Nadira (Pakistani actress)

Nadira was born as Malika Farah on 22 November 1968 in Lahore.^[1][4]

Nadira was introduced by director Yunus Malik^[5] to the Pakistani film industry by offering her a role in his film Akhri Jang in 1986.^[6] Nadira's first film was Akhri Jang (The Last War), but director Altaf Hussain's Punjabi film Nishan (Mark) got released first, therefore, as per record, Nishan remains the first released film of Nadira.^[1][7]

Nadira was considered as talented actress, in film Nachay Nagin she played the best role of her life. In this film, she played the role of serpent for the first time and acclaimed a lot of fame along with the dancing hero Ismael Shah. Then she became famous for playing the role of serpent. She played role of serpent in Nachay Nagin, Nachay Jogi and Jadoo Garni.^[1]

Nadira starred in 52 films, out of which 25 enjoyed Silver jubilee, 4 enjoyed diamond jubilee and one film Akhri Jang enjoyed golden jubilee.^{[nb 1][nb 2][nb 3]} She was known as " The White Rose" in industry.^[1] She was considered a good dancer. During her film career she starred in 2 Urdu, 35 Punjabi, 2 Pashto and 14 double version (Punjabi/Urdu) films.^[1]

In 1993, she married a gold merchant Malik Ijaz Hussain^[8] with whom she had two children, elder daughter Rimsha Rubab & younger son Haider Ali.^[1] Nadira quit acting after marriage.^[1]

Nadira was shot dead by unknown robbers on 6 August 1995 near Gulberg, Lahore.^[3] Nadira and her husband were on their way home from a restaurant when the robbers stopped their car and tried to snatch the car keys. Resistance from her husband led to firing from the robbers. A bullet hit the neck of Nadira, who was in the front seat and she was killed. Accusations of murder were made against Nadira's husband, but investigation was inconclusive.^[8]