Legendary Neelo Begum laid to rest
Lahore, 31st January: Pakistan’s legendary actress Neelo Begum, who passed away on Saturday has been laid to rest in Lahore.
Baaghi TV: Actor Shaan Shahid’s mother Neelo Begum’s funeral prayers were offered in Lahore on Sunday.
A large number of notable personalities attended the funeral prayers and prayed for her forgiveness.
Neelo Begum, 80, had been suffering from cancer for a long time and passed away in Lahore yesterday.
The veteran actress was the wife of late film director Riaz Shahid and mother of the renowned actor Shaan.
It should be noted that Abida Riaz, popularly known as Neelo in the Pakistani film industry, was born as Cynthia Alexander Fernandes to a Catholic family on June 30, 1940, in Behra, Sargodha.
At 16 years of age, she played a small role in ‘Bhowani Junction’ in 1956, a Hollywood film shot in and around Lahore.
She got her big breakthrough in Pakistani films when she performed on the song ‘Aaye Mausam, Rangilay Suhanay’ in the film ‘Saat Lakh’ in 1957 by the renowned music director Rasheed Attre.
In 1965, at the peak of her popularity, she was summoned by then Governor of West Pakistan, Nawab Malik Amir Mohammad Khan to dance on stage for the Shah of Iran during his official visit to Pakistan. On refusing the offer she was harassed and threatened, after which she attempted suicide on the way to the Governor’s house, but was taken to a hospital immediately where the doctors saved her life.
She acted in memorable films like Dosheeza, Azra, Zarqa, Daachi, Jee Dar, Beti and many more. She also won the Best Actress Nigar Award for film Zarqa (1969).
People from all over the country have expressed their deepest condolences to Shaan Shahid. She will be remembered as a beautiful soul.
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