Veena

Acting

Veena

Born 1924-07-04 · Quetta, Baluchistan Agency, Pakistan

Veena (4 July 1926 – 14 November 2004), also known as Veena Kumari, real name Tajour Sultana, was an Indian actress. Veena was born as Tajour Sultana on 4 July 1926 in Quetta, Baluchistan, Pakistani. At some point of time, her family shifted to Lahore and she belonged to Lahore's Chuna Mandi.[1] She married actor-hero Al Nasir in 1947 and had two children. She started out playing heroine roles in pre-partition films. She made her debut with Garib and Gawandhi (1942) at around sixteen years of age. Garib was made in Urdu and Gawandhi was made in Punjabi and directed by Mehboob Khan. In Garib, she played the role of Lata and in Gawandhi she played heroine opposite Shyam, who played the hero. She became known for her roles in pre-partition Hindi and Urdu films. Her early years in films came with films such as Najma (1943), Phool (1945) and Humayun (1945). Her last film before the Partition of India was Rajputani (1946), in which she played a supporting role. She decided to remain in India after the partition, and she acted through the mid-to-late-1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. She played roles in big productions such as Halaku (1956), Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Taj Mahal (1963) (for which she received the Filmfare's Award for Best Supporting Actress), Do Raaste (1969) and Pakeezah (1972). She retired in 1983 after the release of Razia Sultan (1983) in which she played Empress Shah Turkhan. She died in Bombay in 2004 after 21 years of retirement when she was 78 years old after suffering from a protracted illness. She had appeared in over 70 feature films in a career spanning 41 years (1942 till 1983).

Acting credits

Taj Mahal poster
7.2

Based on the historical legend, this commercially successful film delves into the context of why Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in fond remembrance of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Taj Mahal

1963

Mumtaz Mahal poster
NR

A Hindi drama directed by Ram Daryani, starring Sheila Ramani and Paidi Jairaj.

Mumtaz Mahal

1957

The Chess Players poster
7.0

In the year 1856, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah is the King of Awadh, one of the last independent kingdoms of India. The British intend to control this rich land and send General Outram to clear way for an annexation. Pressure is mounting amidst intrigue and political maneuvers, but the Nawab whiles away his time in pursuit of pleasure and religious practice. The court is of no help either — noblemen Mir and Mirza ignore all duties and spend their days playing endless games of chess.

The Chess Players

1977

Mehndi poster
7.0

Based on Umrao Jaan Ada by Mirza Hadi Ruswa.

Mehndi

1958

Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi poster
6.2

Three woman-hating brothers face changes in their respective lifestyles when two of them fall in love.

Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi

1958

Biwi poster
8.0

Centering on the institution of marriage, this gripping family drama explores the turmoil faced by a woman whose very existence is challenged by deceit and betrayal, forcing her to fight for her honor and her rightful place as a true Wife (Biwi).

Biwi

1950

Aashirwad poster
8.3

Aashirwad is a 1968 Bollywood film. Produced by N.C. Sippy and Hrishikesh Mukherjee, it is directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. The film stars Ashok Kumar and Sanjeev Kumar.

Aashirwad

1968

Parichay poster
7.0

An unemployed young man (Jeetendra) takes a job to tutor unruly grandkids of Rai Sahab (Pran) and brings out respect, appreciation and hard work hidden deep inside them.

Parichay

1972

Pakeezah poster
6.5

A beautiful courtesan is unable to break away from the cycle of prostitution until a forest ranger falls in love with her. Unfortunately, his wealthy parents oppose the union.

Pakeezah

1972

Chhoti Bahen poster
6.7

Rajendra makes a meager existence supporting his younger brother and sister and vows not to marry until they have settled. However, when his sister loses her sight, his grand plan is threatened.

Chhoti Bahen

1959

Saathi poster
6.5

Dr. Ravi returns from abroad and takes up position as Chief Surgeon in a hospital. He then meets with Nurse Shanti, who lives an impoverished lifestyle with her ailing mother, and decides to perform surgery, but she passes away, and a guilt-ridden Ravi marries Shanti much to the chagrin of his mentor, Kaka, who had hoped that he would marry his daughter, Rajni. The couple then travel to Kashmir for their honey-moon, and then settle down to a harmonious relationship. Hoping to travel even more, their plans are interrupted by the hospital's head doctor, who wants Ravi to focus on cancer research. The couple drop all travel plans and immerse themselves in research so much so that Shanti herself becomes ill.

