Shammi (actress)


Nargis Rabadi, better known by her stage name Shammi, was an Indian actress who appeared in over two hundred Hindi films. Shammi remained a sought-after actress with filmmakers when it came to goofy and comic roles, especially in the period 1949–1969 and later from 1980–2002. Her famous films as supporting actress included Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai, Half Ticket, Halaku, Samaj Ko Badal Dalo,Khuda Gawah, Coolie No. 1, Gopi Kishan and Hum Saath Saath Hain and films with Rajesh Khanna like The Train, Aanchal, Kudrat, Red Rose, Awara Baap and Swarg. She had been a leading actress playing main female lead or second female lead in Hindi films between 1949–1955 as well. Later, from 1986 till 1998, she appeared in many popular television serials such as Dekh Bhai Dekh, Zabaan Sambhal Ke, Shriman Shrimati, Kabhi Yeh Kabhi Woh and Filmi Chakkar. Shammi was married to film producer director Sultan Ahmed for seven years, before they were divorced. Shammi is the younger sister of fashion designer Mani Rabadi.

Early life

Rabadi was born in 1929 in Bombay, India. Her father was a priest in an agyari and died when she was around three years old. After her father's death, her mother used to cook food at all the religious functions organized by the Parsi community to earn money. Rabadi had an elder sister Mani Rabadi, who was a fashion designer and worked extensively with many actresses as their dress designer in Hindi films between 1967 and 1994. Her mother's younger sister lived with her. They stayed in Tata Blocks in Parel, South Mumbai in 1930–47 period. Her sister joined Johnson and Johnson as a secretary after completing her secondary school education.
In 1942, Johnson and Johnson manufactured tablets and Rabadi was employed in the packing department. Her job was to collect the tablets that were not sealed in the tablet case, and had fallen off from the machine. She had to put them into big bottles which would go to hospitals for free distribution to patients. She was paid Rs 100 per month for doing this job.

Career

Early Career (1949–1970)

Rabadi got into films by chance. A family friend Chinuu Mama was working with filmmaker Mehboob Khan. Chinuu was very friendly with actor and producer Sheikh Mukhtar. At that time, Mukhtar was looking for an actress for the second lead, in a film he was to start with Begum Para as the main female lead. Chinnu Mama asked Rabadi whether she would like to join films and asked her to meet Sheikh Mukhtar in the studios the next day. Mukhtar was concerned about her Hindi-speaking skills as she was a Parsi. Rabadi immediately told a worried Sheikh that she would be talking with him in Hindi itself, and that he should point out any flaw if he was able to find any. Sheikh Mukhtar was quite shocked, but was impressed. The next day, she was called to Mahalaxmi studios for her screen test for a film. She was advised by director Tara Harish to change her name to "Shammi" as there was another actress named Nargis in the industry. Her monthly salary was Rs 500. She was asked to sign a three-year contract with a condition that she couldn't work outside without their permission. She was just 18 when she signed her first film, Ustad Pedro, in January 1949. Ustad Pedro had Sheikh Mukhtar opposite Begum Para and Mukri as the comedian and it was directed by Tara Harish and this Begum Para-Sheikh Mukhtar starrer was a hit film at the box office in 1949.
She had to attend the studio every day and practice acting even when she had no shoot. Shammi had to read dialogues of other films and Harish, the film's director taught her a lot of things since he was an actor himself. Harish was directing another film with Mukesh in the lead as hero, called Malhar. Shammi was given the main lead in that film. Since the director was the same, Shammi was allowed to work outside the Sheikh Mukthar banner. She got good reviews for Malhar. Malhar's music was a super-hit and Malhar made Shammi a famous star. Shammi was financially stable now, so they shifted to Bandra. During the shooting of Malhar, she met Nargis Dutt through Jaddan bai, who was the mother of Nargis Dutt. They became good friends. After that meeting, Dutt would frequently call Shammi to her house in Marine Drive. Dutt was her best friend and later, because of their friendship she got a supporting role in the film Miss India. She quoted in an interview "Nargis was the first actor to be paid Rs 1 lakh; even Dilip Kumar did not get that kind of money then. It was the talk of the industry. Actors like me who did supporting roles would get anything around Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000."
Her third film was third film was with Dilip Kumar and Madhubala, called Sangdil, but it got released late in 1952 and was a flop. Since Sangdil failed, she did not get work for seven months. Shammi used to play the main lead or second lead in films from 1949 to 1952, but after Sangdil, she started taking whatever work came to her and took a few films with vamp roles. She quoted in an interview: "Many people scolded me when I did that but I was clear in my mind that I had to work. Sitting at home would not help me since I was the breadwinner of the family." She got roles as the leading heroine opposite heroes such as Mahipal, Manhar Desai and Karan Dewan. After release of K. Asif's hit film Musafirkhana, she was flooded with similar roles. Her role opposite comedian Johnny Walker was appreciated in this film.
Some of her successful movies as supporting actress in this period were Ilzam, Pehli Jhalak, Bandish, Azaad, Halaku, Son of Sinbad, Raj Tilak, Khazanchi, Ghar Sansar, Aakhiri Dao, Kangan, Bhai-Bahen and Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai. The rest of her films released from 1952 to 1960 were deemed as commercial failures. In the period 1962 to 1970, her comedy and vamp roles made an impact in successful films such as Half Ticket, Ishaara, Jab Jab Phool Khile, Preet Na Jane Reet, Aamne - Saamne, Upkar, Ittefaq, Sajan, Doli, Raja Saab and The Train.

