She was a very famous child artist of her time. But then she was so obsessed with becoming a doctor that she even refused the role of the main heroine in two big films like Bobby and Uphaar. Old people would know her as Baby Farida. In today's time, she is famous as Farida Dadi. She plays the role of grandmother in TV shows. She was seen in the role of Farhan Qureshi's mother in Aamir Khan's film Three Idiots.
By any name, but cinema lovers definitely recognize her. Today is Farida ji's birthday. Farida ji was born on 8 June 1952 in Mumbai. Although her parents were also born in Mumbai, but her family members had settled in Mumbai from UP years ago. Farida ji's mother's family came to Mumbai from Lucknow in UP and her father's family came to Mumbai from Prayagraj (Allahabad).
Farida ji was the third among six siblings. She had no connection with the film world at all. Neither did anyone in her family think that she would ever work in films. But it is said that a person brings his fate to this world with his destiny already written. So Farida ji's fate pulled her to the film world. Actually, Farida used to go to play in Lallubhai Park in Andheri West with her brothers, sisters and other children. Prem Adib, a very famous actor of that era, used to live near Lallubhai Park. Prem Adib saw Farida one day. He felt that this girl could be a very good child actor. Somehow he found out Farida ji's home address and talked to her mother.
Prem Adib told Farida ji's mother that Filmalaya Studio needs child actors. He advised Farida ji's mother to take Farida to Filmalaya. On Prem Adib's insistence, Farida's mother took her to Filmalaya. There she met Filmalaya's owner Shashadhar Mukherjee. And in the very first meeting, Shashadhar Mukherjee was so impressed with little Farida that he asked her to come for shooting the next day. This was the time when Shashadhar Mukherjee had just started Filmalaya Studio. The first film that Shashadhar Mukherjee was making under the banner of Filmalaya was named Charity Master. And Dilip Kumar and Shanta Apte were the hero and heroine in it. Farida had to play the role of Shanta Apte's daughter.
For some reason, that film named 'Charity Master' could not be completed. During that time, someone introduced Farida ji to Guru Dutt sahab. Guru Dutt was looking for some children for a song in his film 'Kagaz Ke Phool'. In that song, Farida ji got the chance to face the camera for the first time. However, when Guru Dutt met Farida ji for the first time, he rejected Farida ji saying that this girl does not look poor. But later he agreed to give Farida ji a chance. The lyrics of the song of 'Kagaz Ke Phool' in which Farida ji was seen were 'One, two, three and five... there were a hundred fights among them.'
In that song of 'Kagaz Ke Phool', Farida was accompanied by another very famous child artist of that era, Baby Naaz. During the shooting of that song, Farida became good friends with Baby Naaz. She also became well acquainted with Naaz's father. It was Naaz's father who introduced Farida to the great Bimal Roy. Bimal da signed Baby Farida for an important role in his film Sujata. Both Sujata and Kagaz Ke Phool were released in the year 1959. But since Sujata was released earlier, it is considered Farida ji's first film.
Sujata was successful. Baby Farida also benefited from Sujata's success. She got a chance to work in many films. Farida appeared as a child artist in Mehboob Khan's Son of India, Raj Kapoor's Sangam, L.V. Prasad's Beti Beti, Rajshri Productions' Dosti, and many other films and became famous in the film industry as Baby Farida. Baby Farida's work was highly appreciated in the children's film 'Dilli Ki Kahani' based on the Indo-China war. Baby Farida was awarded the President's Award by the then President Dr. Rajendra Prasad. The Soviet government also gave an award to Baby Farida for the film 'Bete Beti'. And the Andhra Pradesh government also honored Baby Farida for the film 'Jab Jab Phool Khile'.
As happens in most child artists' lives, when a child artist grows up, he starts getting less work in films. Something similar happened with Farida ji. 'Badi Didi', which came in 1969, proved to be Farida ji's last film as a child artist. Since she started getting less films at that time, she completely distanced herself from films. And decided that now she will study and join the profession of a doctor. Farida focused her entire attention on studies. This was the same period when Raj Kapoor offered Farida the role of the main heroine in the film Bobby. Farida ji also got an offer from Rajshri Productions to play the heroine in the film Uphaar. But she was so obsessed with becoming a doctor that she turned down both the offers. However, despite all efforts, she could not get admission in the medical profession.
Not only Farida ji, her two other siblings have also worked as child actors in films. Her sister Baby Guddi and Master Shahid also got good recognition. Farida ji's brother Master Shahid appeared as a child actor in the film Love in Tokyo. Her sister Baby Guddi worked in Hare Rama Hare Krishna. Master Shahid and Baby Guddi worked in many other films. Baby Guddi alias Fauzia now lives in Bhopal. While Master Shahid studied Chartered Accountancy and went to work in a big company in Saudi Arabia. Master Guddi and Master Shahid also worked with Baby Farida in Shammi Kapoor's film Brahmachari. She had another brother, Master Javid. Master Javid also worked as a child artist in a few films. Later he became an interior designer. He passed away in the year 2006.
Farida ji got married in the year 1971. After marriage she completely engaged herself in family life. But since Farida ji had very good relations with Dilip Kumar and his wife Saira Bano ji, when Saira Bano ji made TV shows named 'Is Duniya Ke Sitare' and 'Zara Dekho To Inka Kamal', she included Farida ji in those shows. And in this way, for the first time Farida ji also worked behind the camera. Farida ji has a son and a daughter. When she got them married, she decided to act again. And in the year 2003, Farida ji started her second innings of acting with the TV show Sanjivani.
The start of her second innings was so great that it was not known when she became one of the busiest actresses on TV. Farida ji worked in many other famous TV shows including Kisse Apna Kahen, Crime Patrol, Saathiya, Kabhi To Nazar Milao, Yehi To Hai Woh, Tantra, Ichhadhari Naagin and 'Bali Umar Ko Salaam'. And is still doing it. Farida ji has also appeared in a few web series. While at the same time she has been continuously working in films. Farida ji also worked in Brahmastra Part One which came in 2022.
It would not be wrong to say that films have given a lot to Farida ji. And Farida ji's luck has also been very good. Farida ji, who started her film journey from the era of black and white films, is still associated with cinema in today's era of modern technologies. This is a huge achievement. Kissa TV will pray to God that Farida ji always remains healthy and keeps acting like this for many more years. Kissa TV wishes Farida a very happy birthday
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