Suraiya

Suraiya Jamaal Sheikh (1929 - January 31, 2004) was a singer and actress in Indian films, and was popularly known as Suraiya in the film industry. She became a superstar in the 1940s and 50s during the time when actors sang their own songs.

Suraiya was born in Lahore (now in Pakistan) and was the only child of her parents. She was a dark plain looking girl and was not trained in music, however she went on to become a successful actress and singer. She got a break in films with the help of her uncle Zahoor, who was a popular villain of his time. She had accompanied her uncle to the sets of Taj Mahal, a 1941 movie by Nanubhai Vakil. Vakil noticed the 12-year old girl and chose her to play the role of a young Mumtaz Mahal. Suraiya started her career as a singer the following year when she sang for actress Mehtab under music director Naushad for the movie Sharda. Naushad had heard her voice on the All India Radio where she sang for a children's programme at the insistence of friend Raj Kapoor and neighbour Madan Mohan.

She initially started by playing secondary roles in films like K. Asif's Phool (1944), Mehboob's Anmol Ghadi (1946) and Dard (1947). She got the break as a heroine for the movie Tadbir (1945) at the recommendation of K. L. Saigal who liked her voice during a rehearsal. She went on to co-star with Saigal for two more films Omar Khayyam (1946) and Parwana (1947).

More opportunities appeared for Suraiya after reigning actress Noorjehan migrated to Pakistan during the 1947 partition. Suraiya had an edge over her contemporaries Kamini Kaushal and Nargis because she could sing her own songs. The years 1948-49 were the best of her career. After three hits Pyar Ki Jeet (1948), Badi Bahen and Dillagi (1949), she became the highest paid female star.

Her reign at the top was brief and her films started flopping in the 1950s. She made a comeback with Waaris and Mirza Ghalib (1954). Her last film was Rustom Sohrab (1963) following which she kept away from films. She stayed at "Krishna Mahal", her Marine Drive residence in Mumbai until her death in 2004.

Suraiya was romantically involved with actor Dev Anand and the two of them did six films together. During the shooting of a song, a boat capsized and Dev Anand saved Suraiya from drowning. She fell in love with him but her grandmother opposed the relationship. Suraiya remained unmarried all her life.

She died of old age in 2004 at the age of 75.


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She died of old age in 2004 at the age of 75. Robinson in the London, England revival of The Graduate, appearing fully nude (albeit in darkly lit sequences). Suraiya remained unmarried all her life. In 2000 Turner starred as Mrs. She fell in love with him but her grandmother opposed the relationship. In addition to the television work listed below, she also has appeared as a guest on Friends, King of the Hill (voice), The Simpsons (voice), and Saturday Night Live, which she hosted twice. During the shooting of a song, a boat capsized and Dev Anand saved Suraiya from drowning. She received two Golden Globe awards, both for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, in Romancing the Stone (1984) and Prizzi's Honor (1985).

Suraiya was romantically involved with actor Dev Anand and the two of them did six films together. She was nominated for an Oscar for best actress in 1987 in Peggy Sue Got Married. She stayed at "Krishna Mahal", her Marine Drive residence in Mumbai until her death in 2004. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1992. Her last film was Rustom Sohrab (1963) following which she kept away from films. They have a daughter, Rachel Ann Weiss, born 1988. She made a comeback with Waaris and Mirza Ghalib (1954). Turner married New York real-estate mogul Jay Weiss in 1984.

Her reign at the top was brief and her films started flopping in the 1950s. Turner remained a film star up to the early 90's, but has since rarely appeared in major productions. After three hits Pyar Ki Jeet (1948), Badi Bahen and Dillagi (1949), she became the highest paid female star. Turner had the last laugh as she became a movie star a few years later in Body Heat, which many consider one of the sexiest films (with Turner giving one of the sexiest performances) in the history of cinema. The years 1948-49 were the best of her career. In 1978 Turner was hired as the second Nola Turner on NBC daytime soap The Doctors, but was fired the next year because the producers felt she was "not hot enough". Suraiya had an edge over her contemporaries Kamini Kaushal and Nargis because she could sing her own songs. She attended Southwest Missouri State University at Springfield for two years, then gained her Bachelor in Fine Arts degree from the University of Maryland in 1977.

