Munawar Sultana

Munawar Sultana (1924–2007) (her name in all her films opening credits), also written as Munnawar Sultana, or Munawar Sultana was an Indian cinema actress, who acted in Hindi/Hindustani films. She is cited as one of the "popular" actresses of late 1940's to early 1950s period, along with Noor Jehan, Swarnalata and Ragini. Her forte was playing roles of a selfless woman, enduring the rough treatment meted by her husband and family, but who eventually "brought her erring husband back home". She came into prominence with Mazhar Khan's Pehli Nazar (1945), her first film in a leading role. A discovery of actor-producer-director Mazhar Khan, she became inundated with film offers, becoming one of the busiest actresses by 1949, along with other leading ladies like Suraiya and Nargis. Some of her successful films were Pehli Nazar, Dard (1947), Elaan (1947) Kaneez (1947), and Babul (1950).