Editing Nargis (section)

==Career==
=== 1935 - 1948: Film debut and breakthrough ===
Fatima made her first film appearance in the 1935 film ''[[Talashe Haq]]'' when she was six years old, credited as Baby Nargis. Nargis ({{lang|ur|نرگس}} {{IPA|hns|ˈnərɡɪs|}}) is a [[Persian language|Persian]] word meaning [[Narcissus (plant)|Narcissus]], the [[daffodil]] flower. She was subsequently credited as Nargis in all of her films.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 June 2015 |title=Nargis Dutt's 86th Birth Anniversary: 10 things you would want to know about beautiful Nargis |url=https://www.india.com/education/nargis-dutts-86th-birth-anniversary-10-things-you-would-want-to-know-about-beautiful-nargis-1582385/ |access-date=8 August 2020 |website=India.com}}</ref><ref name="mint">{{cite news |title=Nargis |url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/VxGxrl4DUCCYWK6MtEjw1O/Nargis.html |work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]] |date=4 May 2013}}</ref>

Nargis appeared in numerous films after her debut. In 1943 at the age of 14, she appeared in [[Mehboob Khan]]'s ''[[Taqdeer (1943 film)|Taqdeer]],'' opposite Motilal.<ref name="nw">{{cite web |url=http://nrcw.nic.in/shared/sublinkimages/142.htm |title=NARGIS DUTT (1929--1981) |access-date=17 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210101745/http://nrcw.nic.in/shared/sublinkimages/142.htm |archive-date=10 February 2007}}</ref> The film was a box office success, and she was extensively praised for her performance. ''[[Filmindia]]'' referred to it as "an excellent debut".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citwf.com/film343283.htm |title= film Taqdeer (1943)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006064717/http://www.citwf.com/film343283.htm|url-status=dead|website=Complete Index To World Film (C.I.T.W.F.) website|archive-date=6 October 2015|access-date=10 February 2023}}</ref> Following ''Taqdeer,'' Nargis starred in the 1944 film [[Anban (film)|Anban]]. Nargis next starred in the 1945 period drama ''[[Humayun (film)|Humayun]],'' opposite the leading actor of those times, [[Ashok Kumar]] and the mythological film ''[[Ramayani]].'' In 1946 she starred in [[Nargis (film)|Nargis]]. These films were moderately successful.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Ashish Rajadhyaksha|author2=Paul Willemen|author3=Professor of Critical Studies Paul Willemen|title=Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SLkABAAAQBAJ&pg=PA82|access-date=8 October 2014|date=10 July 2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-94318-9|pages=82–}}</ref>

In 1948, she made her first collaboration with [[Raj Kapoor]], the drama [[Aag (1948 film)|Aag]], in which she portrays a homeless woman who becomes an actress. The film was not a major success and did average business at the box office. However this marked the first of more than a dozen films in which Raj Kapoor and Nargis appeared together. She also starred in highly successful tragedy film [[Mela (1948 film)|Mela]], the editor of ''[[Filmindia]]'', [[Baburao Patel]] praised her performance, but in her role of mother found her "unconvincing" and "synthetic", The reported box office gross for the film according to IBOS was ₹50 [[lakhs]] in 1948. The adjusted gross as of 2015 is roughly estimated at ₹340.44 [[crores]]. Her last film of the year was ''[[Anokha Pyar]],'' which was not a success.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nargis movies, filmography, biography and songs |url=https://www.cinestaan.com/people/nargis-23776 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607101600/https://www.cinestaan.com/people/nargis-23776 |url-status=live |archive-date=7 June 2019 |access-date=23 October 2020 |website=Cinestaan}}</ref>

