Asha Parekh is a renowned Indian actress whose impact on the entertainment industry has been felt across the world. In her career, Asha has appeared in numerous movies as an actress. Moreover, she has also successfully directed and produced many films. During the peak of her career, Asha was so successful that she was among the highest-paid and the most recognized Indian actress.
To appreciate her influence on the cinema industry, the Indian government awarded her the Padma Shri in 1992. The Padma Shri is among the highest civilian awards in India and is given to outstanding individuals.
What Is Her Age?
Asha was born on 2nd October 1942 and is currently 79 years. Like many Hindi film actresses, she was born in Mumbai, India.
Where Did She School?
Asha attended the J B Petit School in Mumbai. However, she did not further her schooling and preferred to follow a career in the cinema industry.
Family and Relatives
According to reliable sources, her father is called Bachubhai Parekh, and her mother is Salma Parekh. However, there are no details of whether she has a brother or sister.
What Are Her Body Measurements?
Her height is around 5 ft 3 in or 161 cm. Her weight is 62 kg which is approximately 137 pounds. Her bra size is 34B, her hip size is 35 inches and her waist size is 24 inches. Parekh’s shoe size is 8(US), and her dress size is 4(US).
Her eye color is dark brown, while her hair color is black. Her Zodiac is Libra, and she practices Hinduism as her religion.
When Did Asha Parekh Started Her Career?
From a young age, Asha displayed an interest in the entertainment industry. She enrolled in dance classes and was particularly good at classical dance. Even at this young age, she came across experienced veterans like Pandit “Bansilal-Bharati.”
At the tender age of 10, Parekh kicked off her acting career as a child actor. Her initial big break came when she caught the eye of Bimal’s Rai. Rai had seen her dancing and was amazed by the little girl’s moves. He proceeded to involve her in his next film Maa. This was in 1952, and it gave Asha an opportunity to display her acting skills to the world. Later, Rai cast her in another movie called “Baap Beti-1954”.
Biography of Asha Parekh
As a child artist, she often played any role that she was cast in. When she reached 16, Asha decided that it was time to do away with schooling so that she could follow her dreams and pursue her acting career. She made her first debut as an actress when she appeared in the movie Dil Deke Dekho which Nassir Hussain directed. In this flick, she featured alongside the legendary Shammi-Kapoor.
The film was the beginning of good things for her as she had a good relationship with director Nassir. Nassir decided to feature her in more movies that he was directing. They include Pyar Ka Mausam, Baharon Ke Sapne, Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon and Caravan.
Working with Nassir Hussain was good for Asha Parekh as he was a crucial figure in making her a movie star. As she featured in his films, Asha continued gaining massive popularity and success in the Indian film industry and was undoubtedly the top female star in the 1960s.
Her immense fame was also a result of top director Raj Khosla featuring her in his hit films Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki, Do Badan and Chirag. These films boosted her reputation as an actress. One of the things that enabled her to appear in many movies was that she could comfortably adjust her image according to the character to be played. This helped her to remain relevant in the dynamic and ever-changing film industry.
How Many Films Has Asha Parekh Done?
Asha has a vast catalog in the film industry, and she has done at least 28 movies. She had dramatic roles in the movies “Pagla Kahin Ka and Kati Patang” which were directed by Shakti Samanta. She also had many appearances in Gujarati movies like the mega-hit Akhand Saubhagyavati. From there on, she did not limit her features to Hindi and Gujarati and participated in other Kannada and Punjabi films.
In the 1990s, age began to catch up with her, and she was often limited to supporting roles like being a sister or a mother. She did not like these roles as she was used to being the main star all her career. It wasn’t long before she started directing her shows after a close friend suggested the idea. Although she began with serials, she later established her own production company called “Akruti.” Under “Akruti,” she has made TV series like Kora Kagaz, Palash Ke Phoo and Baaje Payal.
Net Worth of Asha Parekh
While it may be difficult to get the accurate amount of her net worth, it is estimated to be around $23.5 million. Most of her earnings come from her acting and film director career.
Where Is Asha Parekh Now?
The former actress and film director now focuses on growing her dance academy Kara Bhavan. She also has a hospital in Santa Cruz, Mumbai. It is called the Asha Parekh Hospital in recognition of her humanitarian efforts.
