something in her face
that transcends the ordinary.
Mian jee momentarily informed Surraiya that
he had decided to cast the gorgeous girl in
his film 'Jaan-e-Bahar'
The little girl did not find appropriate
words to thank the film- maker.
After all, no one ever mistakes the message
of a grateful heart.
Thus, the exceptionally beautiful girl, who
looked more like a fairy, and whom the
Pakistani movie goers round the globe know
as Husna, debuted from the film 'Jaan-e-Bahar'
in 1958.
Noor Jehan also endorsed Husna to the films.
Husna was dubbed as the daughter of Musarrat
Nazeer and Lala Sudhir in 'Jaan-e-Bahar'.
Her life is a glorious tale of warmth and
gratitude. Cine-goers and critics alike
agree that Husna resembles the Indian
actress Nimmi.
Truth is told, none other actress of her
time came even close to Husna's beauty, much
less beating it.
To this day, Husna is Husna. She has no
parallel in beauty.
Surraiya and her husband, who was a high
ranking official at Radio Pakistan at the
time, wanted Husna to complete her education
and then continue her journey to the movies.
However, Husna decided to forsake education
for the acting that was her lifelong love.
We are the architects of our own fortunes
and that our happiness depends, in the end,
on ourselves.
Moreover, glamour was in Husna's blood. She
had a flair for parties, picnics and
outings, as well.
Her immense appeal and her absolute belief
to move on took her to the forefront of the
rising Pakistani cinema in the 1960s.
She associated herself to films for two
decades. During that time, she worked in
sixty- three movies. She appeared in the
films as supporting actress, lead actress
and even as vamp.
Behind the gaze that had put a generation of
young males under her spell, was an ultra
sensitive woman whose presence always
heightened the sweetness of living.
She made her mark with her next movie, 'Ajab
Khan', which proved to be a mega hit. It
launched her into the cinema. She played the
lead actress, dubbed as 'Noor', opposite
Sudhir, who played the title role, 'Ajab
Khan'.
The real Husna and the reel Husna were very
much alike: Vivid, vivacious and friend of
friends.
After more than four decades, her well-
wishers could not get her off their minds.
Her dressing expressed her aspirations
toward taste and sophistication. Husna is
arguably the best-dressed actress in the
annals of the Pakistani cinema.
Her memory had been, is, and hopefully will
be so sharp that she remembers precisely the
location of every single dress in her
wardrobes.
Movies like 'Society', 'Sathi' and 'Nagan',
in which she appeared in romantic lead
roles, added to her popularity and bought
her instant fame. Husna, by far, is one of
the most romantic heroine Pakistanis have
ever seen.
She lives like her best memories have not
happened yet. Unfortunately, her marriages
were not as successful as her movies. Husna
married more than once in her fabulous movie
career. Relatively speaking, she was not
quite complacent with her married life.
She graced the Pakistani silver screen with
her wistful appearance and to this day, the
movie buffs remember her as an icon of
beauty and glamour.
The enormously talented Husna received more
opportunities to evince her acting. Below
are three examples:
The films 'Saltanat' (Husna was the
supporting actress), the film 'Lagan',
starring, Husna- Aslam-Yusuf, the film 'Son
of Ali Baba'.
The following three films show what a
well-balanced and modulated performance she
could render if given the right opportunity:
The films 'Ghazi Bin Abbas', 'Teen Phool'
and 'Farishta' (Husna worked opposite late
Afzal Nazeer in 'Farishta')
Who else could have combined her beauty and
her tragedy with such finesse and dignity?
An actress of many projects, Husna was also
behind such movies:
'Habu', 'Rani Khan.' 'Rani Khan' was
released on November 4, 1960, starring,
Husna- Akmal- Laila -Zarif. The film 'Bhai
chara'.
She felt betrayed, when people took more
interest in her glamour than her
intelligence. That left her emotional and
desperate.
Further, all her life, she yearned for a man
who could have looked more deeply into her
tortured artistic soul.
Her ex-husbands hardly noticed the sincere
woman inside her, fraught with unrequited
love. Passions ran deep than.
