Nadira Babar is an Indian actor, director and playwright. She is the first wife of veteran Indian actor and politician Raj Babar.
Wiki/Biography
Nadira Zaheer Babbar was born on Tuesday, January 20, 1948, in Mumbai, India (age 73 years 2021). Her hometown is Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Her zodiac sign is Aquarius.
Old photos of Nadira Babbar with her family
After graduating in arts, she obtained a directing diploma in 1971 from the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, a renowned acting school in India. She then received a scholarship from the Indian government to continue her studies in the field of drama. The Berlin Theater Company in Germany was founded by German actress Helene Weigel and her husband, German playwright Bertolt Brecht. ), a German theater company founded by
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′3″
Eye color: dark brown
Hair color: dark brown
family
Parents and siblings
Her father, Sayed Sajjad Zaheer, was one of the founders of the Progressive Writers Association and the Asian and African Writers Association. He is one of the founding members of the Indian People’s Theater Association (IPTA), an association of Indian theater artistes. The late Syed Zahir was a founding member of the Communist Party of India. After the partition of India in 1947, he moved to Pakistan and formed the Communist Party of Pakistan in the newly formed Pakistan. Apart from this, he is also a famous Urdu writer. Nadira’s mother, Razia Sajjad Zaheer, is an Urdu writer and a teacher at Lucknow University in Uttar Pradesh.
Nadira Babar’s parents
Nadira has two older sisters, Najma Zaheer and Noor Zaheer, and a younger sister, Naseem Bhatia. Najma Zaheer (died 2020) was Professor of Biochemistry at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.
Nadira Babbar’s sister Najma Zaheer
Noor Zaheer is a journalist, Kathak dancer and writer. In 2020, Noor married 100-year-old British film producer and journalist Yavar Abbas.
Nadira Babbar’s sister Noor Zaheer and brother-in-law Yavar Abbas
Naseem Bhatia served as Joint Secretary, University Grants Commission of India and Vice-Chancellor of Jodhpur University. Her husband is Professor Vinod Bhatia.
husband and children
While studying at the National School of Drama, Nadira met veteran Indian actor Raj Babbar, then a budding theater artist. The two met and fell in love while filming the same drama. Later, Raj proposed to Nadira, who was four years older than Raj, and the two got married on November 21, 1975.
Old photos of Nadira Babbar and Raj Babbar
Nearly three years later, on July 20, 1979, the couple welcomed their first child, Juhi Babbar, and on May 24, 1981, Nadira gave birth to son Arya Babbar. Juhi is an actor and theater artist who is married to famous television actor Anup Soni. While Arya is also an actress and married to Jasmine Puri.
Nadira Babar and her children
Nadira Babbar and her son-in-law Anup Soni in drama
In an interview, Nadira talked about her first years of marriage. she says,
Within five months of our courtship, we were married. We didn’t have a house, so we lived in a house given to my mother by the government. Around 1978, Raj came to Bombay and signed a few films. I followed him here. But I don’t want to work. To survive, I worked hard and traveled long distances to direct and perform in plays. Plus, I have a kid. Mera tu bhi itna achcha nahin tha. My waist is not 24-26 inches. So where can married actresses find good roles? After Raj became famous, I wasn’t used to that kind of attention. I like doing simple things like going to the market. I love bargaining with machchiwali. But it will be like, ‘Dekho Raj Babbar ki biwi aloo khareed rahi hai’! “
Nadira Babbar and her husband Raj Babbar
Troubled marriage life
Nadira and Raj’s married life was going well until Raj met the late Indian actress Smita Patil while shooting for a movie. Raj fell in love with Smita and later they got married secretly. When rumors of their marriage began to surface, Nadira decided to confront Raj. He admitted his marriage to Smita, after which Nadira left Raj and started living apart from the children.
Smita Patil and Raj Babar
Smita and Raj welcomed their first child, Pratik Babbar, on November 28, 1986. Due to some delivery complications, Smita Patil was born on December 13, 1986. passed away.
Raj Babbar and his son Prateik Babbar
Unexpectedly, Nadira attended Smita’s funeral along with her children Yuhi and Arya. She talked about this in an interview. she says,
I was ridiculed for going to her (after Smita’s death). Mujhe bahut afsos, bahut taqleef hui thi For her mother, for her family, for her children… She (Smita) has her dreams and wishes. It’s a shame she can’t stand this. The sadness of her death is greater than any other. It devastated everyone. It devastated all of us – Raj, Prateik, her parents, and me… It was a terrible time. I have forgiven it all. I have no ill will towards anyone. Complaining is wrong compared to what life has given me. You never know who will no longer be by your side…”
Nadira Babbar and her kids attend Smita Patil’s funeral
After Smita’s death, Prateik lived with her maternal grandparents and Nadira welcomed Raj Babar back into her life. Various media outlets at the time gave her the term “doormat,” but she ignored it and moved on with her life. She also talked about the same thing in the interview,
Doormat? Rubbish! “I want to tell them that if you have children, it’s better to be a doormat. It’s better to be a doormat, have a harmonious family, and give your children a father. It’s better to be a doormat than to think only of yourself, destroy your home, your family, and let your children have a father.” It’s better that your children take drugs or drink alcohol… God forgive me, I’m not mocking anyone! My children have never touched a cigarette. They have been raised with traditions and values.”