=== 1949 - 1954: Rise to prominence, success and setback ===
[[File:PYAR.png|thumb|Nargis with [[Raj Kapoor]], in a poster for the 1950 film ''[[Pyar]]'']]
In 1949, Nargis starred in [[Mehboob Khan]]'s critically acclaimed drama ''[[Andaz (1949 film)|Andaz]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=154&catName=MTk0OQ==|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016234445/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=154&catName=MTk0OQ==|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 October 2013|title=Top Earners Box Office 1949|website=Box Office India website|access-date=12 June 2024}}</ref> The film saw her playing Neena, whose husband Rajan (Raj Kapoor) suspects of her having an affair with her friend Dilip (Dilip Kumar). It had a slow start at the box office, but as soon as positive word-of-mouth spread, it emerged as a major commercial success and the highest-grossing film of all time. The film was first hit in Kapoor's career, and a breakthrough for Nargis and Kumar.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Classics Revisited: Andaz |url=https://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/mar/14dinesh.htm |first=Dinesh |last=Raheja |date=14 March 2002 |access-date=8 August 2020 |publisher=Rediff.com}}</ref> Following this she starred in ''[[Barsaat (1949 film)|Barsaat]]'', directed by Kapoor starred Nargis as a village belle and Kapoor as a poet. The film was the debut of [[Nimmi]], who would later become a well-known actress. Its release was already hyped due to the huge success of ''Andaz,'' and therefore it became another major box office success.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Barsaat Box office collection|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=154&catName=MTk0OQ==|website=[[Box Office India]]|access-date=2023-07-26|archive-date=16 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016234445/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=154&catName=MTk0OQ==|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Barsaat'' was the highest-grossing film of 1949, as well as of all time, breaking the record of ''Andaz''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |first=Trisha |last=Gupta |date=25 August 2019 |title=A love for all seasons |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/opinion/columnists/trisha-gupta/a-love-for-all-seasons/articleshow/70824130.cms |access-date=8 August 2020 |website=Mumbai Mirror}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 June 2019 |title=Nargis Birth Anniversary: Mother India to Awara, 5 Memorable Performances of the Iconic Actress |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/nargis-birth-anniversary-mother-india-to-awara-5-memorable-performances-of-the-iconic-actress-2168015.html |access-date=23 October 2020 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref>

She followed this with roles in the 1950 films ''[[Meena Bazaar (film)|Meena Bazaar]],'' the romantic drama ''[[Jogan (film)|Jogan]], [[Jan Pahechan]],'' the musical drama ''[[Babul (1950 film)|Babul]],'' and ''[[Aadhi Raat]].'' Both Jogan and Babul were box office hits and her performance in Babul was specially noticed. Following this she starred in the drama films [[Hulchul (1951 film)|Hulchul]] and [[Deedar (1951 film)|Deedar]] (both 1951). Due to the success of ''Andaz'' and ''Barsaat'', Raj Kapoor was impressed by Nargis' onscreen charm and presence. He therefore chose her to play a character in ''[[Awaara]]'' (1951) (often written as ''Awāra''). Although it revolved around a father and his estranged son, Nargis played the pivotal role of a lawyer who knows the truth that Raj (played by Kapoor) and Raghunath (played by [[Prithviraj Kapoor]]) are son-father. Unlike the roles played by other actresses of those times, Nargis portrayed an outspoken woman-lawyer who criticises the people who regard woman as a "thing made for household chores". She was also seen donning a [[Swimsuit|swimwear]] in a scene from ''Awaara,'' a bold outfit for an Indian woman to wear in that era. The film was released on 14 December 1951, receiving universal acclaim for the performances of Prithviraj, Raj and Nargis. Not only in India, the film was a blockbuster overseas too, making Nargis and Raj well-known stars in countries such as Greece and the United States. Grossing {{Indian Rupee}}12.5 million in India, it became the highest-grossing film of all time, breaking the record of ''Barsaat''.<ref name="ScrollPopularCouples19">{{Cite web |last=Rao |first=Soumya |date=13 July 2019 |title=Raj Kapoor-Nargis to Deepika-Ranbir: A survey ranks the most popular Bollywood couples |url=https://scroll.in/reel/930290/raj-kapoor-nargis-to-deepika-ranbir-a-survey-ranks-the-most-popular-bollywood-couples |access-date=8 August 2020 |website=Scroll.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Filmfare Awards Winners 1958: Complete list of winners of Filmfare Awards 1958 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-awards/filmfare-awards-winners/bollywood/1958/101 |access-date=23 October 2020 |newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref>

