# Suraiya
**Suraiya** (Suraiya Jamal Sheikh; 15 June 1929 – 31 January 2004) was an Indian actress and playback singer who worked in Hindi and Urdu films, known mononymously as Suraiya. She was among the last major singing stars of [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema) who performed their own songs on screen, and she dominated the industry from the mid-to-late 1940s into the early 1950s.[1](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/suraiya) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0839534/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 15 June 1929, Lahore, Punjab, British India (now Pakistan); 31 January 2004, Mumbai (Bombay), India[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0839534/) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/suraiya-1929-2004) |
| Debut | Child role as the young Mumtaz Mahal in *Taj Mahal* (1941), at age 12[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/suraiya-1929-2004) |
| First song | Playback for Mehtab in *Sharda* (1942), "Panchhi Jaa, peechhe raha hai bachpan mera", on music director Naushad's discovery[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/suraiya-demanded-higher-fee-than-dev-anand-dilip-kumar-praise-jawaharlal-nehru-gregory-peck-8663776/) |
| Peak years | 1948–49, with box-office hits *Pyar Ki Jeet*, *Badi Bahen*, and *Dillagi*[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/suraiya-1929-2004) |
| Pay | Highest-paid actor in India at age 20, ahead of Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, and Ashok Kumar[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/suraiya-demanded-higher-fee-than-dev-anand-dilip-kumar-praise-jawaharlal-nehru-gregory-peck-8663776/) |
| Signature film | *Mirza Ghalib* (1954), the first feature film awarded the President's Gold Medal[5](https://www.cinemasangeet.com/hindi-film-music/interviews/suraiya-a-voice-from-the-past.html) |
| Retirement | Withdrew after *Rustom Sohrab* (1963), at age 34; never married[6](https://cinemaazi.com/public/people/suraiya) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/suraiya-1929-2004) |
## Early life and entry into films
Suraiya was born on 15 June 1929 in Lahore, Punjab, in British India, according to IMDb, the Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema, and Cinemaazi[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0839534/) • [7](https://indiancine.ma/texts/indiancine.ma%3AEncyclopedia_of_Indian_Cinema/text.pdf) • [6](https://cinemaazi.com/public/people/suraiya); one account, the Saregama company blog, gives her birthplace as Karachi[8](https://www.saregama.com/blog/happy-birthday-suraiya/). As a child she moved to Bombay with her family and lived near Marine Drive, where her neighbors and childhood friends included [Raj Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/raj-kapoor) and the composer [Madan Mohan](https://www.edgepedia.org/madan-mohan-music); the two dragged her into children's programs on [All India Radio](https://www.edgepedia.org/all-india-radio)[8](https://www.saregama.com/blog/happy-birthday-suraiya/) • [5](https://www.cinemasangeet.com/hindi-film-music/interviews/suraiya-a-voice-from-the-past.html).
Her entry into films came through her maternal uncle Zahoor, a film villain, who took her to the set of Prakash Pictures' *Taj Mahal* in 1941. Producer Nanubhai Vakil judged her face suited to the young [Mumtaz Mahal](https://www.edgepedia.org/mumtaz-mahal), and she shot the role over ten days at the [Red Fort](https://www.edgepedia.org/red-fort) in Delhi[5](https://www.cinemasangeet.com/hindi-film-music/interviews/suraiya-a-voice-from-the-past.html). In her own account she was 12 at the time; she later said she was 11 when she first sang for films[5](https://www.cinemasangeet.com/hindi-film-music/interviews/suraiya-a-voice-from-the-past.html).
## The singing star
Suraiya had no formal training in music. The music director Naushad heard her voice on the radio and brought her to A.R. Kardar's film *Sharda* (1942), where she sang "Panchhi Jaa, peechhe raha hai bachpan mera" as playback for the star Mehtab; she was so small that she had to stand on a stool to reach the microphone[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/suraiya-demanded-higher-fee-than-dev-anand-dilip-kumar-praise-jawaharlal-nehru-gregory-peck-8663776/) • [5](https://www.cinemasangeet.com/hindi-film-music/interviews/suraiya-a-voice-from-the-past.html). The Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema records her as effectively launched as a singing and dancing star in the Bombay Talkies film *Hamari Baat* (1943)[7](https://indiancine.ma/texts/indiancine.ma%3AEncyclopedia_of_Indian_Cinema/text.pdf).