Husna, an amicable actress, a devoted
friend, a patriot and an optimist, did
appeal to the audiences in the following
three films:
'Al-Hilal', 'Neela Parbat' and 'Kaun kisi
ka'.
Being there for her associates gave her a
phenomenal edge. It was a sublime moment in
her life. She maintained warm and sincere
relationships with her colleagues.
In a way so subtle, so gentle, so
loving-like the budding and falling of the
leaves on the pecan trees in the backyard.
As impressionable as ever, Husna was the
dashing heart- throb in the following three
films:
'Jadu gar', 'Jaal', 'Piya Milan ki Aas'.
More than any other actress of her time, she
listened to the heart- beat of her fans. It
strengthened her faith in her own
resourcefulness.
Her acting talent was considerable. It is
all the more evident in the following three
movies:
'Honey moon', 'Oonchay Mehal' and 'Shaheed'
(popular song of 'Shaheed': 'Kahay dil ki
umang, uroon badal kay sung', singer,
Zubeida Khanum, pictured on Husna).
Her regal elegance made public snap to
attention. Such uncommon dazzle is a rarity.
Good movies can edify the mind. Husna played
her roles with great effect in the following
three movies:
'Beta', 'Majboor' and 'Doosri shadi.'
Every one noticed Husna's beauty. But it is
also her heart that made her stand out. So
great is her intelligence and charm that
those who know her adore her.
Most definitely, she took pride in truly
living with a clear conscience.
Some of her movies exemplify twentieth
century Pakistani life. Husna, an adept
actress, worked zealously in the following
three films:
'Dosti', 'Sarhad' and 'Aarzu'.
Perhaps, no other Pakistani film actress,
other than Husna, became so synonymous with
ethereal beauty, with perfection of grace
and with excellence.
She is that one artist, who excels in all
attributes.
She poured her heart out in the following
three movies:
'Khamosh nigahain', 'Sajan milday kadi kadi'
and 'Aar paar'.
Her fans have tremendous respect and open
admiration for her zero tolerance for lies
and hypocrisy. They salute the legendary
Husna, on-camera and off.
In her two decades there, she influenced
scores of budding artists. When an average
Husna admirer is asked, what is so special
in that actress, this is how they usually
reply: 'I just like her a lot'!
She proved as popular as ever with the
release of the following three movies, which
brought her distinctive, cinematically
likely persona honed over the years:
'Jawab do', 'Raja' and 'Surraiya Bhopali'.
Furthermore, she was also the heroine in
director Yunus Rahi's film 'Aurat aik
kahani'.
She won the Nigar Award' for best supporting
actress in director S.Sulaiman's film 'Sabaq'
in 1972. (Popular song of 'Sabaq': 'Khilti
kali ko deikh kar', singer, Runa Laila,
pictured on Husna)
With every leap of grace and form, her
adorers were watching the future of that
gorgeous actress take shape.
Husna, who is all-radiant, used the vantage
that came from experience in the following
three movies:
'Aawaz', 'Maan, bahu, beta' and 'Sabaq'.
She is known to transform simple gatherings
into impressively sumptuous celebration by
her mere presence. She never forgot that
playing up to the audience is the most vital
element of movies.
Through hard work and perseverance, she
attained success in the following three
movies:
'Karishma', 'Tamasha' and 'Gunah gaar'.
This deity of popular entertainment and a
courageous actress became a favorite to
millions because she seemed to be a straight
talker.
Those who worked with her knew another side.
They knew that she was a woman of strong
will and determination. The films flood-
lights caught her clean good looks.
At the height of her acting career, she
worked in the following three movies:
'Taqdeer', 'Aurat aur zamana' and 'Baazi
jeet laye.'
To her friends and fans, she personified the
ideal actress. This actress of individualism
still makes her presence-felt years after
she stepped off the industry.
She continues to exert a peculiar
fascination.
After retiring from the films, she stayed in
Lahore for a while. Later she moved to the
U.S.A.
One feels nostalgic as one encompasses all
those great memories about her.
To think of Husna after all these years, is
like sitting in a little boat and sailing
through time.
She suffered at the hands of those who lied
and the hypocrites but never compromised her
unimpeachable integrity.
