Farrukh Jafar (1935–2021) was a veteran Indian actress, best known as the first announcer of Akashvani Lucknow. She is also known for her improv acting skills in many popular Bollywood films such as Umrao Jaan (1981), Swades (2004), Peepli Live (2010), Sultan (2016) and Gulabo Sitabo (2020). He died in October 2021 after suffering a brain stroke at the age of 88.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Farrukh Jafar was born in 1935 (age 88 years; at death) in Chakesar village, district Jaunpur, United Province of British India (now, Uttar Pradesh, India). Growing up in a feudal family in Jaunpur, Jafar became inclined towards art and literature at a very young age. She was fond of watching movies since childhood and was always updated about new releases. After getting married at the age of thirteen, she gave birth to two daughters. When Jafar came to Lucknow from the rural suburbs as a teenage bride, she endeared herself to her in-laws with her charming manners. While living in Lucknow, Jafar graduated from Lucknow University. Although she did what every Indian woman does, like cooking, cleaning and other household chores, she always had a spark of performing arts, which made her one of India’s most versatile actresses.
Family
Farrukh Jafar belonged to a Muslim family of feudal lords (zamindars) of Jaunpur. She married Syed Muhammad Jafar in 1948. Syed Muhammad Jafar was an Indian freedom fighter and noted journalist, who later became a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) of the Congress Party in Uttar Pradesh. Jafar has two daughters, Mehru Jafar, who is a published author and journalist, and Shaheen, who runs a school.
livelihood
radio
It was the early 60s, Jafar had recently graduated from Lucknow University, and by chance, he got a job as an announcer at All India Radio Lucknow in 1963. Jafar went with a friend to the radio station for an audition, and after seeing the recording room, mics and studio, Jafar was so fascinated that he asked his family friend GM Shaw, who was a producer at the time, if he too She could audition and after the audition, she was selected with him on the spot. Parveen Talha and a Mr. Sinha, and the rest is history. Farooq Jafar became the first announcer of All India Radio Lucknow. Talking about this in an interview he said,
Don’t know why people call me the first woman radio announcer. When Vividh Bharti station started in Lucknow, I was the first person there. Along with Parveen Talha and one Sinhaji, we were selected in the first batch.”
While working as an announcer at Akashvani Lucknow, he wrote many plays and broadcast those roles. One of his most popular shows ‘Geetone Bhari Kahani’ was a mix of fiction and Bollywood songs. Jafar’s second show ‘Pancharangi Program’ also became very popular, and Jafar became a household name with his one-liner –
“Now you listen to All India Radio’s Panchrangi program Akashvani”
Jafar worked at All India Radio Lucknow until 1966, and later, she moved to Delhi where her husband took a job as a correspondent at the Chicago Daily News and then The Washington Post. Jaffer’s intense love for drama and film led him to Vividh Bharati in Delhi, where he met Manzoor Lamin (station director), who immediately offered him a job, and he joined Vividh Bharati at All India Radio, Delhi. Gone. Soon, he was promoted as the senior-most anchor in Urdu External Services, working there till 1970. Due to some family reasons, she left her job at All India Radio and returned to her hometown. He talked about this in an interview. He said,
We did not like Delhi. There were some domestic issues…so, I had to go to my mother in Chakesar (Jaunpur) to settle things at my nanihal (grandmother’s house).”
theater and drama
Farrukh Jafar attended some acting workshops of Ibrahim Alkazi, one of the most famous directors of the National School of Drama, Delhi and one of the most influential stage directors and drama teachers of the 20th century. Under the tutelage of Ibrahim Alkazi, Jafar played the role of a mother in the Urdu translation of Luigi Pirandello’s Italian play ‘Six Characters in Search of an Author’.
Television
Farooq Jaffar is also known for his work in many popular television shows such as ‘Husn-e-Jaana,’ ‘Aadha Gaon,’ ‘The Shawl,’ and ‘Neem Ka Ped’ (1991).
film
Farooq Jaffar started her Bollywood career in 1981 when she played Rekha’s mother in Umrao Jaan. She got this role by chance when she was imitating Purdil Kaka, a man from Zafar’s village who spoke in a ‘dehati’ (countryside) dialect by referring to people with unique names like Kariya, ‘Bachhwa’ and ‘Banmanas’. Used to do. ‘ While improvising his pronunciation of Purdil Kaka at a family function, he was noticed by Muzaffar Ali, who immediately offered him a role in his film Umrao Jaan. Initially, she was skeptical about pursuing a career in Bollywood, but her intense love for Bollywood films inspired her to decide to try her hand at acting. In an interview, he said his favorite dialogue of Umrao Jaan-
Who knows, this place keeps searching… I have neither flames nor sparks in my pile of ashes.