Period from 1970–85

In the early 1970s, she started getting roles of mother to heroes like in Purab Aur Paschim and Adhikar. She won the BFJA Award as Best Supporting Actress for Samaj Ko Badal Dalo. That's when she decided to get married. She married an aspiring director named Sultan Ahmed. Shammi had many friends in the industry and because of her, Ahmed got entry into the film industry and everybody worked with him. Her own friends like Rajesh Khanna, Sunil Dutt and Asha Parekh started working in films directed by Sultan Ahmed and these films were successful. Her husband's directorial ventures such as Heera, Dharam Kanta, and Daata were successful. Shammi made a mistake by not accepting offers from other directors, and due to this she started getting fewer offers to act in films in the period between 1972 and 1979.
Shammi became pregnant two times, but both times she miscarried, and therefore she and Sultan Ahmed did not have any children. This had an adverse effect on their marriage, which lasted for seven years. During that period, the couple had bought a house and her husband wanted to put the house in her name, but Shammi was of the opinion that since her sister-in law was not doing anything, Ahmed should put the house in his sister's name. Ahmed's brother in law's family resided with them. Sultan's brother's wife was uneducated, so Shammi took care of the child. Shammi admitted the child in a school in Shimla. Due to some differences, she broke up with her husband in 1980. She walked out of the house without any cash in hand, and left without her car too. She had the old house where she stayed with her mother in Bandra, so she shifted there. Nargis Dutt was upset when Shammi separated from her husband. Dutt helped Shammi get a role in The Burning Train within 8 days after Shammi had left her house. Her friend Rajesh Khanna helped her get small roles in films with him in the lead from 1980 such as Red Rose , Aanchal, Kudrat, Awara Baap and Swarg. These films again got her noticed as a supporting actress and hence revived her career.
Encouraged by her recent successes, she decided to produce a film named Pighalta Aasman in 1985. Rajesh Khanna was going to act in the film, and he suggested the director, who came on board. There was reportedly an altercation between Esmayeel and Khanna, after which Khanna walked out of the film. It had still not gone on the floors then. But because Rajesh Khanna was acting in the film, she had brought in a big actress, Raakhee. The distributors were after Shammi as she had promised them Rajesh Khanna. She then approached Shashi Kapoor. On this topic, she quoted in an interview: "He did not even ask me how much I was going to pay him. Everything fell in place. But the director sucked the life out of me. He fought with everyone on the sets. Ultimately, he was thrown out of the film before the dubbing was completed. I directed the film. The film bombed at the box office. I knew it would flop. I went into a big loss."

