Editing Nargis (section)

=== 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>