Zarina Wahab is an Indian actress who predominantly worked in Hindi and Malayalam films. Known for critically acclaimed roles in Chitchor and Gopal Krishna in Hindi and Malayalam cinema with films like Madanolsavam, Chamaram, Palangal and Adaminte Makan Abu.
Zarina Wahab Biography : Early life
Wahab was born in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh into a Muslim family. She is fluent in her mother tongue Telugu, in addition to Urdu, Hindi and English. She was trained at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. Wahab has three sisters and one brother.
Zarina Wahab Biography : Career
After receiving negative feedback about her appearance from film producer Raj Kapoor, Wahab worked on her appearance and attended film parties and events. She eventually got noticed and was cast in films. She was usually cast as the middle-class girl after her first leading role in Basu Chatterjee’s Chit Chor (1976) in movies like Agar, Jazbaat, Sawan Ko Aane Do, and Raees Zada. She was nominated for a Filmfare Award in the Best Actress category for Gharonda (1977). She has acted in many Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, films. Wahab made a comeback to Malayalam films with Calendar, in 2009[citation needed] and has continued to act in Malayalam movies. She is still remembered for her role in the critically acclaimed Adaminte Makan Abu.[citation needed] She also appeared in My Name Is Khan as the mother of Rizwan Khan (Shah Rukh Khan’s character). Wahab currently plays older roles in television serials.
Zarina Wahab Biography : Personal life
Wahab met actor Aditya Pancholi on the sets of Kalank Ka Tika. They married in 1986 and have a daughter, Sana and a son, Sooraj. News of their turbulent marriage, her husband’s temper and rumors of infidelity have been in the gossip columns. Wahab’s daughter is an actress. Her son, Suraj, was arrested in June 2013, in connection with the death of Jiah Khan. He made his Bollywood debut with Sunil Shetty’s daughter Athiya Shetty in 2015 in the movie Hero.
Filmography
Feature films
List of Zarina Wahab film credits
Year Film Role Language Notes
1974 Ishq Ishq Ishq Prema Hindi
1975 Anokha Sudha Manchanda
Gajula Kishtayya Radha Telugu
1976 Chitchor Geeta P. Choudry Hindi
Raeeszada Julie
1977 Gharaonda Chaya
Navarathinam Pushparagam, Tamil
Agar… If Anju Agarwal Hindi
1978 Tumhare Liye Rajnartaki
Madanolsavam Elizabeth Malayalam
Anpadh Jyoti Hindi
Amara Prema Jaya Mala Telugu
Tumhare Liye Rajnartaki Hindi
1979 Gopal Krishna Radha
Jeena Yahan Sushma Guest appearance
Salaam Memsaab Radha
Sawan Ko Aane Do Chandramukhi
Naiyya Geeta
Do Hawaldar Paro
1980 Chamaram Indu Malayalam
Naayattu Bhavani
Swattu Rohini
Mr. Michael Lilly
Prathishta
Pappu Herself Cameo
Sitara Dhaniya/Sarita Hindi
Aakhri Insaaf
Taxi Chor Ruby
Hema Hemeelu Seeta Telugu
Jazbaat Sapna/Sangeeta Hindi
1981 Ek Aur Ek Gyarah Hirnibai
Roohi Sajjo/Roohi
Aakhri Mujra Sitara
Paanch Qaidi Shanti
Khoon Ki Takkar Rajju
Ammakkorumma Sindhu Malayalam
Palangal Usha
1982 Sara Varsham Savitha
Enthino Pookunna Pookal Savithri
Football Celine
Veedu Sumi
Barrister Hindi
Tadap Shaila
Maine Jeena Seekh Liya Reema
Shiv Charan Bijili
Karwat
1983 Kaivarisai Jaisankar’s sister Tamil
Dard-E-Dil Reshma Hindi
Chor Police Anjana
Paanchwin Manzil Meena
Lal Chunariyaa Kamini
Parasparam Meera Malayalam
1984 Hanste Khelte Meena Hindi
Manasariyathe Sindhu Malayalam