Later career 1986–2018

To help her recover from the losses, Rajesh Khanna, who was producing television series then, helped Shammi get a few shows to produce on Doordarshan. She was getting paid well for her roles in the films and in television serials and she started saving money. From her very first movie, she never went asking for work—the work came to her through some close friend. Her performances in serials such as Dekh Bhai Dekh, Zabaan Sambhal Ke, Shriman Shrimati, Kabhi Yeh Kabhi Woh and Filmi Chakkar were appreciated. She was very much in demand from 1990 to 2000, appearing in many successful films such as Coolie No 1, Hum, Mardon Wali Baat, Gurudev, Gopi Kishan, Hum Saath-Saath Hain and Imtihaan. Her portrayal of the role of a drug addict in Mahesh Bhatt's Lahu Ke Do Rang had stunned the audience. Movie offers, however, stopped coming to her after 2002 since she was aging. She was rarely approached for roles from 2008 to 2011.
She made a comeback with Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi in 2013; as Bela Sehgal, the director, wanted her to do it because it was the role of a Parsi woman.

Death

She died in her sleep on 6 March 2018, from natural causes at the age of 88.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleLanguageNotes
1949Ustad PedroHindi
1951MalharHindi
1952SangdilMohiniHindi
1953Aag Ka DariyaMeeraHindi
1953KhojHindi
1953 BaghiHindi
1954Sheeshe Ki DiwarHindi
1954RoohiHindi
1954MunnaHindi
1954KasturiHindi
1954IlzamHindi
1954HukumatHindi
1955Shahi MehmanHindi
1955RukhsanaHindi
1955Pehli JhalakGirjaHindi
1955MusafirkhanaMaryHindi
1955LaganHindi
1955BandishKavitaHindi
1955AzaadJankiHindi
1956HalakuHindi
1960Dil Apna Aur Preet ParaiSheilaHindi
1968BaaziLucy FernandesHindi
1970The TrainHindiGuest appearance
1970Mere HumsafarSuzieHindi
1970YaadgaarSukhiyaHindi
1970Samaj Ko Badal DaloHindi
1970Purab Aur PaschimRitaHindi
1970DarpanLachchiHindi
1971AdhikarRajan's motherHindi
1971Purani PehchanHindi
1972Ek Hasina Do DiwaneMajor's wifeHindi
1972BandagiHindi
1972AnnadataMrs. AnwarHindi
1973Jwaar BhataSatwantiHindi
1973HoneymoonMrs. RamakantHindi
1974Chhote SarkarHindi
1976LambhardhaniHindi
1978Swarg NarakShobha's motherHindi
1979Lahu Ke Do RangDrug addictHindiGuest appearance
1979Hum Tere Ashiq HainTeacherHindi
1979Maan ApmaanMrs. RamdasHindi
1980The Burning TrainPassengerHindi
1980Red RoseRoopsagar Clothing Stores ManagerHindi
1980AanchalChachiHindi
1980PatitaMiss MariaHindi
1980Bombay 405 MilesHindiSpecial appearance
1981KrantiBharat's foster motherHindi
1981Chehre Pe ChehraHindi
1981KudratSarlaHindi
1981Prem GeetGynaecologistHindi
1982SarpanchSwaran Chanda's wifePunjabi
1982AngoorMrs. Raj TilakHindi
1982Dil Akhir Dil HaiPsychiatristHindi
1982Khud-DaarSeema's motherHindi
1982ArthMrs. BhallaHindi
1982Do DishayenHindi
1983Shubh KaamnaGrandmotherHindi
1983NastikRosieHindi
1983RachnaHindi
1983Sweekar Kiya MaineMrs. SharmaHindi
1983Yahan Se Shehar Ko DekhoHindi
1984Yaari Jatt DiJeeta's motherPunjabi
