Tabassum is an Indian film actress and talk show host, who started her career as child actor Baby Tabassum in 1947. She later had a successful television career as the host of first TV talk show of Indian television, Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan. It ran on National broadcasterDoordarshan from 1972 to 1993, wherein she interviewed film and TV personalities. She also worked as a stage compere. She has appeared in all four mediums ie Films, TV, radio and web.
Early life and background
She was born in 1944 in Mumbai to Ayodhyanath Sachdev, an Indian freedom fighter, and Asghari Begum, freedom fighter, journalist and an author. Her father named her Tabassum, keeping her mother's religious sentiments in mind, while her mother kept her name Kiran Bala, keeping her father’s religious sentiments in mind. Her official name as per pre-marriage documents was Kiran Bala Sachdev.
Career
Tabassum made her film debut as a child actor with Nargis followed by Mera Suhaag, Manjhdhar and Bari Behen. Later in Deedar, directed by Nitin Bose, she played the childhood role of Nargis; the hit songBachpan Ke Din Bhula Na Dena sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Shamshad Begum was picturised on her. Also, in the next year, she appeared in another important film Baiju Bawra directed by Vijay Bhatt, where she appeared in the childhood role of Meena Kumari. She also worked in the popular film Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon starring Joy Mukherjee and Asha Parekh. She also starred in the beautiful song 'Aji qibla mohtarma'. After a gap, she reentered films in adult roles, working as a character actress. She hosted the first talk show of Indian television, Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan, which ran for 21 years from 1972 to 1993. Produced by Doordarshan Kendra Mumbai, it was based on interviews of film celebrities and became immensely popular. This also led to a career as stage compere. She was also the editor of Grihalaxmi, a Hindi women's magazine for 15 years and wrote many joke books. In 1985, she directed, produced and wrote her first film, Tum Par Hum Qurban. In 2006, she returned to television, as an actress in , produced by Rajshri Productions. She became a judge in a reality stand-up comedy showLadies Special on Zee TV. She continued to work as an interviewer for television and is currently doing a TV show on TV AsiaUSA and Canada titled Abhi Toh Main Jawaan Hoon'' based on the Golden Era of Hindi Cinema. Currently, she has launched her own channel on YouTube, titled "Tabassum Talkies" which consists of nostalgic talks, interviews of celebrities, shayaris, jokes and more.
Personal life
She is married to Vijay Govil, elder brother of TV actor Arun Govil. Their son Hoshang Govil had brief career as a lead in three films Tum Par Hum Qurbaan, which was produced and directed by Tabassum in which she introduced Johnny Leverfor the first time on screen as a comedian. Kartoot and Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeah produced by Zee TV and directed by J Om Prakash. In 2009, her granddaughter Khushi made her film debut with Hum Phir Mile Na Mile.
