India’s first ‘show woman’ was a tawaif, born in brothel, her husband converted to Islam, daughter was a…, grandkids are…, her name was…

This woman built an artistic legacy which continues to thrive even today. Her daughter was a superstar, and her grandson is considered one of Bollywood's most admired hero.

In 1930s, while India was engulfed in the flames of revolution and the struggle of British rule intensified, the film industry also started to flourish. It was during this era, that a talented musician entered the world of cinema. Born and raised in brothel, she had been trained in music from a young age and possessed an admirable beauty. With her arrival, she built an artistic legacy which continues to thrive even today.

This pioneering woman was none other than Jaddanbai– superstar Nargis’ mother and Sanjay Dutt’s grandmother. Born around 1892 to Mia Jaan and Daleepabai in then-Banaras, her father passed away when she was five. Jaddabnbai then moved to the city and became a singer, under the guidance of Calcutta’s Shrimant Ganpat Rao (Bhaiya Saheb Scindia). After his death, she pursued her training under Ustad Moinuddin Khan along with Ustad Chaddu Khan Saheb and Ustad Laab Khan Saheb. With time, she became an established singer and a more popular courtesan in comparison her mother.

Jaddanbai, who was already an established singer, transitioned into acting when the Play Art Photo Tone Company of Lahore approached her for a role. After starring in few films, she then ventured into production and started her own company called Sangeet Films. She bankrolled the 1935 film Talashe Haq and featured her daughter Nargis as a child artist. According to a report in BBC, Journalist Yasser Usman called Jaddanbai ‘India’s first show woman’, as she was an all-rounder, used to act, direct and produce her films, similarly like showman Raj Kapoor.

On the personal front, Jaddanbai got married thrice in her lifetime. She fell in love with a wealthy Gujarati Hindu businessman Narottamdas Khatri, who converted to Islam upon marriage. But, the couple got divorced after few years of marriage, and had a son named Akhtar Hussain. She then married Ustaad Irshad Meer Khan with whom she had her second son, actor Anwar Hussain. Her third marriage was with Mohanchand Uttamchand Tyagi, who also converted to Islam for marriage and had a daughter named Nargis, who became one of India’s biggest superstar. Nargis was wife of actor Sunil Dutt, and has three children Priya, Namrata, and Sanjay Dutt.

Jaddanbai passed away on April 8, 1949, and the film fraternity paid their last respects by cancelling shoots and closing studios for a day.