Asha Parekh is a well-known actress from the 1960s. She was one of the top Bollywood actresses from 1959 to 1973. She began working in films at a young age. She was born on October 2, 1942. In this post, we will discover Asha Parekh’s biography, age, movies, family, marriage, husband, and more.
She has a very friendly bond with her contemporary actresses like Waheeda Rehman, Saira Banu, Sadhna, Helen, and others.
She made her acting debut at 17 in the film ‘Dil De Ke Dekho,’ opposite Shammi Kapoor. And the audience seemed to enjoy the film. The film was a huge success, and Asha Parekh’s successful film career began. She has also received numerous awards.
| Real Name | Asha Parekh |
| Nickname | Asha, Jubilee Girl, Tomboy |
| Profession | Actress, Director and Producer |
| Height (approx.) | Centimeters- 161 cm Meters- 1.61 m Feet Inches- 5′ 3″ |
| Weight (approx.) | Kilograms- 62 Kg Pounds- 137 lbs |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Date of Birth | 2 October 1942 |
| Age (as in 2022) | Centimetres- 161 cm Meters- 1.61 m Feet Inches- 5′ 3″ |
| Birth Place | Bombay (now Mumbai), Bombay Presidency, British India |
| Zodiac sign/Sun sign | Libra |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Mumbai, India |
| School | Not Known |
| College | Not Known |
| Educational Qualification | Not Known |
| Debut | Hindi Film: Aasmaan, 1952 (as Child Artist) Dil Deke Dekho, 1959 (as Lead Role) Gujarati Film: Akhand Saubhagyavati (1963) Punjabi Film: Kankan De Ohle (1971) Kannada Film: Sharavegada Saradara (1989) TV Director: Jyoti (Gujarati serial of the early 1990s) |
| Awards | • In 1971, won Filmfare Best Actress Award for Kati Patang. • In 1992, awarded Padma Shre by the Government of India. • In 2002, awarded Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award. |
| Family | Father– Bachubhai Parekh Mother– Sudha Parekh Sister– N/A Brother– N/A |
| Religion | Gujarati Jain (Jainism (Father), Islam (Mother)) |
| Address | Azad Road, Juhu, Mumbai |
| Hobbies | Dancing, Doing Yoga |
| Favourite Actor | Shammi Kapoor, Dev Anand |
| Favourite Actress | Waheeda Rahman, Helen, Saira Bano |
| Favourite Director | Bimal Roy |
| Favourite Dance Teacher | Bansilal Bharati |
| Favourite Singer | Asha Bhosle |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Affairs/Boyfriends | Nasir Hussain |
| Husband | N/A |
| Children | None |
| Net Worth | $7 Million Approx |
The early life of Asha Parekh
She was born into a low-income Gujarati Hindu family. She fantasised, as a child, about becoming a doctor and, on occasion, an IAS officer.
Her mother enrolled her in various dance institutes to teach her to dance from a young age. She wished to see her improve as a dancer. Many dance teachers trained her, including Pandit Bansilal Bharti, a very good teacher.
Asha Parekh was known for her dancing skills in the Hindi film industry, and songs like ‘Kaanta Laga’ are evidence of it.
As a result, Asha Parekh became a very fine classical dancer, and she has also performed in many large dance shows. She also used to travel abroad to perform her dance shows.
Asha Parekh’s personal life
Asha Parekh is alive and continues to lead an active life, though she prefers to avoid constant media attention. She remains connected to the arts through her dance academy, Kara Bhavan, which she continues to run.
Known for her cheerful and independent personality, she has long been involved in social and charitable causes. In recognition of her contributions, a hospital in Mumbai was named after her, known as the Asha Parekh Hospital.
She has also held important leadership roles in the film industry. She served as the president of the Indian Cine Artists Association. From 1994 to 2000, she became the first woman to head India’s Censor Board, officially known as the Central Board of Film Certification. Her appointment marked a historic moment, as no woman had previously led the board.
Asha Parekh never married. Over the years, her name was linked to filmmaker Nasir Hussain. She acknowledged that they shared a close bond and a long friendship. After his wife’s death, he led a quiet life. They remained in touch until his passing in 2002.
She continues to maintain friendships within the film industry and occasionally meets fellow actors. She has shared warm moments with colleagues such as Sushmita Sen and Aruna Irani.
During her acting career, many actresses hoped to work with Dilip Kumar. Although she did not initially express a desire to collaborate with him, she later mentioned that she would have liked the opportunity.
Among her co-stars, Shammi Kapoor remains one of her favourites. They worked together in several romantic films and shared a playful bond. He often teased her affectionately, and their friendly chemistry became memorable for audiences.
Information about Asha Parekh’s family
Asha Parekh was born on October 2, 1942, in Mumbai. She came from a middle class family with a mixed cultural background.
Her father, Bachubhai Parekh, was a Gujarati Hindu. Her mother, Sudha Parekh, was a Muslim who later adopted Hinduism after marriage. Asha was their only child. She grew up in a disciplined but supportive home.