In 1952, Nargis starred in the romance film ''[[Bewafa (1952 film)|Bewafa]]'', which was not a major success. Following this, she also starred in the psychological drama ''[[Anhonee (1952 film)|Anhonee]]''  Nargis was highly appreciated for enacting a dual role and her performance garnered critical acclaim.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 November 2012 |title=The Hindu : Metro Plus Bangalore / Cinema : Anhonee1952 |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/01/03/stories/2009010350821100.htm |access-date=2 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105104910/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/01/03/stories/2009010350821100.htm |archive-date=5 November 2012}}</ref> Furthermore, [[Rediff.com|rediff]] commented "The ethereal actress is equally adept at bringing out the conflicting qualities of both -- the gregarious courtesan Mohini as well as her dignified half-sister and heiress, Roop".<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 25 BEST Double Roles in Bollywood |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-the-best-double-roles-in-bollywood/20120531.htm |access-date=2 May 2023 |website=Rediff |language=en}}</ref> She then starred in the adventure film ''[[Amber (film)|Amber]]''. Out of her releases of 1952, only Anhonee was a success.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kohli|first=Suresh|title=Blast From The Past – Anhonee (1952)|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/01/03/stories/2009010350821100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105104910/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/01/03/stories/2009010350821100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2012|access-date=3 December 2012|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=3 January 2009}}</ref> Following this was the 1953 film [[Dhoon]], which was not a major success. Her last film of the year was the romantic drama [[Aah (film)|Aah]], which too was not major success, despite this it is often regarded as a [[Cult film|cult classic.]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nargis Dutt Birth Anniversary: Lesser-known facts about the yesteryear actress |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/bollywood/nargis-dutt-birth-anniversary-lesser-known-facts-about-the-yesteryear-actress |access-date=2 May 2023 |website=Free Press Journal |language=en}}</ref> Her only film of 1954 was ''[[Angarey (1954 film)|Angarey]]''.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Martin Clayton|author2=Bennett Zon|title=Music and Orientalism in the British Empire, 1780s-1940s: Portrayal of the East|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3cRlzq6mAzAC&pg=PA337|year=2007|publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.|isbn=978-0-7546-5604-3|page=337}}</ref>

=== 1955 - 1958: Resurgence and stardom ===
Nargis revived her career with Raj Kapoor's social drama ''[[Shree 420]]'' (1955).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/b-town-rewind-the-tale-of-the-first-bollywood-crore/15162064 |title=B-Town rewind: The tale of the first Bollywood crore - Entertainment |date=16 March 2014 |publisher=Mid-day.com |access-date=2015-09-18 |archive-date=16 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316114251/http://www.mid-day.com/articles/b-town-rewind-the-tale-of-the-first-bollywood-crore/15162064 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the film, Nargis portrays a school teacher who becomes Raj's (played by Kapoor) love interest. It was Nargis' last under Raj Kapoor's direction.<ref>{{cite book |last=Jhingana |first=Kanana |title=Cine Jagat Ki Rasmiyam |publisher=Atmaram & Sons |year=2010 |isbn=9788189373177 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tY0XKR2_JZUC}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Ausaja |first=S. M. M. |title=Bollywood in Posters |publisher=Om Books International |year=2009 |isbn=9788187108559 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vXLFDAAAQBAJ&dq=suraiya+actress&pg=PA1954}}</ref> Commenting on the performance, [[Rediff.com|rediff]] said that "The performances help the film's endorsement of ethical living and high thinking. Nargis' quiet demeanour in the film contrasted with Raj Kapoor's flamboyance". The film was a major blockbuster, emerging as the highest-grossing film in India at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shree 420 (1955) |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/photos/nargis-dutt-birthday-special-barsaat-mother-india-late-actor-s-best-performances-759899/shree-420-1955 |access-date=5 September 2021 |website=pinkvilla.com |language=en |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408184905/https://www.pinkvilla.com/photos/nargis-dutt-birthday-special-barsaat-mother-india-late-actor-s-best-performances-759899/shree-420-1955 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