In an interview, when Nadira was asked how she maintains her crumbling marriage? She responded,
Suni thi toh dari thi (I get scared when I hear this happens to others), padi thi toh sahi thi (but when it happens to me, I have no choice but to endure it). Time, good or bad, passes. Luckily I didn’t take anyone’s advice ke kisi aur mard ke baare mein sochoon (look at others). Theater and my kids helped me get a hold of myself. I have become increasingly protective of my children, especially Aaliyah who is still very young. Juhi was somewhere spending some quality time with us. Overprotection is harmful. But what made me stay was that Raj was a beautiful person, caring and sensitive. Even in difficult times, he never shied away from his responsibilities. “
A few years later, Nadira also accepted Prateik. Platek said in an interview,
My mom Nadira always helps me and gives me very valuable advice! About life in general…nothing specific! Talk about life, work, and actors. I haven’t asked her about my new passion, theater acting. But I bet I know I could learn a lot if seriously seeking out the proper professional help or guidance… She is so determined. “
Nadira Babbar with Juhi Babbar, Raj Babbar and Pratiek Babbar
religion
Nadira was born into a Muslim family and converted to Hinduism in order to marry Raj Babar.
Profession
She started her career as a teacher in New Delhi. In 1981, she founded a theater group “Ekjute” in Mumbai. In an interview, she was asked what inspired her to form the troupe. she says,
After moving to Bombay in 1980, I tried working with other groups but didn’t get the right vibe from them. So, I formed my own group. Also, people who have moved to Mumbai want me to form a theater group so that they have a platform to express themselves. I graduated from the National School of Drama. I was a gold medalist and received a scholarship to study in Germany. I’ve been working for several months with famous directors like Grotowski and Peter Brooks. “
Nadira Babbar in the acting studio of Ekjute Theater Company
Nadira has acted in various dramas like Yahudi Ki Ladki, Sandhya Chhaya, Look Back in Anger, Ballabpur Ki Roop Katha and Baat Laat Ki Halaat Ki. She has written and directed many theater productions such as “Dayashankar Ki Diary” (1997), “Sakku Bai” (1999), “Suman Aur Sana” (2008) and “Ji Jaisi Aapki Marzi” (2008).
Nadira Babbar performs in theater show
In an interview, she shared her journey in theater. she says,
I have no interest in drama. In fact, in college, I was useless. I only did masti and shaitani and never took academics seriously. Both of my sisters were on the merit list and their pictures would appear in the newspapers. Naturally, in comparison, my worthlessness became a sore point and I became the black sheep of the family. In fact, after I got my bachelor’s degree, I did so poorly that everyone thought it was a bad idea for me to pursue a master’s degree. So my parents chose a safe career for me: becoming a librarian! “
She further spoke about her experience with a German theater company. she says,
After completing my studies at the National School of Drama (NSD), I was lucky enough to receive a scholarship from the Indian government to study drama at the Berlin Theater Company, the Brecht Theater founded by Bertolt Brecht. Scholarships for further study. National Theater in Wimmer, East Germany. My research opens up new vistas not only for German theatre, but also for world theatre. I was lucky enough to work with great theater figures such as Fritz Benewitz, Grotto Wolski, Volsgang Heinz, Ursula Krzysztof and Henry Howard . “
She was one of the first few to perform at Prithvi Theater in Mumbai. She said in an interview,
I still remember how my association with Prithvi began. I was living in Delhi in the 1970s, where I met Shashiji (Kapoor) on a shoot. He told me how he started a small theater. It was after that that I moved to Mumbai and met his wife Jennifer. She is one of the greatest people I have ever met in my life. Kitni khoobsurat insaan thi woh. She loved Prithvi very much when Prithvi was just a little Chopda. I remember how good she was to me. We performed two plays in Prithvi; Maxim Gorky’s The Subaltern and Aga Hashar Kashmiri’s Yahudi Ki Ladki.
In her Ekjute Theater Company, she taught acting to many popular Indian actors such as the late Sushant Singh Rajput, Rakul Preet Singh, Mohit Marwah and Richa Chadda.
Acting student of Nadira Babar
Apart from drama, she has also acted in some Hindi films such as Bride and Prejudice (2004), Meenasi: A Tale of Three Cities (2004), Jai Ho (2014) and “Ghayal Once Again” (2016).
Nadira Babbar, Bride and Prejudice (2004)
In 2021, she appeared in the Hindi web series Married Woman starring Ridhi Dogra, Suhaas Ahuja and Monica Dogra.
address
Office Address (Ekjute Theatre): Nepathya 20, Gulmohar Rd, JVPD Scheme, Juhu, Mumbai, Maharashtra (400049)
favorite thing
- Author: Maxim Gorky, Ernest Hemingway, Roald Dahl
- Actors: Tom Hanks, Balraj Sahani and Jack Lemmons
- Actresses: Nargis, Madhubala
Facts/Trivia
- Her birth name was Shameen, but her parents later changed it to Nadira.
- Her father was in prison when she was born, and she first met him when she was 8 years old.
- In an interview, she was asked how would you like to be remembered? she says,
Importantly, as a lovely person, honest, sincere and dedicated dramaturg. “
- In 2001, Nadira was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Theater Director Award.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education