Kumari Naz: From Child Star to Iconic Voice Behind Sridevi

Mumbai, October 18 (Daily Kiran) : Kumari Naz, known as Baby Naz, was a prominent child artist in Hindi cinema, gaining recognition both nationally and internationally at a young age. Born Salma Beg on August 20, 1944, in Mumbai, she faced financial struggles early in life. Her father, Mirza Dawood Beg, was a film writer, but the family’s economic hardships compelled her to start performing on stage as a child.

In a past interview, Naz revealed that her mother subjected her to both physical and mental abuse, pushing her to work for the family’s livelihood. At just eight years old, she landed a role in the film “Resham” (1952), where her name was changed from Salma to Naz. Her breakthrough came with “Boot Polish” (1954), which earned her widespread acclaim and a special mention at the Cannes Film Festival in 1955. At that time, she was the highest-paid child artist in Bollywood.

Naz’s impressive filmography includes classics such as “Devdas,” “Do Phool,” “Kagaz Ke Phool,” “Ganga Jamuna,” “Kati Patang,” “Bahoo Begum,” and “Sacha Jhutha.” As she transitioned from child roles to adult character parts, she also made significant contributions to Bhojpuri cinema. The film “Bidesia,” released in 1963, marked her entry into Bhojpuri films, followed by leading roles in “Saiya Se Neha Lagai Be” and “Aail Basant Bahar,” establishing her as a popular actress in that industry.

In 1963, while filming “Dekha Pyar Tumhara,” directed by K. Parvez, Naz met Subbiraj, the nephew of actor Prithviraj Kapoor. Their friendship blossomed into romance during the shoot at a fort in Pratapgarh. However, their union faced challenges due to their different religions and the financial dependency of Naz’s family on her earnings.

Determined to stay together, Subbiraj married Kumari Naz during a filming session by filling her parting with sindoor. This unexpected marriage sent shockwaves through the film industry. After their wedding, Naz converted to Hinduism and changed her name to “Anuradha.” In her later years, she distanced herself from acting and worked in dubbing. Tragically, she passed away on October 19, 1995, at the age of 51 in Mumbai.

During the rise of Sridevi in Hindi cinema, Kumari Naz lent her voice to some of Sridevi’s early films, including “Himmatwala,” “Mawali,” and “Tohfa.” While Sridevi graced the screen, it was Naz’s voice that resonated behind the scenes.