Trivia

Mother of actress Saira Banu, son Sultan Ahmed and mother-in-law of actor Dilip Kumar.

She was an Indian actress.

Her mother, Chamiyan Bai (also known as Shamshad Begum, not to be confused with the playback singer who had the same name), was a famous and well-earning singer of those days. Years later, when Naseem was in her prime, and earning a salary of rupee 3500, she stated that her mother was, even at that time in her old age, earning more than she was.

Naseem, then named Roshan Ara Begum, studied at Queen Mary's High School, Delhi; her mother Shamshad Begum wanted her to become a doctor.

On a visit to Bombay, Naseem got interested in seeing the film shootings and at one of the sets she was approached by Sohrab Modi to play Ophelia in his film Hamlet. Her mother refused permission and Naseem went on a hunger-strike till her mother agreed. Having played the role, Naseem was unable to continue her education as the school was shocked at her acting in films, then considered a lowly profession.

Starting her acting career in the mid-1930s she continued to act till mid-1950s.

Naseem's father was the head of a wealthy, land-owning, aristocratic family and descended from royalty. He was Nawab Abdul Waheed Khan of Hasanpur.

She was referred to as Naseem and known as "Beauty Queen" and the "first female superstar" of Indian Cinema.

Naseem married her childhood friend an architect, Mian Ehsan-ul-Haq, with whom she started the Taj Mahal Pictures banner.

Her high-point came with Modi's Pukar (1939) in which she played the role of Empress Nur Jahan. According to composer Naushad she got the sobriquet Pari-Chehra (fairy face) Naseem through the publicity advertisements of her films.