Meena Shorey 🙏
मीना शौरी Meena Shorey (17 November 1921 - 03 September 1989) was an Indian cinema and later Pakistani cinema actress, who worked in Hindi/Urdu and Punjabi films. Credited in films by her mononym, Meena, her real name was Khurshid Jehan. She married to her third husband, Roop K. Shorey by the mid 1940s, she found fame when she acted in her husband's film "Ek Thi Ladki" (1949), opposite actor Motilal. The story was written by I. S. Johar, who also starred in the film. The "foot-tapping" music composed by Vinod became a "huge hit", with Meena becoming an "icon" for the "new liberated" young women. Meena was acclaimed as the "Lara Lappa Girl", from the song of the same title in the film. She was one of the first women to be recognised in Indian cinema as a "comedian of calibre". Compiled by Suresh Sarvaiya
Some of Meena Shorey's best films in India included the Punjabi film Chaman (1948), Actress (1948), Ek Thi Ladki (1949), Dholak (1951) and Ek Do Teen (1953).
Meena was born Khurshid Jehan, on 17 November 1921, in Raimond, Lahore, undivided India, now in Pakistan, the second of four children. Her family was poor and her father squandered what little property they had. Sohrab Modi noticed Meena at the launch of his film "Sikandar" (1941), which she attended with her brother-in-law, and offered her a supporting role in the film, giving her the name, Meena.
Meena is reported to have married five times. Her first marriage was with actor, producer-director Zahur Raja. Her second marriage was to actor and co-star, Al Nasir. She separated from the mid 1940s. Baburao Patel mentioned him as her ex-husband in a column in Filmindia August 1946 issue. Her third marriage was with Roop K. Shorey which lasted till 1956. She is reported to have then married Raza Mir & later Asad Bokhari, her co-star in Jamalo (1962).
Sikandar in 1941 was the first film Meena acted in, which had her in the small role of the King of Taxila's sister. Sikandar became "an all-India hit" & provided an instant launching pad for her. She then went on to act as the second lead in three more films under Modi's Minerva Movietone banner, Phir Milenge (1942), Prithvi Vallabh (1943) and Pattharon Ka Saudagar.
Roop K. Shorey, who was based in Lahore migrated
to Bombay and wanted to sign Meena for his film Shalimar (1946). However Meena had signed a contract with Sohrab Modi, which prevented her from working not only in Shalimar, but also in Mehboob Khan's Humayun (1945). On a visit to Lahore, she was signed by producer Dalsukh Pancholi, for two films Shehar Se Door (1946) & Arsi (1947). She finally freed herself from the contract by taking Modi's wife Mehtab's help, getting the amount of money asked for by Modi, lowered.
Roop K. Shorey set up his banner Shorey Films in Bombay and produced a Punjabi film "Chaman", it had Meena act in the "first post-partition, Punjabi film in India". It co-starred with Karan Dewan, Kuldip Kaur & Majnu, and became a "major hit". In 1949, came Ek Thi Ladki, produced and directed by Roop K. Shorey, with a story written by I. S. Johar. The music was composed by Vinod whose song "Lara Lappa Lara Lappa Laayi Rakhdi" became the "highlight of the film".
Meena Shorey acted in the Karan Dewan Production's Anmol Ratan (1950), Dholak (1951) with Ajit was produced by Shorey Films and directed by Roop Shorey with music composed by Shyam Sunder. Shyam Sunder was stated to have given some "unforgettable melodies" in this film among others. Ek Do Teen (1953), Meena was once again paired with Motilal. Her last two films released in India were G. P. Sippy's Shrimati 420 for Sippy Films and Chandu (1958) starring Om Prakash, Shashikala, Mehmood and Pran.
In 1956, Meena Shorey went to Lahore, she was invited to Pakistan by Pakistani film producer J. C. Anand to make a film. Miss 1956 (1956) was a plagiarised version of Guru Dutt's Mr. & Mrs. '55 (1955), starred Meena Shorey, Santosh Kumar, Shamim Ara & Noor Mohammed Charlie. The music was composed by G. A. Chisti. Meena was well received in Lahore.
Meena Shorey went on to become the "first Pakistani actress to model for Lux" and became known as the "Lux Lady of Pakistan".
Some of the films Meena Shorey acted in Pakistan in a main role were Sarfarosh (1956), Bara Aadmi (1957), Sitaron ki Duniya (1958), Jagga (1958) in Punjabi, Behrupiya (1960) (Punjabi). Her other notable films were Mausiqar (1962), Andhi Mohabbat (1964) and Khamosh Raho (1964).
Meena Shorey lived a life of penury towards the end, and had to struggle to survive after 1974-1975. After Roop Shorey’s death Meena didn’t have any true friend or supporter.
Meena Shorey had a lonesome death in a very poor condition on 03 September 1989 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It is said that the charitable organizations had contributed for her funeral. There was hardly anyone at the burial ground, except couple of newspaper reporters, but no one gave the proper coverage of her death and it’s the real tragedy. Compiled by Suresh Sarvaiya
🎬 Filmography of Meena Shorey in India
1941 Sikandar
1942 Phir Milenge
1943 Prithvi Vallabh & Sahara
1944 Pattharon Ka Saudagar
1945 Bhai Jaan & Neelam
1946 Shehar Se Door
1947 Arsi & Ek Teri Nishani
1948 Actress, Dukhiyari, Chaman, Patjhad
1949 Ek Thi Larki & Jevaraat
1950 Anmol Ratan & Raj Rani
1951 Dholak & Kale Baadal
1952 Ajeeb Ladki
1953 Ek Do Teen & Aag Ka Dariya
1954 Raman
1955 Jalwa & Shri Nagad Narayan
1956 Shrimati 420
1958 Chandu
Compiled by Suresh Sarvaiya
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