In her heyday, film star Neelo had the sass, the moves and the charisma to make it big in movies.
The 1960’s belonged to Neelo who could act, dance, had a captivating smile, and also had multiple hits to her credit. Photos: Guddu Film Archive
When the history of Pakistan’s film industry is compiled, the 1960s would be considered the most productive decade for films. The ’50s were the teething years for the industry while the ’70s were marred by the VCR invasion and action-based meaningless films.
The swinging ’60s saw many stars-in-the-waiting begin their career, who went on to rule filmdom for over two decades. Muhammad Ali, Waheed Murad, Nadeem, Zeba, Shabnam, Rani and many others all started out in the ‘sixties. However, the decade really belonged to one actress who could act and dance, had a captivating smile, could be termed a sex symbol and also had multiple hits to her credit. It was none other than Neelo.
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.
This excerpt is from an article originally published in March 2017
In the 1960s, Pakistan’s filmmakers often found inspiration in the national struggle of the Palestinian people and audiences generally responded well to such films.
Shaheed was a massive box office draw in 1962, and it seems to have inspired the making of
Zarqa in 1969.
Zarqa tells the story of an Arab woman who is able to become a fighter within the Palestinian liberation movement and through daring, courage and self-sacrifice wreaks massive destruction on the Israeli occupying military.
The film is violent, ideological, but in places quite moving. Talish, a fine character actor, plays Major David, a sadistic Israeli officer charged with capturing the Palestinian underground leader Shabaan Lutfi (Allaudin).
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.