In addition to being an immensely successful star and a screen diva unlike any other, Asha Parekh was also the subject of the legendary Life photographer James Burke's camera. A short while before his untimely death, Burke caught the then reigning movie queen of India at that time in a series of photographs that remain as timeless as the subject.
Indian Movie Queen (1963) by James BurkeLIFE Photo Collection
In the early 1950s, James Burke shot actresses such as Begum Para and Madhubala for Life magazine that revealed to the world the magic of Hindi film stars. A decade later when Burke returned to Bombay, he found the perfect subject in Asha Parekh.
Indian Movie Queen (1963) by James BurkeLIFE Photo Collection
Asha Parekh started her career as a child artist under the screen name Baby Asha Parekh. An accomplished dancer, Asha Parekh trained under Pandit Bansilal Bharati and it was at a stage function that she caught the eye of filmmaker Bimal Roy.
Indian Movie Queen (1963) by James BurkeLIFE Photo Collection
Bimal Roy cast a ten-year-old Asha Parekh in his film Maa (1952) and then repeated her in Baap Beti (1954).
Asha Parekh - Photographic stillsCinemaazi
Beautiful portrait of Asha Parekh
CaravanCinemaazi
Beautiful Cover Booklet from Caravan (1971)
Indian Movie Queen (1963) by James BurkeLIFE Photo Collection
At 16, Asha Parekh was all set to make her debut as a leading lady in Vijay Bhatt's Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959) but she lost out to Ameeta.
Asha Parekh - Photographic stillsCinemaazi
Dil Deke Dekho (1959) Film BookletCinemaazi
In under a week, Asha Parekh was cast by producer Sashadhar Mukherjee in Dil Deke Dekho (1959). The film also marked second collaboration between writer-director Nasir Hussain and actor Shammi Kapoor. It also made Asha Parekh an overnight sensation.
Dil Deke Dekho also started Asha’s long association with Nasir Hussain. The two went on to be associated with six films - Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai (1961), Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963), Teesri Manzil (1966), Baharon Ke Sapne (1967), Pyar Ka Mausam (1969), and Caravan (1971) and a cameo in Manzil Manzil (1984).
Indian Movie Queen (1963) by James BurkeLIFE Photo Collection
Asha Parekh - Photographic stillsCinemaazi
Known as a glamour girl, who could also dance like a goddess, Asha Parekh excelled at playing strong and well-etched women that had a mind of her own.
Asha Parekh - Photographic stillsCinemaazi
Asha Parekh was also a style icon who redefined the fashion trends of the 1960s in India.
Portraits of Asha Parekh
Indian Movie Queen (1963) by James BurkeLIFE Photo Collection
Asha Parekh also featured in films made in Gujarati, her mother tongue, and also acted opposite Dharmendra and Dara Singh in Punjabi films such as Kankan De Ohle (1971) and Lambhardarni (1976) respectively.
Asha Parekh had hits with all leading men from the 1950s up until the 1970s including Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor, Dharmendra, Manoj Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Shashi Kapoor, and Sunil Dutt.
Indian Movie Queen (1963) by James BurkeLIFE Photo Collection
In the 1980s, Asha Parekh's larger-than-life aura was still intact but her career somewhere echoed the iconic line from Billy Wilder's film, Sunset Boulevard (1950) – "it's the pictures that got small."
Indian Movie Queen (1963) by James BurkeLIFE Photo Collection
Today, Asha Parekh concentrates on her dance academy, Kara Bhavan, and the Asha Parekh Hospital in Santa Cruz, Mumbai, was named in her honour because of her many humanitarian contributions.
Film Cover Booklet from the Movie Aan Milo Sajna (1970) & Teesri Manzil (1966)
Text: Gautam Chintamani