1984NimmoKarma's motherPunjabi
1984Jigri YaarJeetoPunjabi
1984KarishmaNisha's motherHindi
1984JawaaniHindi
1985TulsiHindi
1985TawaifMrs. NigamHindi
1985Hum DonoMrs. Mathura DasHindi
1985MohabbatChoudhary's motherHindi
1985Ucha Dar Baba Nanak DaGurdit's motherPunjabi
1985JhoothiShantiHindi
1985Awara BaapHindi
1985Patthar DilMrs. ChaurasiaHindi
1985Paisa Yeh PaisaRosieHindi
1985Kali BastiMary P. PereiraHindi
1986Pahunche Hue LogHindi
1986KarmaDharma's auntHindi
1986Ek Chadar Maili SiJelmiHindi
1986ShingoraMausiTV movie
1986Baat Ban JayePrakash's neighbourHindi
1987Mera LahooAvanti SinghHindi
1987ImaandaarAmeenaHindi
1987InsaafAvinash's motherHindi
1987Muqaddar Ka FaislaHindi
1987AuladLeelaHindi
1988Mardon Wali BaatChaila's motherHindi
1988Rama O RamaMary D'SouzaHindi
1988Akhri MuqablaGangaHindi
1989JurratJoseph's motherHindi
1989VardiCustomerHindi
1989EeshwarEeshwar's grandmotherHindi
1989Anokha AspatalHindi
1989ShehzaadeZorawar's motherHindiUncredited role
1989SaayaNurseHindi
1989Mohabat Ka PaighamChand BibiHindi
1989GawaahiBetty LoboHindi
1990Amavas Ki RaatHindi
1990Maha-SangramMaryHindi
1990AgneepathTara BaiHindi
1990SwargKumar's motherHindiuncredited
1990 DilMadhu's grandmotherHindi
1990SailaabYashoda DeviHindi
1990Bahaar Aane TakVijay's motherHindi
1990Qurbani Jatt DiJagroop's motherPunjabi
1991TrinetraBantu RaniHindi
1991Jeena Teri Gali MeinHindi
1991HumAarti's motherHindi
1991FarishtayMausiHindi
1991Dil Hai Ki Manta NahinParis lady who gives liftHindi
1992Mehndi Shagna DiSardarni Jagir KaurPunjabi
1992YudhpathMrs. ChoudharyHindi
1992Saatwan AasmanSujit's grandmotherHindi
1992Khuda GawahKhuda Baksh's motherHindi
1992HoneymoonMayaHindi
1992Ghar JamaiHindi
1993ShabnamHindi
1993Pehla NashaDeepak's landladyHindi
1993GurudevHindi
1993RaunaqHindi
1993GunaahA woman who bought Singh's flatHindi
1993BalmaaHindi
1994ImtihaanOrphanage managerHindi
1994ChaurahaGrandmotherHindi
1994Ulfat Ki Nayi ManzilenHindi
1994Gopi KishanJankiHindi
1994ParamaatmaRudranarayan's wifeHindi
1994CheetahJessyHindi
1995ThumkaHindi
1995Policewala GundaHindi
1995Coolie No. 1GrandmotherHindi
1995RangeelaGulbadan's motherHindi
1996Mr. BecharaCaretakerHindi
1997Aur Pyaar Ho GayaGrandmotherHindi
1997Uff! Yeh MohabbatMrs. UsgaonkarHindi
1999Hum Saath-Saath HainDurga MausiHindi
2000KunwaraMrs. Viswanath Prathap SinghHindi
2000Tera Jadoo Chal GayaGrandmotherHindi
2001Hum Ho Gaye AapkeAuntyHindi
2001Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar KeRohit's grandmotherHindi
2002Kyaa Dil Ne KahaaEsha's grandmotherHindi
2002'Balwant Singh's motherHindi
2005Chalta Hai YaarHindi
2008KhushbooPinky's grandmotherHindi
2009Accident on Hill RoadMrs. WadiaHindi
2010'Punjabi
2011KhapMasterniHindi
2012Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal PadiFarhad's grandmotherHindi

Television

TitleYearRoleNote
Idhar Udhar1985Mrs. Bregenza
Dekh Bhai Dekh1993-1994Chhoti Nani
Zabaan Sambhalke1993Mrs. Pinto
Filmi Chakkar1995Dadi Maa
Shararat2003Rani Devi2 Episodes