ghunda • 1978: Haidar Daler • 1978: Inqalab • 1978: Mazi, haal aur mustaqbil • 1978: Nazrana • 1978: Sharif Shehri • 1978: Tax • 1979: General Bakht Khan • 1979: Mout meri zindagi • 1979: Order • 1980: Chhotay Nawab • 1980: Heera Puttar • 1982: Khatra 440 • 1989: Barood ki Chhaon • 1990: Bulandi • 1990: Jur'at • 2013: Waar Awards and recognition • Nigar Award for Best Supporting Actress in film Koel (1959) • Nigar Award for Best Supporting Actress in film Aman (1963) • Nigar Award for Best Actress in film Zarqa (1969) • Nigar Award- Special Awards, Millennium Award (1999) Death[edit] She died on 30 January 2021 in Lahore.
01/30

2021

Death

January 30, 2021

Death date

Cancer.

Cause of death

Lahore, Punjab Pakistan
Death location

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Obituary

Veteran film star Neelo passes away The Newspaper's Staff Reporter Published January 31, 2021 LAHORE: Veteran Pakistani film actress Neelo died in hospital on Saturday. She was 81. Neelo was admitted to a private hospital three weeks ago due to some ailments. She was born Cynthia Alexander Fernandes in Bhera city of Sargodha district on June 3, 1940. Neelo is the only Pakistani actress to have worked in a popular Hollywood film, ‘Bhowani Junction’ -- starring Ava Gardner and Stewart Granger, which also marked her film debut. She then started working in local films a junior artiste and gradually rose from playing second-lead roles to a leading lady. However, it was her character in the film‘Zarqa’that proved to be her breakthrough. She essayed the title role of a Palestinian freedom fighter that made ‘Zarqa’ the first diamond jubilee film of Pakistan and is regarded as one of the best films in the country. Neelo married producer Riaz Shahid after converting to Islam and changed her name to Abida Riaz. She was a mother to three children – Zarqa, film star Shaan and Aijaz, who also worked in a few movies. Neelo worked in 134 Urdu and Punjabi films and won several Nigar Awards for her acting as well as two for the Best Producer and Best Film. On her death, her actor son Shaan Shahid tweeted: “It is with the saddest of heart I share the departure of my mother as she has gone to her creator.” Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2021

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9 Memories, Stories & Photos about Neelo

Amanda S. Stevenson

16.8k+ favorites

07/09/2021

Neelo and Riaz Shahid.

Wedding Photo.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

16.8k+ favorites

07/09/2021

She was my neighbor when she was living in Elmhurst, Queens in New York City.

It was around 1980.
When we were walking to a restaurant in Elmhurst, Queens, Pakistani women would stop suddenly and yell, "Neelo!"
We would laugh together. Neelo was the Doris Day of Pakistan.
It was when Shaan was 15 and his older brother was in high school. Their sister was in Lahore. They were staying with their grandmother Mrs. Begum and their uncle, Zulfikar. Mrs. Begum was a very warm and caring person and cooked for the family. Everyone spoke English in an educated manner. They also welcomed various other relatives into their apartment.
One day Neelo told me that she was homesick but her telephone was out of order. So I said, "Come over to my apartment and use my telephone and we can tape-record the conversation and whenever you get homesick, you can play it."
She loved that idea and made the call from my apartment. It was 6 A.M. in Lahore and everyone wanted to talk to her. It made her very happy. Shaan was a teenager and fifteen and very unhappy in his school. All he wanted to do was go home to Lahore. I felt he would be hugely successful as an action movie star like Arnold Schwarzennegger. He didn't believe me at all. I told him that he should take lessons in karate and judo and as he got older he would be taller and better looking. I also promised to talk to his mother about his future as a movie star. Neelo listened carefully and she could understand that he would grow into that role and agreed to send him home. Before he left, Shaan gave me many records as presents which I have always treasured.

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