Our search engine ‘Google Doodle’ is celebrating an ace actor, choreographer, and what a dancer, Zohra Sehgal(27 April 1912 – 10 July 2014), and her film Neecha Nagar. The film was even released at Cannes Film Festival on this day in 1946. If you still fail to recognize who Zohra Sehgal is then let me give you a little hint. Remember Sharukh Khan’s dadi in the iconic movie ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’? Yes, right!
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Lesser-Known Facts About Zohra Ji
- Returned Mumbai after Partition: Zohra Ji first decided to live in Pakistan after the partition. However, they felt disconnected and thus returned to Mumbai, India. She worked in Prithviraj Kapoor’s theater for 14 long years as a stage artist.
- Suffered From Glaucoma: Zohra Ji lost her left eye at the age of ‘one’ due to glaucoma.
- Never Refused Any Role: She never refused any role in her life. Saw every opportunity and grabbed it like a precious stone. In an interview, she even said that even if it was a bad role, she would take it up and work on it.
- A Tomboy: The Late actress mentioned in various interviews that she used to be a tomboy. She used to climb trees and used to participate in more outdoor events.
Awards & Recognition
Zohra Sehgal received many commendations and awards during her lifetime. From Padma Shri in 1998 and Padma Vibhushan in 2010. India’s National academy for music dance and drama presented her with its highest award, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship for lifetime achievement.
She even worked in British films, television shows, and Bollywood productions in a career that spanned over 60 years! She also appeared in the James Ivory- directed – the Courtesans of Bombay. Continued to make a sporadic appearance in British films for the next few years; most notably in such productions as the Raj Quartet, The Jewel in the Crown, Tandoori Nights, and My Beautiful Laundrette.