She once again collaborated with Kapoor for the box office success ''[[Chori Chori (1956 film)|Chori Chori]]'' (1956), which revolves around a girl (Nargis) who runs away from her house in order to marry a gold digger pilot ([[Pran (actor)|Pran]]), but ends up falling for a news reporter (Kapoor) whom she meets in a bus.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2013-05-29|title='Chori Chori', 'Half Ticket' - black and white classics now in colour|work=[[Business Standard India]]|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/chori-chori-half-ticket-black-and-white-classics-now-in-colour-113052900880_1.html|access-date=2021-10-27}}</ref> Described by [[ThePrint]] which praised the lead's chemistry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Unnati |date=24 October 2021 |title=Forget Dil Chahta Hai, Raj Kapoor-Nargis starrer Chori Chori was the first road trip movie |url=https://theprint.in/features/reel-take/forget-dil-chahta-hai-raj-kapoor-nargis-starrer-chori-chori-was-the-first-road-trip-movie/755494/ |access-date=2 May 2023 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref> The film was also a major box office success emerging as one of the highest-grossing films of the year. In the same year, she did a special appearance in Kapoor's ''[[Jagte Raho]].'' The film was her last to co-star Raj Kapoor.<ref name="HTPassion20">{{Cite web |first=Nivedita |last=Mishra |date=1 June 2020 |title=On Nargis' 91st birth anniversary, a look at a star who symbolised passion onscreen |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/on-nargis-91st-birth-anniversary-a-look-at-a-star-who-symbolised-passion-onscreen/story-lLfqOlewzBkMYL0NSwOO4J.html |access-date=8 August 2020 |website=Hindustan Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Bhatia |first=Jagdish |title=Celebrities: A Comprehensive Biographical Thesaurus of Important Men and Women in India |publisher=Aeon Publishers |year=1952 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VqY5AQAAIAAJ&q=Celebrities:+A+Comprehensive+Biographical+Thesaurus+of+Important+Men+and+Women+in+India}}</ref>

