Zubeida

Acting

Zubeida

Born — Died

1911-01-01 — 1988-09-21

Place of birth

Surat, Gujarat, India

Known for

Acting

Credits

16 titles

Zubeida was a pioneering Indian actress who became a star of the silent film era and is best known for being the leading lady in Alam Ara (1931), the first Indian talkie film. Born in 1911 in Surat, Zubeida was the daughter of Nawab Sidi Ibrahim Muhammad Yakut Khan III and Fatima Begum, an actress who would later become one of India's first female film directors. Zubeida's two sisters, Sultana and Shahzadi, also became actresses, making them a trailblazing family in early Indian cinema. Zubeida began her career at the age of 12, appearing in silent films like Veer Abhimanyu (1922) and Kalyan Khajina (1924). She quickly gained popularity, starring in numerous films throughout the 1920s. Her…

Known for

Film credits

1930s · 6 titles

Alam Ara poster
6.5

A period fantasy that told of the ageing king of Kamarpur, and his two rival queens, Navbahar and Dilbahar, and their rivalry when a fakir predicts that Navbahar will bear the king's heir. Dilbahar unsuccessfully tries to seduce the army chief Adil (Vithal) and vengefully destroys his family, leaving his daughter Alam Ara (Zubeida) to be raised by nomads. Eventually, Alam Ara's nomad friends invade the palace, expose Dilbahar's schemes, release Adil from the dungeon and she marries the prince of the realm.

Alam Ara

1931

Zarina poster
8.0

An early Indian sound film, Zarina is a dramatic tale featuring Zubeida as a vibrant and passionate circus girl. The film explores a bold romance that reportedly pushed the boundaries of on-screen intimacy for its era, leading to early censorship debates.

Zarina

1932

Devdas poster
5.4

Devdas, the son of a zamindar, and Parvati, his neighbour's daughter, are childhood sweethearts. However, class and caste differences prevent their marriage. Devdas is sent off to Calcutta, while Paro is married off to an aged rich widower. In Calcutta, as remorse drives him to alcohol, Devdas meets Chandramukhi, a tawaif.

Devdas

1936

Rashk-e-Laila poster
9.0

One of the best-known films of Mahalakshmi, a sound film studio set up jointly by star Zubeida and director Vakil. The costumed love fantasy derived from the Arabian Nights and tells of Laila (Zubeida), a gypsy dancer who falls in love with the Persian soldier Asghar (Desa). The villain, who lusts after Laila, is Sardar Sagi (Gulab), right-hand man to the grand vizir Uoshi) who has political ambitions of his own.

Rashk-e-Laila

1934

Fairy of Punjab poster
8.0

A musical romance drama centered on a character known for their beautiful singing from the Punjab region

Fairy of Punjab

1933

Gul Sanobar poster
9.0

The King of Yemen, after gaining the ability to speak with animals, tragically discovers he's accidentally thrown his son into the ocean. He tells his Queen, then mysteriously becomes incapacitated. His only cure: a magic flower from the mouth of Princess Meherangez of Sistan. Heroic Prince Umar sets out to retrieve it.

Gul Sanobar

1934

1920s · 9 titles

No artwork available
9.0

No synopsis available yet.

Shahi Chor

1929

No artwork available
10.0

No synopsis available yet.

Sati Sardarba

1924

No artwork available
6.0

Seminal silent historical film, the story features King Munja, ruler of Aranti, famed warrior and patron of the arts. Munja (Sandow) falls into the hands of his arch enemy Tailap, who received assistance from Bhillam (Altekar), king of Dharavati. Tailap orders that Munja be put to death but is held back by Tailap's powerful sister Minalvati (Fatma Begum), a widow who first wants to break Munja's spirit. Instead, she and Munja fall in love.

Prithvi Vallabh

1924

The Black Thief poster
8.0

An early silent drama centered on a notorious "black thief"

The Black Thief

1925

No artwork available
10.0

No synopsis available yet.

Heer Ranjha

1928

Indrasabha poster
7.0

A silent fantasy film centered on the court of the god Indra. Based on Agha Hasan Lakhnavi's play Indrasabha

Indrasabha

1925

Gul-e-Bakavali poster
8.0

Based on a popular legend, this silent film tells the story of the fairy Bakavali and her divine flower, the Gul, which possesses healing powers. Taj-ul-Mulk, a prince from the East, seeks the flower to cure his blind father. The legend's origins are debated: one version traces it to a 19th-century translation of a Persian tale, while another points to a 16th-century narrative from Abely Sheikh. The story was a favorite on the Parsee stage, particularly the scenes where Taj-ul-Mulk battles his villainous brothers, who steal the flower. The tale also features Bakavali turning to stone and her eventual human rebirth.

Gul-e-Bakavali

1924

Bulbul-e-Paristan poster
10.0

Probably the first Indian film directed by a woman. It was a big-budget fantasy abounding with special effects set in a Parastan or fairyland.

Bulbul-e-Paristan

1926

The Divine Punishment poster
8.0

A silent social drama exploring themes of treason and retribution. The film would have told a moralistic tale about a character who acts as an "enemy of the nation" and faces divine or karmic punishment for their actions.

The Divine Punishment

1925