Huma Khan

QAMYAB – THE FORGOTTEN GEMS OF BOLLYWOOD

Qamyab is our humble tribute to all those lesser-known actors, one hit wonders and junior artists who we see umpteen times but don’t know about; beyond their faces. These actors have been an integral part of Bollywood but didn’t get their due. This series is our sincere attempt to put a name to these faces, familiarize them to our readers and celebrate their achievements in life – however big or small. We believe that every artist contributes in his/her own way to the cinema’s success. Qamyab will explore the unknown lives of such actors and artists as we believe even these forgotten gems of Bollywood deserve their due recognition today.

Right since its inception, Bollywood has given us actors with no prior legacy or foothold in the industry. Some of these “outsiders “attained super stardom while few others tasted short success but later, went on to face hardship and difficult times. One such actress, who was doing well in her professional life, encountered a sudden setback in life and was left languishing in jail for three years.

The actress we are talking about is Huma Khan. Today’s generation would know Huma Qureshi but three decades before her, Huma Khan came all the way from Pakistan and sizzled on the Hindi screen making the temperature hot for the audience!!

It was in the early ’80s that talent from across the border started coming to Hindi cinema. We had actor and singer Salma Agha, singer Reshma and British Pakistani singer Nazia Hassan who became big names in Bollywood. During this time, Huma Khan was one of the first Pakistani artists, who came to try her luck in Hindi films.

By the mid-80s, Huma became a regular face in Bollywood, seen mostly in short supporting roles or dancing on a song in a glamorous avatar.

Huma Khan was born on 24th December, 1964 in Pakistan and had worked in many Pakistani movies as a child artist in the ’70s. At the age of seventeen, she decided to come to Mumbai to become a Hindi film actress. Her father was against this decision but her mother supported her and travelled with her to ‘aamchi’ Mumbai.

Upon reaching the city of dreams, Huma struggled for a break until a big film came her way in form of Aapas Ki Baat (1981). This film had Raj Babbar and Poonam Dhillon in the lead with Huma Khan playing the sister of Babbar. The film credits also mentioned her uniquely as ‘Introducing Huma as Raj Babbar’s sister’.

Aapas Ki Baat had Huma Khan in a completely different role from what people saw her throughout the rest of her career. Huma was known to be a glamorous actor sizzling on a dance number and trying woo the hero or villain. But in Aapas Ki Baat, she had total deglam look with traditional Indian attire and her fans, who haven’t seen this film yet, will be shocked to see her in it.

Huma was always known for her sensuous look attired in a skimpy outfit, swimming costume or just a two-piece bikini. Her dresses always involved a lot of exposure and cleavage display. In Manoj Kumar’s Kalyug Ki Ramayan (1987), she was seen in a swimming costume seducing the veteran star. Similarly, her low neckline choli and extra short ghagra in Ramsay’s Tahkhana (1986) caused catcalls in theatres when the film released.

After 1981, Huma did not have any release until 1984 which was a big year for her. She had five significant movies that year featuring top stars like Amitabh Bachchan in Sharaabi, Rajesh Khanna in Aaj Ka MLA Ram Avtar and rising star Kumar Gaurav in Hum Hain Lajawaab. Her other two releases- Jawaani and Andar Baahar had then newcomers like Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Neelam and Karan Shah.

Aaj Ka MLA Ram Avtar was the first film where Huma got to showcase her dancing skills as she danced to the ‘Chalo Calcutta’ song, which gave her the tag of dancer. This was followed by a small role and another song ‘Halla gulla jawaani’ in Jawaani.

Raj Sippy’s Andar Baahar gave her the glam doll tag where she played the sister of Gulshan Grover, who gets kidnapped by the villain Danny and he wants to have his way with her…

Soon enough, Huma got typecasted as an item girl or a seductress. The villains would fall for her irresistible charm while the virtuous hero would keep her away!! She did get a few decent roles as well like the song ‘Ae mere khwaboo ke shezade’ in Subhash Ghai’s Meri Jung (1985).

In 1985, Huma’s major turning point in career came in form of J.P. Dutta’s Ghulami (1985) in which she performed on the chartbuster song ‘Zeehale muskin’ as the gypsy dancer. This super hit song was actually meant to be shot with Kalpana Iyer but she couldn’t make it at the last moment and Huma got the golden opportunity. This song benefitted Huma and she signed many films after its success.

Huma’s next memorable role was still a few years away though. Debutant director Sooraj Barjatya was making Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) and its casting was still in progress. Sooraj decided to cast Huma Khan in the pivotal role of milkmaid Gulabiya opposite Marathi superstar Laxmikant Berde.

Some insiders opposed this bold decision questioning what was Huma Khan doing in a Rajshri film!! But Sooraj was adamant and went to meet Huma Khan on the sets of the movie Aakhri Adaalat (1988). Huma was shocked that a big banner like Rajshri Productions was approaching her. After hearing the script, she rejected the film as it went completely against her image. Gulabiya was a non-glamorous role with a touch of comedy.

Sooraj Barjatya tried to convince her but she was in no mood to accept it. Then, she asked him about film’s hero and Sooraj told her it was newcomer Salman Khan, who had done a supporting role in a Rekha starrer earlier. After hearing this, Huma accepted the offer as she had witnessed Salman struggle hard to become an actor.