Remembering Nazima — Bollywood’s beloved ‘resident sister’ of the 60s and 70s

Veteran Bollywood actress Nazima, remembered for her heartfelt supporting roles in the 1960s and 1970s, has passed away at the age of 77. The cause of her death remains undisclosed. She breathed her last on Monday, August 11, at her residence in Dadar, Mumbai, where she lived with her two sons. Her cousin, Zarin Babu, confirmed the news through a social media post.

Born on March 25, 1948, in Nashik, Nazima earned the affectionate nickname “Resident Sister” for often portraying the sister to leading stars in numerous hit films. Her warm screen presence and emotional depth made her a staple in family-centric storylines of that era.

Nazima began her acting journey as a child artist, first appearing as Baby Chand in Do Bigha Zameen (1953), where she played the elder sister among two siblings. She went on to portray Chhoti Paro’s classmate in Devdas (1955) and Abhi Bhattacharya’s sister in Biraj Bahu (1954). She was also part of the children’s film Ab Dilli Door Nahin, produced by Raj Kapoor.

Throughout her career, Nazima shared the screen with some of Bollywood’s biggest stars. She appeared with Sanjeev Kumar in Nishaan and Raja Aur Runk, with Rajesh Khanna in Aurat Aur Doli, and in films like Manchali, Prem Nagar, Anurag, and Beimaan. She famously played Asha Parekh’s sister in Aaye Din Bahar Ke and Manoj Kumar’s sister in Beimaan (1972), earning a Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actress for the latter.

Nazima’s final film was Dayar-e-Madina (1975). After its release, she retired from the film industry, choosing to focus on her personal life, marriage, and spiritual pursuits, staying away from the limelight for the rest of her years.