Zarina Wahab

Biography:

Zarina Wahab, an Indian actress prominent in Hindi and Malayalam cinema, gained recognition for her outstanding performances in films like Chitchor and Gopal Krishna in Hindi, and Madanolsavam, Chamaram, Palangal, and Adaminte Makan Abu in Malayalam.

Born in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, into a Muslim family, Wahab is multilingual, fluent in Telugu, Urdu, Hindi, and English. She received training at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, and has three sisters and one brother.

Initially facing criticism about her appearance from film producer Raj Kapoor, Wahab diligently worked on her looks, attended film gatherings, and gradually gained attention, leading to her roles in movies. Following her debut in Basu Chatterjee’s Chit Chor (1976), she often portrayed middle-class characters in films like Agar, Jazbaat, Sawan Ko Aane Do, and Raees Zada. Her performance in Gharonda (1977) earned her a Filmfare Award nomination for Best Actress. She has also contributed to Malayalam, Telugu, and Tamil cinema, making a comeback in Malayalam films with Calendar in 2009.

Wahab is fondly remembered for her role in the critically acclaimed Adaminte Makan Abu and appeared in My Name Is Khan as the mother of Rizwan Khan (Shah Rukh Khan). Currently, she takes on mature roles in television serials.

Her personal life includes a marriage to actor Aditya Pancholi, whom she met on the sets of Kalank Ka Tika in 1986. They have a daughter, Sana, and a son, Sooraj. The couple’s turbulent marriage, Pancholi’s temper, and rumors of infidelity have been subjects of gossip columns. Wahab’s daughter is also an actress, while her son, Suraj, faced legal issues in connection with the death of Jiah Khan in June 2013. He made his Bollywood debut in 2015 alongside Sunil Shetty’s daughter, Athiya Shetty, in the movie Hero.