In 1957, she appeared in Mehboob Khan's Oscar-nominated epic drama ''[[Mother India]]'', which won her the [[Filmfare Award for Best Actress]].<ref>{{Cite web |first=Tiasa |last=Bhowal |date=27 June 2018 |title=For Sanjay Dutt, Sanju Actress Buys Original Mother India Poster, Featuring Nargis |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/for-sanjay-dutt-sanju-actress-buys-original-mother-india-poster-featuring-nargis-1874169 |access-date=8 August 2020 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref> [[Baburao Patel]] of the film magazine, ''[[Filmindia]]'', in December 1957, described ''Mother India'' as "the greatest picture produced in India" and wrote that no other actress would have been able to perform the role as well as Nargis.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mishra |first=Vijay |title=Bollywood Cinema: Temples of Desire |year=2002 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-93015-4 |page=65}}</ref><ref name="TSGBetter18">{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Surendra |date=12 May 2018 |title=There hasn't been a better actress in India than Nargis |url=https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/culture/hasnt-better-actress-india-nargis |access-date=8 August 2020 |website=The Sunday Guardian Live}}</ref> ''Mother India'' is generally regarded as Nargis's best performance.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/31243045 |title=The Oxford history of world cinema |date=1996 |publisher=Oxford University Press |others=Geoffrey Nowell-Smith |isbn=0-19-811257-2 |location=Oxford |oclc=31243045}}</ref> [[Box Office India]] gave the film's [[Entertainment tax|net collection]] as ₹40 million and its gross as ₹80 million, the highest for an Indian film up until ''[[Mughal-e-Azam]]'' (1960),<ref>{{Cite web |title=50 years later, the 'Mother India' legend endures |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-50-years-later-the-mother-india-legend-endures-1129805 |access-date=2 May 2023 |website=DNA India |language=en}}</ref> while estimating that ''Mother India''<nowiki/>'s inflation-adjusted net would be equivalent to ₹1.173 billion in January 2008. Box Office India later estimated in 2017 that ''Mother India'' had over 100 million footfalls at the domestic box office, making it one of the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing Indian films]] of all time when adjusted for inflation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bahubali 2 Is The Biggest Hindi Blockbuster This Century - Box Office India |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/report-details.php?articleid=2988 |access-date=2 May 2023 |publisher=Box Office India}}</ref> Nargis won the [[Filmfare Best Actress Award]] in 1958 and became the first Indian to receive the Best Actress award at the [[Karlovy Vary International Film Festival]] in present-day [[Czech Republic]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Roy |first=Parama |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/9780520917682 |title=Indian Traffic |date=31 December 1998 |publisher=University of California Press |doi=10.1525/9780520917682 |isbn=978-0-520-91768-2 |s2cid=161807709}}</ref> Also in 1957, she acted in the ''[[Journey Beyond Three Seas|Pardesi]]'' (marketed as ''[[Pardesi (1957 film)|Journey Beyond Three Seas]]'' in English), which was an Indo-[[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Co-production (media)|co-production]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thompson |first=Howard |date=11 April 1960 |title=Screen: Adventure Story:' Journey Beyond Three Seas' at the Cameo |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1960/04/11/archives/screen-adventure-story-journey-beyond-three-seas-at-the-cameo.html |access-date=8 August 2020 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> After her marriage to Sunil Dutt in 1958, Nargis gave up her film career to settle down with her family, after her last few films were released.<ref name="HT39thAnniversary20">{{Cite web |date=3 May 2020 |title=On Nargis's 39th death anniversary, here are some lesser-known facts about the legendary actor |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/on-nargis-s-39th-death-anniversary-here-are-some-lesser-known-facts-about-the-legendary-actor/story-Su7OsWuGDN1PcoPqH0kiPI.html |access-date=8 August 2020 |website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> From 1951 to 1957, [[Box Office India]] ranked Nargis as the top actress.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 January 2013 |title=Boxofficeindia.com |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=top_actress |access-date=2 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115031434/http://boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=top_actress |archive-date=15 January 2013}}</ref>

=== 1960 - 1968: Final film appearances ===
She made her last film appearance in the psychological drama ''[[Raat Aur Din]]'' (1967), after being convinced to act for one last time after a long hiatus.<ref name="TSGBetter18" /> The film was well received and Nargis' performance as a woman who has [[dissociative identity disorder]] was critically acclaimed. For her performance in the film, she received a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, and won the inaugural [[National Film Award for Best Actress]].<ref>Usman, Yasser ''Sanjay Dutt:  The crazy Untold Story of Bollywood's Bad Boy''. New Delhi:  Juggernaut Books (2018),p.16</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sood |first=Samira |date=9 May 2020 |title=Raat Aur Din, directed by Satyen Bose, was the perfect swansong for Nargis |url=https://theprint.in/features/raat-aur-din-directed-by-satyen-bose-was-the-perfect-swansong-for-nargis/417081/ |access-date=8 August 2020 |website=ThePrint}}</ref>

Nargis was also nominated to the [[Rajya Sabha]] (upper house of [[Indian Parliament]]) from 1980 to 1981,<ref name=raj/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=4109 |title=Maharashtra govt in peril, governance takes backseat |website=[[Screen (magazine)|Screen]] |access-date=30 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070101121403/http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=4109 |archive-date=1 January 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> but due to cancer she fell ill and died during her tenure.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2004/jun/01priya.htm |title=Nargis: A daughter remembers |publisher=Rediff.com |access-date=30 July 2017}}</ref>