FilmIndia (Jan-Nov 1942)

January, 1942 F I L M I N D I A She is terribly shy. wearing magnificent diamond earrings and a ring to match. She tells me that she loves jewellery but the stones must be real. She earns over Rs. 2500/ a month so she can well afford to buy real stones. Naseem works hard for her large salary and although she is exhausted after her work at the studio she still manages to fit in a daily threehour dancing lesson. She has very little time for recreation but does not mind this because she is terribly shy when she meets people socially. She has overcome her shyness where her work is concerned but is still inclined to get tonguetied when she meets peo ple at parties. She does not belong to any club because the European clubs she would like to join do not accept Indian members and the Hindu clubs will not accept Mohamedans. She could join the C.C.I, but she does not wish to because .... well .... Naseem loves riding but does not do so much of it nowadays. She learnt to ride when she was a school girl. During her two months' vacation her parents used to take her to Mussoorie and it was there she had learned to ride. Naseem has a great love for Delhi, because her friends and relations are there, ;so after every five or six months she goes there for a holiday. She is so well-known there, that she has to wear a veil or she would be recognized and mobbed by her rans. She says with pride, "I have an extra special 'burkha'. It is a modern one, in fact you might almost call it streamlined." HORRIBLE POSTERS Naseem went with Sohrab Modi on a personal appearance tour of Hyderabad, Bangalore, Madras and Ahmedabad. At Ahmedabad station they were caught in a huge crowd and couldn't reach the train. Her fans fought to get near her so that she was almost suffocated and could hardly walk. When Naseem goes to the Races, instead of dressing like a glamorous star she wears a simple white cotton sari and makes herself look as inconspicuous as possible. It is her She has to wear a veil. retiring simple nature which is her chief charm. When you look at her beautiful face and remember that she is a famous actress you exD~ct her to be imperious, talkative, anrl even a little vain. When you find that she is quietly dignified and shy you are her fan for life. Knowing her simplicity and sweetness it is hard to imagine how anyone could print slanderous posters about her. Those who know her were shocked to see large posters, crammed with falsehoods, pasted all over the city. When they told Naseem about the posters she said "I don't care verv much what thev write about me. I'm sure my fans will not believe anything so horrible. I don't want to be worried about this unpleasant business so I shall just place the matter in the hands of the CI.D." Naseem leads a very sheltered life. Most of her spare time is spent in her modern fiat at Warden Road where she lives with her mother. She does not mix much with the other actresses because they are more worldly and sophisticated than she is. Her one actress friend is Sardar Akhtar who is also a homobird. SIMPLE BUT EXTRAVAGANT . Naseem has no vices. She does not drink and only smokes when it is necessary for her to do so for a fiim role. She does not like tea or co/fee but drinks milk instead. She likes country life and would like to live in a hill-station. The cjimate in Bombay does not agree with her and she would like to retire soon and return to the screen after four or five years. She liked her role as Nur Jehan in "Pukar" best and likes acting with Prithviraj and Chandramohan. She is very fond of birds but does not care to make pets of dogs or cats. She enjoys going to see English and American films and is one of the few stars who admits that she learns something from them. When it comes to clothes Naseem is very extravagant. She admits that she has over a thousand saris and still continues to buy more. She also collects glass bangles and Con. on Pcge 39