23 years after his debut in Umrao Jaan, he was offered Swades (2004). Her role as ‘Panch Fatima Bi’ in Swades received critical acclaim. While talking about Swades in an interview, Jafar recalled one of his famous dialogues from the film-
The boy said, the fate of ice is to melt in your own water.
Farooq Jaffer (far right) in Swades.
After Swades, there was no looking back and she appeared in many popular Bollywood films like Aamir Khan’s Peepli Live, Prakash Jha’s Chakravyuh, Salman Khan’s Sultan and Kangana Ranaut starrer Tanu Weds Manu. She also won critical acclaim for films such as Parched (2015), Barefoot to Goa (2013), and Amma Ki Boli (2012). In 2013, she appeared in the film ‘Anwar Ka Ajab Qissa’ alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui; The film was directed by eminent poet, essayist, novelist and filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta. Among all his acting careers, Farrukh Jaffar is best known for his character ‘Amma’ in Peepli Live. Amma’s character smokes beedi and abuses, making her one of the most loved characters of the film.
Farooq Jafar in Peepli Live
He was also nominated for the Apsara Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his role of ‘Amma’ in Peepli Live. Farooq has worked in several more notable films such as The House Next Door (2017), Secret Superstar (2017), and Photograph (2019). In 2019, he was cast in Sandeep Kumar’s film “Mehrunisa”, which became his debut as the hero.
Sandeep Kumar and Farooq Jaffer are shooting for the film Mehrunisa in Lucknow.
Farooq Jaffar received much praise for her performance in the Bollywood film Gulabo Sitabo, in which she appeared as ‘Begum’ opposite megastar Amitabh Bachchan.
Farooq Jafar in Gulabo Sitabo
Favorite
Death
On 15 October 2021, Farooq Jaffer breathed his last after suffering a brain stroke at his residence in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, at the age of 88.
Facts/General Knowledge
- Farrukh Jafar was also known as Farrukh Jafar and Farrukh Jafar.
- When she came to Lucknow as a teenage bride, she would quietly go to the rooftop on a jeep to listen to the loudspeaker announcing the arrival of the latest films because at that time brides were not allowed on rooftops or on the streets. Once, in the process, he accidentally dropped a brick which fell on the head of his 8-year-old brother-in-law.
- She pursued her studies after marriage and graduated from Lucknow University.
- Jaffer’s job as an announcer in All India Lucknow was a breakthrough in his life.
- She started her career as a radio announcer purely as a hobby because she was very talkative and loved interacting with people.
- When Jafar started his career as a radio announcer in Lucknow, his youthful voice and charisma attracted people.
- She was deeply influenced by the city of Lucknow, where she spent more than five decades of her life. While talking about Lucknow he once said-
I have lived in ‘new’ Lucknow all my life, away from the old city – Hazratganj, about 40 years in Lawrence Terrace and now in Gomti Nagar…there was nothing here then!’
- Although Farooq Jaffer had no formal training, she was an A1 category announcer in India during the 1960s and 70s.
- After leaving her job at All India Radio, she became the head woman of Chakesar village in Jaunpur district, where she got the opportunity to interact with people and resolve their everyday disputes.
- He had a very close relationship with popular Bollywood actress Rekha, who played the role of Jafar’s daughter in Umro Jaan. During a private party in Mumbai, Rekha introduced Jafar to everyone present at the event and told him-
This is my real mother.”
Farooq Jaffer with Rekha
- She considered Muzaffar Ali as her godfather who recognized her talent and offered her a role in his first film Umrao Jaan.
- Reportedly, he never approached any film producer nor did he ever get any PRO to do so.
- Farrukh was known for his improvised dialogues, which had a rustic charm and which became his specialty and trademark.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn