Shyama
Biography
Shyama (born Khurshid Akhtar; 7 June 1935 – 14 November 2017) was an Indian actress who appeared in Hindi films. She was active between 1945 and 1989, and is best known for her roles in Aar Paar (1954 film) and Barsaat Ki Raat (1960 film).
Born as Khurshid Akhtar in Lahore, Punjab in British India on 7 June 1935 into a Muslim family, Shyama moved to Mumbai from Lahore in the 1940s. As a young girl, she acted in a few films such as Noor Jehan's husband Shaukat Hussain Rizvi's Zeenat (1945 film) and Meerabai (1947). She worked with Shammi Kapoor in the romantic classic Mirza Sahiban (1957).
Director Vijay Bhatt gave her the stage name Shyama, by which she is credited in her movies. She had starring roles in Guru Dutt's classic Aar Paar (1954 film), and later in Barsaat Ki Raat (1960 film), which was perhaps her best performance. She was a major star in the 1950s and 1960s and acted in more than 150 movies, many in starring roles. During the period 1952 – 60, she appeared in as many as 80 films, mostly in leading roles. In 1963, she had as many as 18 releases, and in 1964 she had 17 releases.
Shyama died on 14 November 2017 due to a lung infection at the age of 82. She is buried at Badakabarastan, Marine Lines in Mumbai, India.