Because she sang her own songs, she belonged to the generation of singing stars that preceded the full takeover of playback singing (Singers record songs that actors lip-sync on screen) in Hindi cinema. She continued to perform her own songs even as dedicated playback singers rose to dominance[9](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304983732_Hindi_Popular_Cinema_and_Its_Peripheries). Within her first four or five years she recorded for composers including Naushad, Khwaja Khurshid Anwar, Sajjad Hussain, Master Ghulam Haider, C. Ramchandra, and Anil Biswas; contemporaries described her as reproducing her composers' notes exactly, with a thin, sweet, slightly nasal but melodious voice[10](https://learningandcreativity.com/silhouette/suraiya-the-last-singing-star-of-indian-cinema/).
Her acting style, alongside Nargis and Khursheed, drew on the manners of North Indian Muslim elite culture, and directors such as [Mehboob Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/mehboob-khan) used it to give modern stories an aura of tradition[7](https://indiancine.ma/texts/indiancine.ma%3AEncyclopedia_of_Indian_Cinema/text.pdf).
## Stardom, 1946 to 1951
**Anmol Ghadi.** In Mehboob Khan's *Anmol Ghadi* (1946), Suraiya appeared opposite [Noor Jehan](https://www.edgepedia.org/noor-jehan), then the leading singing star of the Hindi screen. Noor Jehan sang five songs in the film; Suraiya's solos included "Main dil mein dard basaa laai" and "Man leta hai angdai", and she held her own against her famous co-star in both acting and singing[10](https://learningandcreativity.com/silhouette/suraiya-the-last-singing-star-of-indian-cinema/) • [11](https://scroll.in/reel/1063191/when-the-police-had-to-be-called-to-control-the-crowds-outside-singing-star-suraiyas-home).
She also co-starred with the singer K.L. Saigal in *Tadbir* (1945), *Omar Khayyam* (1946), and *Parwana* (1947), some of his last Hindi films[9](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304983732_Hindi_Popular_Cinema_and_Its_Peripheries) • [7](https://indiancine.ma/texts/indiancine.ma%3AEncyclopedia_of_Indian_Cinema/text.pdf). When Noor Jehan and Khurshid, the reigning singing stars, migrated to Pakistan after the 1947 partition, the field was left to Suraiya[11](https://scroll.in/reel/1063191/when-the-police-had-to-be-called-to-control-the-crowds-outside-singing-star-suraiyas-home).
**The peak.** Her career peaked in 1948–49 with the hits *Pyar Ki Jeet*, *Badi Bahen*, and *Dillagi*[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/suraiya-1929-2004). In 1949, eleven of her films released in a single year, a number no other actress had achieved[11](https://scroll.in/reel/1063191/when-the-police-had-to-be-called-to-control-the-crowds-outside-singing-star-suraiyas-home). By age 20 she was the highest-paid actor in India, ahead of [Dilip Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/dilip-kumar), Dev Anand, and [Ashok Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/ashok-kumar)[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/suraiya-demanded-higher-fee-than-dev-anand-dilip-kumar-praise-jawaharlal-nehru-gregory-peck-8663776/). Her popularity drew crowds that required police control: after *Pyar Ki Jeet* released, an inspector and four constables were posted outside her house, and at the premiere of *Badi Bahen* the crowd pulled at her clothes and a lathi charge left people injured, after which she stopped attending premieres[5](https://www.cinemasangeet.com/hindi-film-music/interviews/suraiya-a-voice-from-the-past.html).
## Mirza Ghalib and the later career
Sohrab Modi's *Mirza Ghalib* (1954), in which Suraiya sang the poet's ghazals, was made in three months and became the first feature film to receive the President's Gold Medal as Best Feature Film of 1954[5](https://www.cinemasangeet.com/hindi-film-music/interviews/suraiya-a-voice-from-the-past.html) • [8](https://www.saregama.com/blog/happy-birthday-suraiya/). At a function in Delhi, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru told her that she had brought Mirza Ghalib's soul back to life[5](https://www.cinemasangeet.com/hindi-film-music/interviews/suraiya-a-voice-from-the-past.html). In 1956 the [Government of India](https://www.edgepedia.org/government-of-india) sent her as part of a delegation to the Soviet Union, where her films were screened[8](https://www.saregama.com/blog/happy-birthday-suraiya/).
Her film output thinned through the 1950s, with releases including *Mr Lambu* (1956), *Maalik* and *Miss 1958* (1958), *Shama* (1961), and finally *Rustom Sohrab* (1963), opposite [Prithviraj Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/prithviraj-kapoor)[7](https://indiancine.ma/texts/indiancine.ma%3AEncyclopedia_of_Indian_Cinema/text.pdf) • [6](https://cinemaazi.com/public/people/suraiya).
