Biography
Who is Asha Parekh?
Early life and childhood
Asha Parekh was born on October 2, 1942, in Bengaluru, India. Her mother, Sudha Lakdawala, participated in India's struggle for independence and was briefly incarcerated during that time. Her father was Bachubhai Parekh.
Growing up, Asha initially wanted to become a doctor but changed her mind after witnessing a train accident. She developed a strong interest in dance at a young age, which eventually led to her discovery by director Bimal Roy.
Acting career and rise to stardom
Asha started her career as a child actor, appearing in the film Maa in 1952 under the screen name Baby Asha Parekh. She left acting temporarily after a film failed at the box office, but returned to the screen as a teenager.
At sixteen, she was cast by producer Subodh Mukherjee and writer-director Nasir Hussain in Dil Deke Dekho in 1959. This marked the beginning of her long association with Hussain and launched her into major stardom across the film industry.
She went on to star in numerous successful films throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, Teesri Manzil, Love in Tokyo, and Caravan. Her performance in Kati Patang earned her a Filmfare Award for Best Actress.
Directing and industry leadership
After her extensive acting career, Asha Parekh shifted her focus to television direction and production. She directed the Gujarati-language television show Jyoti and established a production company named Akruti.
From 1994 to 2000, she served as the president of the Cine and TV Artistes' Association. She also became the first woman to be appointed as the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification, serving in that role from 1998 to 2001.
Awards and recognition
Throughout her decades-long career, Asha Parekh received numerous honors for her contributions to cinema. The Government of India awarded her the Padma Shri in 1992 for her significant impact on the film industry.
She was later honored with the prestigious Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002 and received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2020. In 2017, she published her autobiography titled The Hit Girl.
Birthday and age
Asha Parekh was born on October 2, 1942, which makes Asha 84 years old today. That birthday falls under the Libra sign. Asha shares the date with 35 other famous people.
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