1985 Punnaram Cholli Cholli Vinodini
Choodatha Pookal Sreedevi
Hum Naujawan Meenakshi Hindi
1986 Amrit Savitri Sharma
Adhikar Rita
Inteqam Ki Aag Seema
Dahleez Jameela Ali
1987 Ee Bandha Anubandha Kannada
Maashuka Hindi
Dozakh Dancer
Mera Yaar Mera Dushman
1989 Toofan Mrs. Laxmi Gopal Sharma
1992 Jai Kaali Divya
1995 Mera Damad Kimi/Sunita Choudhry
2001 Zindagi Geeta
2004 Dil Maange More!!! Kavita
2005 Kisna: The Warrior Poet Shanta
2006 Jaane Hoga Kya Mrs. Krishnan
Prateeksha Kunti
2007 Kaisay Kahein Mrs. Rao
2008 Kabadi Kabadi Malayalam
2009 Calendar Thankam Joseph
2010 Aagathan Malathi Varma
My Name Is Khan Razia Khan Hindi
Rakta Charitra Jayalakshmi Hindi
Telugu
Rakta Charitra 2 Hindi
Telugu
Khilafath Malayalam
Malik Ek Shanti Hindi
2011 Adaminte Makan Abu Aishumma Malayalam
Naayika Herself Cameo
2012 Agneepath Suhasini Chauhan Hindi
2013 I, Me, aur Main Nisha Sabharwal
Himmatwala Savitri
Vishwaroopam Psychiatrist Tamil
Aaru Sundarimaarude Katha Chachi Moothedan Malayalam
Olipporu Olipporali’s mother
Club 60 Mrs. Sinha Hindi
Zila Ghaziabad Satbeer’s mother
2014 Bobby Jasoos Saida
Love U Crazy Girl Khushi’s mother
2015 Dil Dhadakne Do Smita Sangha
2016 Chalk n Duster Indu Shastry
Yea Toh Two Much Ho Gayaa Mann’s mother
Anbendraale Amma Mother Tamil Short film
2017 Viswasapoorvam Mansoor Sairabanu Malayalam
Thrissivaperoor Kliptham Ammachi
Jia Aur Jia Jia Grewal’s mother Hindi
The Door Mother
2019 Minnaminukalude Aakasham Malayalam
The Last Meal Mother Hindi
And the Oscar Goes To… Ummukulsu Malayalam
Priyapettavar Menon’s mother Photo only
PM Narendra Modi Hiraben Modi Hindi
One Day: Justice Delivered Abdul’s mom
Junction Varanasi Mamta
Mudda 370 J&K Suraj’s mother
2020 Mai Gayatri Jadhav Lawyer
Main Mulayam Singh Yadav Mulayam’s mother
The Lovers Nithya’s mother
The Waiting Mehak
Guns of Banaras Guddu’s Mother
Street Dancer 3D Amrinder’s Mother
2021 Mera Fauji Calling Maaji
2022 Before You Die
Hero of Nation Chandra Shekhar Azad Jagrani Devi
Lalitham Sundaram Mary Das Malayalam
Virata Parvam Ravi’s mother Telugu
Ishq Pashmina Hindi
2023 Dasara Telugu
Lafzon Mein Pyaar Devki Hindi
Ajmer 92 Urmila Hindi
The Purvanchal Files Hindi
Television series
Year Serial Role Notes
1999 Naya Zamana Dr.Shubhada Singh, Principal of college
2000 Babul Ki Duwayen Leti Jaa Prof Nafisa Siddiqui
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Tulsi’s Childhood friend
2001–2003 Heena Nagma Begum
2002–2004 Kammal Rini Sanyaal
2004–2005 Tumhari Disha Suhasini Vijayendra Bhonsale
2005 Kohinoor Mrs Kohli, Iravati Mom
2006–2007 Zaara Sana Khan
2006–2009 Kashmakash Zindagi Ki Pooja’s Mother
2007–2008 Virrudh Vasudha Mother
2009–2010 Yahaaan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli Pratibha Jagmohan Prasad
2012 Savdhaan India Rajjo One Episode
Sajda Tere Pyaar Mein Mahendra Pratap Mother
2012–2013 Madhubala Ek Ishq Ek Junoon Meera Malik Sultan Mother
2014 FIR Bajrang Pandey’s Mother
2016 Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hai Ketki Gaikwad
Web series
Year Title Role Language Network Ref
2016 Love Life & Screw Ups Honey Hindi
2022 Tanaav Nabeela Riaz Hindi Sony Liv
2023 Taj: Divided by Blood Salima Sultan Begum Hindi Zee5
Tooth Pari: When Love Bites Mamta Hindi Netflix
Kafas Neelima Hindi Sony Liv
P I Meena Chandana Dey Hindi Amazon Prime Video
Awards and nominations
Nominated–Filmfare Award for Best Actress (1977) for Gharonda