## Dev Anand and retirement
Suraiya met [Dev Anand](https://www.edgepedia.org/dev-anand) on the sets of *Vidya* (1948), when she was an established star and he a newcomer, and the two fell in love during seven films together, including *Jeet* (1949) and *Afsar* (1950)[6](https://cinemaazi.com/public/people/suraiya) • [5](https://www.cinemasangeet.com/hindi-film-music/interviews/suraiya-a-voice-from-the-past.html). Her grandmother, who controlled her life and career, opposed the match because Dev Anand was Hindu[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/suraiya-demanded-higher-fee-than-dev-anand-dilip-kumar-praise-jawaharlal-nehru-gregory-peck-8663776/) • [5](https://www.cinemasangeet.com/hindi-film-music/interviews/suraiya-a-voice-from-the-past.html). During the shooting of *Jeet* the two planned to elope under cover of a wedding scene, but the plan was discovered and Suraiya backed out; she later said she had been afraid for him[5](https://www.cinemasangeet.com/hindi-film-music/interviews/suraiya-a-voice-from-the-past.html). She never married[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/suraiya-1929-2004).
She retired at 34 after *Rustom Sohrab* (1963), citing ill health during shooting and fatigue with work, and spent roughly the next three decades living alone at Krishna Mahal on Marine Drive[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/suraiya-1929-2004) • [5](https://www.cinemasangeet.com/hindi-film-music/interviews/suraiya-a-voice-from-the-past.html) • [8](https://www.saregama.com/blog/happy-birthday-suraiya/). She received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, was honored by the Dadasaheb Phalke Academy in 2003, and appeared on an Indian postage stamp issued in 2013 for the centenary of Indian cinema[8](https://www.saregama.com/blog/happy-birthday-suraiya/). She died in Mumbai on 31 January 2004, at 74[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0839534/).
## Place in Hindi cinema
Suraiya is counted among the finest actresses of early Hindi cinema and is often described as Hindi cinema's first female star[1](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/suraiya) • [12](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/suraiya-remembering-hindi-cinemas-first-singing-star-22nd-death-anniversary/). Her self-sung performances made her unusual in an industry that soon standardized on a single playback voice for its heroines[12](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/suraiya-remembering-hindi-cinemas-first-singing-star-22nd-death-anniversary/). She herself was bemused by her fame, once describing the three great singing women of her era this way: "Noorjehan was born great, Lata achieved greatness, I had singing greatness thrust upon me"[13](https://uir.unisa.ac.za/server/api/core/bitstreams/ca25bd0f-883b-45dc-a8a4-0a74d532b92e/content).
## References
1. [Suraiya Movies and TV Shows, Plex](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/suraiya)
2. [Suraiya, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0839534/)
3. [Suraiya (1929–2004), Dictionary of Women Worldwide via Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/suraiya-1929-2004)
4. [Suraiya: The 50s superstar who demanded higher fee than Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/suraiya-demanded-higher-fee-than-dev-anand-dilip-kumar-praise-jawaharlal-nehru-gregory-peck-8663776/)
5. [Suraiya – A Voice From The Past, interview by Dr. Mandar V. Bichu, Cinema Sangeet](https://www.cinemasangeet.com/hindi-film-music/interviews/suraiya-a-voice-from-the-past.html)
6. [Suraiya – Artists, Cinemaazi](https://cinemaazi.com/public/people/suraiya)
7. [Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema, entry for Suraiya Jamal Sheikh](https://indiancine.ma/texts/indiancine.ma%3AEncyclopedia_of_Indian_Cinema/text.pdf)
8. [Celebrating The 94th Birth Anniversary Of The Syrupy Voiced Singer And Actress Suraiya, Saregama Blog](https://www.saregama.com/blog/happy-birthday-suraiya/)
9. [Hindi Popular Cinema and Its Peripheries (Madhuja Mukherjee), ResearchGate](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304983732_Hindi_Popular_Cinema_and_Its_Peripheries)
10. [Suraiya: The Last Singing Star of Indian Cinema, by Parag Sankla, Silhouette](https://learningandcreativity.com/silhouette/suraiya-the-last-singing-star-of-indian-cinema/)
11. [Suraiya revisited: Hindi cinema's singing star is the subject of a first-ever book, Scroll.in](https://scroll.in/reel/1063191/when-the-police-had-to-be-called-to-control-the-crowds-outside-singing-star-suraiyas-home)
12. [Suraiya: Remembering Hindi cinema's first singing star on her 22nd death anniversary, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/suraiya-remembering-hindi-cinemas-first-singing-star-22nd-death-anniversary/)
13. [Illusion and Reality: Playback Singers of Bollywood, University of South Africa thesis](https://uir.unisa.ac.za/server/api/core/bitstreams/ca25bd0f-883b-45dc-a8a4-0a74d532b92e/content)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Hindi film actors, 1930s–1960s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license