By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
हुस्न खड़ा है तेरी राहों में
डाल दे बाहें ज़रा बाहों में
रात सुहानी है, बहकी जवानी
पी ले निगाहों ही निगाहों में
शीशे से पी, या पैमाने से पी
Shashikala who predominantly portrayed vampish roles in films, more especially the ones of a cunning well versed woman who often becomes a bone of contention in the family, started as a child artist in late 1936. The actress, however, is remembered for her 1945 film “Zeenat” ,directed by Syed Shaukat Hussain Rizvi featuring Noor Jehan, Yakub, Karan Diwan & Leela Mishra with story by Wajahat Mirza. I saw this film at Kashipur, then a small town in Uttar Pradesh, in 1967.
Interestingly, I also saw two of her best films “Aarti” ( 1962) a music- social movie starring Ashok Kumar, Pradeep Kumar & Meena Kumari with hit numbers like “Kabhi To Milegi, Kahin To Milegi”, “Ab Kya Misaal Doon Main Tumhare Shabaab Ki” & “Baar Baar Tohe Kya Samjhaaye Paayal Ki Jhankaar” composed by Roshan & O. P. Ralhan’s ” Phool Aur Patthar” ( 1966) which catapulted a struggling Dharmendra to a star status. Thanks to that unforgettable shirtless scene by the actor. It was a huge box office success with “Sheshe Se Pee ya Paimane se Pee” being pick of the lot picturized on Shashikala and Dharmendra, one of the most stylish & seductive dance numbers played with aplomb. The actress has had more than 20-year experience while Dharmendra was a raw actor.
The actress had earlier won a Filmfare Award for her performance in “Aarti” starring Ashok Kumar, Meena Kumari & Pradeep Kumar. The actress added another feather in her cap playing a negative role in B. R. Chopra’s “Gumrah”; a story of a woman who is caught between her love & duty .The film had music by Ravi with a lovely song “Chalo Ek Baar Phir Se” which earned her second Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for her performance.
Her other notable films include the likes of “Nau Do Gyarah” (1957), “Kanoon” & ” Sujata” (1960),”Junglee” & “Batwara” ( (1961) , “Hariyali Aur Rasta” (1962), “Jahan Ara” (1964) , “Hamrahi”, “Ayee Milan Ki Bela” & “Yeh Rastey Hain Pyar Ke (1963), “Himalay Ki God Mein” & ” Waqt” ( 1965). “Anupama” & “Devar’ (1966), “Mehrban”(1967) “Neel Kamal’ & “Aabroo” (1968), “Kranti” ( 1981) & “Sauten” ( 1983″ ) were her other hits.
She played Shahrukh Khan’s mother in Abbas Mustan’s hit film “Baadshah” ( 1999). “Mujhse Shaadi Karogi” ( 2004) was one of her last films. Received 8 Filmfare Nominations for Best Supporting Actress Award , winning two.