Saathi

1968

Payal Ki Jhankaar poster
5.7

Shyama is an orphaned young woman who lives with her aunt, uncle and several cousins, two of who are girls of marriageable age. Her passion is dancing, which is frowned upon by her uncle and aunt. One day she, along with a young man named Gopal, go to see the dance by an international artiste named Veena. They ask Veena and her mentor, Dinanath, for help but are shunned and asked to leave. Crestfallen, she returns home and sleeps outside the door as it was very late. The next day her aunt finds out about her overnight excursion and beats her up severely, followed by another beating by her uncle. Humiliated, she decides to run away with Gopal to another town in order to learn dancing at the hands of well-known Guru Kishinchand Sharma. They do find Kishin, who initially rejects them, but relents when he witnesses Shyama abilities.

Payal Ki Jhankaar

1980

Do Raaste poster
7.0

After his father’s death, Navendu devotes his life to raising his step-siblings and honoring his promise to care for his stepmother. However, as the siblings reach adulthood, the family bond is tested. Each must choose between the Road of Sacrifice and the Road of Selfishness, leading to a dramatic conflict between duty and personal greed.

Do Raaste

1969

No artwork available
7.5

When a CID inspector infiltrates a smuggling ring he discovers that his ex-girlfriend is involved.

Kahin Din Kahin Raat

1968

Dastan poster
9.0

Indira (Suraiya) is an orphan brought up the strict and uprighteous Rani (Veena). Indira grows up to be a beauty and is sought by three suitors Raj (Raj Kapoor), Kundan (Al Nasir), and Ramesh (Suresh). Rani does not like Indira to marry into her family as both Raj and Kundan are her brothers, and she wants Indira to marry Ramesh, and as such arranges a meeting with Ramesh's mom (Pratima Devi) and finalizes the marriage. Indira does not appreciate this and refuses to marry Ramesh. Raj speaks of his love with Rani, and Rani warns him that Indira is to marry Ramesh, but also has an on-going affair with his brother Kundan. Who does Indira really love? Will she ever marry her dream man?

Dastan

1950

Khota Paisa poster
10.0

M. Sadiq’s drama about a professional hunter who aims to locate a beautiful young girl. Starring Johnny Walker, Shyama, Jeevan, Veena and Dhumal. In Hindi with English subtitles.

Khota Paisa

1958

Mazloom poster
8.0

While returning home via train, Purnima gets sexually assaulted by a stranger, keeps it to herself, but her parents eventually find out and the shock kills her dad. Since it was too late to abort the baby boy, her mother gives it away to a stranger. Purnima gets married to her sweetheart, Vijay, a Chief Engineer, but ironically the very same child ends up in their care, and they name him Rajan. Years later, Purnima gives birth to Aman. The two boys grow up, siblings rivalry prevails to such an extent that eventually they end up falling in love with the same woman, Meena. Things keep on getting complicated so much so that a member of their family ends up getting killed, and another getting arrested.

Mazloom

1986

Jheel Ke Us Paar poster
6.8

Kulwant Rai's horse carriage runs over a child, and as a result, she loses her vision.

Jheel Ke Us Paar

1973

Heer Raanjha poster
7.0

Heer Raanjha is a 1970 Indian Hindi-language romantic musical film directed by Chetan Anand. It stars Raaj Kumar and Priya Rajvansh and tells the tragic love story of Heer, a wealthy girl, and Ranjha, who has been banished by his family. The film is often referred to as a Punjabi version of "Romeo and Juliet.

Heer Raanjha

1970

Madhosh poster
3.8

Raj is wealthy and a womanizer and his lifelong friend Goldie is a self made pop singer. Goldie tries to make Raj realize that women are not mere objects of desire, but with no results. Raj...

Madhosh

1974

Kaagaz Ke Phool poster
6.8

The film tells, in flashback, the story of Suresh Sinha, a famous film director and his relationship with an aspiring actress.

Kaagaz Ke Phool

1959

Noorjehan poster
8.0

Noor Jahan, the empress of the Mughal empire, becomes the favourite wife of Emperor Jahangir and steadily begins to exert more influence on the throne through her love for him.

Noorjehan

1967

Aasra poster
9.0

Aasra revolves around the life of Chanda (Sardar Akhtar), a sweet girl, who runs away from her house after her forcefully arrangement of marriage and meets with Chandan (Amar), a kind man in train and pretends to be married and worked in a Hotel. However, she meets with him again to save her life from an evil man and he pretends to be her husband. But they fell in love after an accident and this causes chaos and complications leading to consequences.

Aasra

1941

Jaanwar poster
6.0

A young woman (Zeenat Aman), who grows up in the wild, knows the secret of a lost treasure, and is also the heir to the throne. She meets with a young man (Rajesh Khanna) and both fall in love. Then the people find out that she actually is the heir to the throne, so she re-locates to the palace. Once there, she is brainwashed into forgetting who she is, and the man she loves. Notable song: "Pyar me nazar churai nahin jati, apno se koi baat chupai nahin jati, dilbar janam janam, janam janam...";

Jaanwar

1983