Zeba, largely recognised as one of the top stars to have reigned Pakistan film industry in the 60s and 70s, turned 72 on Sunday. She was born on September 10, 1945, and was named Shaheen but later chose to be called Zeba for her onscreen appearance.
Zeba made her screen debut in the movie Chiragh Jalta Raha in 1962.
Zeba continued to reign the film industry for almost three decades appearing in many commercially successful and critically acclaimed movies, including the film Armaan that starred one of the greatest actors/ producers of the local film industry at that time, Waheed Murad. The film was produced by Waheed Murad and released in 1966. The movie was Pakistan’s first Platinum Jubilee Urdu film.Zeba won her first best actress award for the same film. The same year, Zeba teamed up with Waheed Murad in two other films Josh and Jaag Utha Insaan.
In 1970, her performance in the film Insaan Aur Aadmi won her the second award and her performance in the film Mohabbat in 1972 won her the third award.
Zeba along with her husband Mohammad Ali worked in the 1989 Hindi film Clerk written, produced, directed by and starring Manoj Kumar alongside Rekha, Anita Raj, Shashi Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Prem Chopra and Sonu Walia. This was Zeba’s only Hindi film appearance.
Zeba also received two special Nigar Awards namely Millennium award in 1999 and Ilyas Rashidi gold medal in 2002.