Her mother played a major role in shaping her early life. She encouraged Asha to learn classical dance at a young age. Recognising her talent, her mother guided her toward stage performances and later films.
Asha Parekh often credited her mother for her success. She described her as strong and determined, someone who managed both family responsibilities and her daughter’s career with focus. Her upbringing combined traditional values with artistic training, which helped her enter the film industry confidently at a young age.
When she was travelling with her mother on a train, her mother noticed that some passengers were happy to see her beloved’s expressions, and her mother realized that she was unique. Asha Parekh was her parents’ only child. That’s why she was so special to her parents. After her mother died, she moved from the big bungalow to a small apartment.
Asha Parekh’s Career
In 1952, Asha Parekh Ji made her acting debut as a child artist in the film Aasaman. Asha Ji used to do stage shows, and the famous film director Vimal Roy ji saw her in the same program of the dance stage show, and he was very impressed to see her dance and asked Asha ji if she wanted to work in films. Asha Ji’s response was yes, and thus her journey to Bollywood films began.
Asha ji appeared in the 1954 film Baap Beti, directed by Vimal Roy. Asha Ji was very young at the time, in the tenth grade. This film did not achieve much success, and Asha Ji was dissatisfied.
Then, at the age of 17, she resumed her acting career in films, but only for 2 days in ‘Goonj Uthi Shehnai.’ In which she was fired by Vijay Bhatt.
Vijay Bhatt turned her down, telling Asha Ji that she could never be a heroine because she was unworthy of the role. As a child artist, she worked with Vijay in Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Nonetheless, she did not give up and continued her efforts, and she was also successful.
In 1959, she received an offer to star in the film ‘Dil De Ke Dekho,’ directed by Nasir Hussain, from filmmaker Subodh Mukherjee. This was a hit film at the time, and Asha Ji went on to become a successful actress in the film industry and her period of success started.
Asha Parekh’s Filmography
Asha Parekh has appeared in around 90 films during her long and successful career in Hindi cinema. She became one of the most popular actresses of the 1960s and early 1970s.
Some of her early and notable films include Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, Gharana, and Chhaya. These films helped establish her as a leading actress.
In 1963, she appeared in films such as Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon, Meri Surat Teri Aankhen, Bharosa, and Bin Badal Barsaat. Each of these projects strengthened her position in the industry.
She continued her success with Baharon Ke Sapne and Upkar. In 1969, she starred in Pyar Ka Mausam, Mahal, Chirag, and Aaya Sawan Jhoom Ke.
Throughout the 1960s, she worked continuously and delivered several successful films year after year. Her consistent performances and strong screen presence made her one of the leading stars of her era.
Asha Parekh worked with many respected producers and directors during her film career. Along with acting, she also moved into television production.
She produced several television serials, including Palash Ke Phool, Dal Mein Kala, Baje Payal, and Kora Kagaz. These projects showed her ability to contribute behind the scenes as well.
Apart from Hindi cinema, she also appeared in regional films. In Punjabi cinema, she acted in Kankar De Ole, released in 1971. In Gujarati cinema, she featured in Akhand Saubhagyavati. She also worked in Kannada cinema with the film Sharavegada Sardar, released in 1989.
Her work across different languages reflected her versatility and wide appeal beyond Hindi films.
Asha Parekh’s honours and achievements
Asha Parekh ji has received numerous awards, including –
- In 1992, he received the Padma Shri Award, and in 2002, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
- In 2006, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Indian Film Academy, the Gujarati Association of North America, and the Saptrang Ke Saptashi Award.
- For the film Kati Patang, she received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress in 1971.
- The Indian Motion Producers Association recognised him for his Outstanding Contribution to the Indian Film Industry.
- In 2004, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Artist Awards.
- At the Pune International Filmfare Ceremony in 2007, he received the Life Time Achievement Award, the Bollywood Award for Life Time Achievement.
- The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry honoured him with the Living Legend Award.
- The Film Federation of India honoured him with the Golden Jubilee Award for his film journey.
- Awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nashik International Film Festival, the Jaipur International Film Festival, the Jagran Film Festival, and the Stardust Film Festival.
- He was also named the Hindustan Times’ Most Stylish Icon.
- Stardust has bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. Asharam Academy bestowed the Bhishma Award on me. Dadasaheb Phalke Memorial presented him with the Jeevan Gaurav Award at the Nashik International Film Festival in 2012.
- The Culture Foundation awarded her the Sanskriti Kala Shree Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.
- Asha Parekh is embroiled in a squabble
- She made many tough decisions as chairperson of the censor board. He didn’t let many films pass because they weren’t clean, including Shekhar Kapur’s Elizabeth, which sparked some debate.
Discussion of Asha Parekh ji’s speech
When asked about her personal life and whether she had a special person in her life, she simply replied, “I am a normal woman, I can be a good unmarried girl too, but I am not like that.”
When asked if she now remembers her family for herself, she replied, “There was a time when I wanted it all, but now that I see so many other married people, that they forcefully I feel forced to look for relationships by getting tied in relationships, I feel good that I am not in any such relationship. And it hurts me today to see the tension between husband and wife, as well as the tension for children.”