This star was once the highest paid child artist, gave voiceover for Sridevi, converted to Hinduism, became Rajesh Khanna’s…, she is…

Bollywood is home to many famous actors who began their careers in the entertainment industry at a young age. This is the story of an actress who, due to the abuse of her cruel mother, entered the film industry at the age of four.

Rising from Poverty

An innocent child, raised amid her mother’s greed and constraints, never dreamed of the glamour world. Forced by family difficulties, she entered Bollywood and became one of Bollywood’s highest-paid child actors. To escape poverty and support her family, she chose the film path, and her talent made her the heartthrob of millions.

The Hidden Gem of Bollywood

There are some names in Bollywood whose brilliance shines on screen, but their true struggles and extraordinary talent often go unnoticed. One such name is Kumari Naaz, known as “Baby Naaz” in her childhood.

From Innocence to Stardom

She began acting at a very young age and won the hearts of the entire nation with her innocent acting. As lovely as her on-screen smile was, her life behind the scenes was equally fraught with difficulties. She not only earned fame as a child actor but also played many memorable roles as an adult. It’s less well known that she also served as the voice of superstar Sridevi in Hindi films in the 1980s.

Early Life and Entry into Films

Kumari Naaz was born on August 20, 1944, in Mumbai. Her family was extremely poor, and due to this financial constraint, she began shooting in studios at the age of four. She began her film career with the 1950 film Achha Ji and subsequently played notable roles in films such as Gunaah, Rupayya, and Shama Parwana.

Transition to Adult Roles

Her career as a child artist was at its peak. Later, she was offered opportunities to play a heroine, but she never regained her childhood popularity. She played significant roles in serious films like Devdas, Ganga Jamuna, Kagaz Ke Phool, and Musafir.

However, the role that most significantly established her as an adult actress was the 1970 film Sachcha Jhootha, in which she played Rajesh Khanna’s disabled sister. Her innocent and emotional performance in this film so touched audiences that people began calling her “Bollywood’s beloved sister.”

A Second Career as a Dubbing Artist

Gradually, as her film opportunities became fewer, she began a second career as a dubbing artist. Few people know that when Sridevi transitioned from South India(BHARAT)n films to Hindi films in the 1980s, her voice initially didn’t fit the Hindi language. Thus, Kumari Naaz dubbed for Sridevi’s early hits. She notably voiced Sridevi’s characters in hits like Himmatwala, Tohfa, and Mawaali. Her voice possessed an innocence and grace that perfectly matched Sridevi’s characters.

Marriage and Later Life

In 1963, Naaz married actor Subbiraj, a cousin of Raj Kapoor. After marriage, she converted to Hinduism and took the name Anuradha. Gradually, she distanced herself from films, becoming immersed in her family, and then working full-time as a dubbing artist. Throughout her career, she appeared in over 200 films, performing roles ranging from child artist to character artist and dubbing artist.”

She received a special honour at the Cannes Film Festival, a distinction few India(BHARAT)n artists received at the time. Towards the end of her life, she developed liver cancer. In 1995, her condition became so severe that she fell into a coma and died on October 19, 1995.