Mughal-e-Azam is not just a film, it’s a landmark in cinema that has greatly impacted the film industry. The film beautifully captures the essence of love, sacrifice and art, and it still inspires people today.
During an appearance on After Hours, hosted by Ushna Shah, actress Zhalay Sarhadi shared her personal connection to the iconic film.
Zhalay shared that her grandfather, Zia Sarhadi, was an accomplished writer who contributed to some legendary films, including Mother India and Mughal-e-Azam. Zhalay said, “He was one of the writers of Mother India, he was one of the writers of Mughal-e-Azam also contributed as a writer for other significant projects. My father was a beautiful singer, which adds to our family’s artistic legacy.”
Zhalay also talked about an interesting family connection, “My phupo is Salma Agha, and she may not be directly related to my father, she is my father’s cousin, so she is also part of the family.”
“During my time working in India, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Annu Kapoor. When I first met him at 19, he asked me ‘What is your relation to Zia Sarhadi?” and I said, ‘He is my grandfather’ and he treated me with so much respect, making me feel valued despite being a newcomer. That was when I realized the depth of my family’s legacy,” The Hadsa actress added.
Despite her impressive family background, Zhalay wants to establish her own identity in the entertainment industry, “I have never used any nepotism card; I wanted to make a name for myself based on my talent,” she stated.
Tag: Mughal e Azam
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How is Zhalay Sarhadi linked to Mughal-e-Azam?
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Dilip Kumar: First Khan of Bollywood’s six best performances
Dilip Kumar has created a legacy of his own in Bollywood that is difficult to emulate. The superstar, who is famously known as the industry’s ‘Tragedy King’, began his career in 1944 with Jwar Bhata.
Here’s a list of his cinematic marvels as a performer:
Mughal-e-Azam (1960)
A period drama film set in the 16th century where the son of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, Prince Salim, falls in love with a courtesan called Anarkali. Dilip starred as Salim in the movie whereas Madhubala pursued the role of Anarkali.
Daag (1952)
He received his first Filmfare Award for the best actor category for this film. Daag is a story of a man named Shankar, who gives up drinking and becomes successful for the love of Parvati essayed by actress Nimmi.
Ganga Jumna (1961)
Ganga Jumna is the first and only film produced by Dilip, the plot of the movie revolves around a man who is forced to become a decoit.
Ram Aur Shyam (1967)
A classical comic flick that became the base of many other twin-based comedies. Dilip played a dual role in the movie and surprised fans with his incredible comic timing.
Devdas (1955)
Devdas is based on the tragic novel by Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay. The movie tells the tale of two lovers who are separated by class differences, the superstar played the titular character.
Shakti (1982)
Shakti is the only film that starred Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar together. It is the story of a cop’s son who ends up becoming a criminal due to some unfortunate events