More opportunities appeared for Suraiya after reigning actress Noorjehan migrated to Pakistan during the 1947 partition. When her father died in 1973, the family moved back to Springfield. She went on to co-star with Saigal for two more films Omar Khayyam (1946) and Parwana (1947). While attending high school in London, England, she also took classes at the London Central School of Speech and Drama. Saigal who liked her voice during a rehearsal. She was a gymnast as a teenager. L. She has two brothers and a sister.

Asif's Phool (1944), Mehboob's Anmol Ghadi (1946) and Dard (1947). She got the break as a heroine for the movie Tadbir (1945) at the recommendation of K. Born Mary Kathleen Turner in Springfield, Missouri, the daughter of diplomat Richard Turner, she had lived in four foreign countries by the time she entered college. She initially started by playing secondary roles in films like K. Kathleen Turner (born June 19, 1954) is an American actress. Naushad had heard her voice on the All India Radio where she sang for a children's programme at the insistence of friend Raj Kapoor and neighbour Madan Mohan. The Best of Roger Rabbit (1996; voice only). Suraiya started her career as a singer the following year when she sang for actress Mehtab under music director Naushad for the movie Sharda. Trail Mix-Up (1993; voice only).

Vakil noticed the 12-year old girl and chose her to play the role of a young Mumtaz Mahal. Roller Coaster Rabbit (1990; voice only). She had accompanied her uncle to the sets of Taj Mahal, a 1941 movie by Nanubhai Vakil. Tummy Trouble (1989; voice only). She got a break in films with the help of her uncle Zahoor, who was a popular villain of his time. Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988; voice only). She was a dark plain looking girl and was not trained in music, however she went on to become a successful actress and singer. Delilah (2000).

Suraiya was born in Lahore (now in Pakistan) and was the only child of her parents. In Bad Taste (2000). She became a superstar in the 1940s and 50s during the time when actors sang their own songs. Beautiful (2000). Suraiya Jamaal Sheikh (1929 - January 31, 2004) was a singer and actress in Indian films, and was popularly known as Suraiya in the film industry. The Virgin Suicides (2000). Cinderella (2000; made for TV).

Baby Geniuses (1999). Stories From My Childhood #3 (1999; voice only). Love and Action in Chicago (1999). The Prince of Central Park (1999).

Legalese (1998; made for TV). The Real Blonde (1998). Bad Baby (1997; voice only). A Simple Wish (1997).

Love in the Ancient World (1997; TV special, hosted). Stories From My Childhood #1 (1996). Moonlight and Valentino (1995). Friends at Last (1995; made for TV; also producer).

American Cinema (1995; special TV series; narrator). Leslie's Folly (1995; made for TV; also director). All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! (1994; TV special). Naked in New York (1994).

Serial Mom (1994; a John Waters movie). Undercover Blues (1993). House of Cards (1992). John Barry: Moviola (1993; made for TV).

A Day at a Time (1992; voice only). A Breed Apart (1991). Warshawski (1991). V.I.

The War of the Roses (1989). The Kennedy Center Honors (1988; TV special). The Accidental Tourist (1988). Roger Rabbit and the Secrets of Toon Town (1988; TV special).

Switching Channels (1988). Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam (1988; TV special; voice only). Julia and Julia (1987). Peggy Sue Got Married (1986).

GoBots: War of the Rock Lords (1986; voice only). The Jewel of the Nile (1985). Prizzi's Honor (1985). Crimes of Passion (1984).

Romancing the Stone(1984). The Man with Two Brains (1983). Body Heat (1981). The Doctors (1978-79; TV series).