Neelo was admitted to a private hospital three weeks ago due to some ailments.
She was born as Cynthia Alexander Fernandes in Bhera city of Sargodha district on June 3, 1940.
Neelo is the only Pakistani actress to have worked in a popular Hollywood film, ‘Bhowani Junction’ starring Ava Gardner and Stewart Granger, which also marked her film debut.
She then started working in local films a junior artiste and gradually rose from playing second-lead roles to a leading lady. However, it was her character in the film‘Zarqa’that proved to be her breakthrough. She essayed the title role of a Palestinian freedom fighter that made ‘Zarqa’ the first diamond jubilee film of Pakistan and is regarded as one of the best films in the country.
Veteran actor Neelo Begum has passed away at the age of 80.
Her son, film star Shaan Shahid, announced her demise. It is with the saddest of heart I share the departure of my mother as she has gone to her creator, he wrote on Twitter. I don’t know what to write as words have become empty [.] just like the world without her is so meaningless. My success and my failures both need her, the actor said in a tweet the next day. The only hope that is still alive is to meet her one day beyond the boundaries of life. Love you forever.