Renuka Devi film actress of the pre-partition era, was born as Khurshid Jehan on 4 March 1918 in Aligarh to Sheikh Abdullah and Waheed Jahan Begum, the founders of Abdullah Women’s College, Aligarh. Her father was a practising lawyer and philanthropist who was keen to bring education and enlightenment to Muslim women.
Her elder sister Rashid Jahan was a prominent Urdu language writer and one of the founding members of the Progressive Writers’ Movement.
Khurshid Jehan married in 1935 to a police officer Akbar Mirza and migrated to Pakistan in the wake of partition of India in 1947. Mirza completed her education with a Master’s degree in English in 1963. She got her education from the same college. Abdullah Women’s College Aligarh.
Khurshid Mirza was introduced to Indian cinema by Devika Rani of Bombay Talkies under the screen name Renuka Devi.
Sheikh Abdullah, a Hindu by birth and from Kashmir, was fascinated by Islam and drawn to the progressive ideas of Sir Syed Ahmed, founder of Aligarh Muslim University.
Thakur Das became Shaikh Abdullah. And with wife Waheed Jahan Begum, founded in Aligarh Abdullah Women’s College.
Begum Khurshid was extremely lucky to be born in the best family possible, as bothher parents were not only loving their daughter much but also let her choose her own career as Sheikh Abdullah was a very well known liberal.
In an interview Begum Khursheed Mirza has said:-“I was on a vacation with my husband. We were in Mumbai and visited a studio to see how shooting is done. Himanshu Rai, who was shooting there convinced my husband that I should act in his film.
My husband consented. That is how it all happened.Himanshu Rai and his wife treated me like their own daughter. My father was liberal. He had no issues but he faced lot of criticism on this score.
I worked with Ashok Kumar. A perfect gentleman he was. He would ask the cameraman to focus more on me. You rarely see such good people.
I played Holi with Ashok Kumar’s wife Shoba. Renuka Devi was a name given to me by Devika Rani, wife of Himanshu Rai.
Such was the trust with Himanshu Rai that I never signed any agreement.When Ashok Kumar got a monthly salary of Rs950/- , I was given Rs2000/- for a film.
I acted in films like Bhakti (1939), Badi Didi (1939), Jeevan Prabhat (1937), Bhabhi (1938), Naya Sansar (1941), Sahara (1943), Ghulami (1945) and Samrat Chandragupta (1945). “
“Bombay Talkies have found another Devika (Rani)”
Renuka Devi’s performance was cited as “commendable”. Baburao Patel, editor of the cine-magazine Filmindia, in his review of Bhabhi in the January 1938 issue, called Renuka a “remarkable discovery” with a performance “that has distinctive grace and poise which can only be associatedwith a lady of culture and education.” and that “Bombay Talkies have found another Devika (Rani)”.
Film Career of Renuka Devi, (Begum Khurshid Mirza)
Upon graduating, Begum Khurshid decided to leave Aligarh for Mumbai Film Industry, as she hadset her sights on acting. She moved to Mumbai, looking for work and immediately started working for Bombay Talkies.
She made her debut in 1931’s super-hit Shakuntala. Begum Khurshid was given the name Renuka Devi as her ‘Bollywood’ name.
She debuted in Jeevan Parbat for Bombay Talkies, continued to work for Devika Rani and Himanshu Rai in Bhabhi; was the young Ashok Kumar’s co-star in Naya Sansar.
Mostly associated with Bombay Talkies, she acted in few of their films including Bhakti (1939),Badi Didi (1939), Jeevan Prabhat (1937), Bhabhi (1938) and Naya Sansar (1941),under the screen name Renuka Devi.
She moved to Lahore film industry and played leading roles in box-office hits Sahara (1943), Ghulami (1945) and Samrat Chandra Gupta (1945). Besides acting, she also used to sing for her films.
She went on to star in super-hit movies like Laila Majnu, Rahde Shyam, Hathili Dulhan, Chatra Bakavali, Swarg Ki Sidhi and many more successful movies.
In 1944, Begum Khurshid Mirza aka Renuka Devi decided to retire from the acting world. She moved to Pakistan after partition and left an amazing catalog of legacy.
Several years after partition, when all was settled and India and Pakistan came back on track asseparate nations, in 1964, Begum decided to return back to acting.
Several years later when Pakistan Television Corporation began its transmission and its drama serials started earning household fame, there was a need for professionals to the young media crew.
It was a Haseena Moin’s serial, entitled Kiran Kahani, which rediscovered Khurshid. Her performance gained her rave reviews, even though she said in a later interview that it was slightly off-key.
She comforted huge praises from both sides of the border and became Pakistan’s biggest TV star, not that they had many stars, to begin with, but still, Begumherself being a product of Indian cinema held her own class and became alegendary figurine.
The next serial she worked in was Zer Zabar Pesh, also written by Haseena Moin. Her performance was regarded by many as one of the finest acting performances in that role, and this set the tone for the rest of her acting career.
She remained a character actress for Karachi television centre and had a dozen of popular series on her credit, including Parchhain, Uncle Urfi and a special play Massi Sherbate written by Fatima Surayya Bajia.
She retired in 1985.
With her last performance coming in Ana. She moved to Lahore permanently to be with her daughters and their children.
Begum Khurshid Mirza penned her autobiography in 1982.
Which discussed the life of a literary person in British India, journalism education and work in Lucknow, married life,Indian film industry, and migration to Pakistan, adjusting to Karachi, and working on television.
When Ashok Kumar got a monthly salary of Rs950/- , I was given Rs2000/- for a film. I acted in films like Bhakti (1939), Badi Didi (1939), Jeevan Prabhat (1937), Bhabhi (1938) , Naya Sansar (1941), Sahara (1943), Ghulami (1945) and Samrat Chandragupta (1945).“
Social works of Renuka Devi (Khurshid Mirza)
After migration, Khurshid Mirza worked for the All Pakistan Women’s Association (APWA) as avolunteer helping destitute women. When her husband wastransferred to Quetta,she took charge of an APWA center for healthcare in a rural area called IsmailKilli. She has also aired programmes on women’s issues on radio.
Sadly she passed away in 1989.
The End
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