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{{Short description|Indian actress (1915–1986)}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sardar Akhtar
| image = Sardar_Akhtar_(Asra).jpg
| caption = Still shot from the film ''Asra'' (1941)
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 1915
| birth_place = [[Lahore]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date = {{Death year and age|1986|1915}}
| death_place = [[New York City]], U.S.<ref name=DNA />
| resting_place = [[Badakabarastan]], [[Mumbai]], India
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 1933–1945; 1971–1973
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Mehboob Khan]]|1942|1964}}
| children =
}}
'''Sardar Akhtar''' (1915–1986) was an Indian actress who worked in [[Hindi cinema|Hindi and Urdu films]]. She started her acting career on the [[Urdu]] stage. Her early films were with Saroj Movietone, where she did a majority of stunt (action) roles. She came into prominence as the washer-woman in the role of Rami Dhoban in [[Sohrab Modi]]'s ''[[Pukar (1939 film)|Pukar]]'' (1939). As a woman seeking justice for the death of her husband, it was a breakthrough role for her. A popular song she sang in the film was "Kaheko Mohe Chhede".<ref name="RajadhyakshaWillemen2014">{{cite book |author1=Ashish Rajadhyaksha |author2=Paul Willemen |title=Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rF8ABAAAQBAJ&pg=PA1994-IA361 |accessdate=21 July 2015 |date=10 July 2014 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-135-94325-7 |pages=1994–}}</ref> Her career defining role was as a "peasant woman" deserted by her husband, in [[Mehboob Khan]]'s ''[[Aurat (1940 film)|Aurat]]'' (1940), a role later made famous by [[Nargis]] in Mehboob's remake ''[[Mother India]]''.<ref name="GulazāraNihalani2003">{{cite book |author1=Gulazāra |author2=Govind Nihalani |author3=Saibal Chatterjee |title=Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC&pg=PT79 |accessdate=19 July 2015 |year=2003 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=978-81-7991-066-5 |page=55 |chapter=The Emergence of Talkies}}</ref>

She acted in over 50 films in a career span of 1933–45. Akhtar married Mehboob Khan in 1942, whom she had met when he cast her in ''[[Ali Baba (1940 film)|Ali Baba]]'' (1940). She stopped after completing films like ''Fashion'' (1943) and ''Rahat''. She resumed as a character actress in the 1970s, when she acted in [[O. P. Ralhan]]'s ''[[Hulchul (1971 film)|Hulchul]]'' (1971).<ref name=Cineplot>{{cite web |last1=Mahmood |first1=Hameeddudin |title=Sardar Akhtar-Profile |url=http://cineplot.com/sardar-akhtar-profile/ |website=cineplot.com |publisher=Cineplot |accessdate=19 July 2015}}</ref>

==Early life==
Akhtar was born in 1915, in [[Lahore]], [[British India]]. She started as a supporting "dancer-artiste"<ref name="Reuben1994">{{cite book |author=Bunny Reuben |title=Mehboob, India's DeMille: The First Biography |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ExhlAAAAMAAJ |accessdate=19 July 2015 |year=1994 |publisher=Indus |isbn=978-81-7223-153-8 |page=67}}</ref> and commenced her film career by acting in stage plays produced by [[Madan Theatres Ltd]].{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}

==Career==
Akhtar started her career at Saroj Movietone doing what were then termed as "stunt" films. She acted in films directed by A. P. Kapoor (Anand Prasad Kapoor) like ''Roop Basant'', ''Id Ka Chand'', ''Malti Madhav'', all in 1933. Some of the action films she did at Saroj were directed by J. P. Advani (Jagatrai Pesumal Advani), including ''Gafil Musafir'', ''Johare-Shamsheer'', ''Shah Behram'' and ''Tilasimi Talwar''.<ref name="Rajadhyaksha">{{cite book |author1=Ashish Rajadhyaksha |author2=Paul Willemen |title=Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rF8ABAAAQBAJ&pg=PA1994-IA237 |accessdate=19 July 2015 |date=10 July 2014 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-135-94325-7 |pages=1994– |chapter=Advani, Jagatrai Pesumal}}</ref> In 1934, she acted in ''Hothal Padmini'' directed by Kanjibhai Rathod.

In 1935, Akhtar acted in ''Delhi Express'', directed by Madanrai Vakil. In 1936, she starred with [[K. L. Saigal]] in the farcical-comedy ''[[Karodpati]]''. The comedy was a rare departure from Saigal's normally serious films.<ref name=Raj>{{cite book |last1=Raj |first1=Ashok |title=Hero Vol.1, Volume 1 Bollywood series |date=2009 |publisher=Hay House, Inc |isbn=9789381398029 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tgo9BAAAQBAJ&q=Millionaire+Crorepati+1936+Songs&pg=PT75 |accessdate=19 July 2015}}</ref> Akhtar played a masked avenger in [[Vijay Bhatt]]-directed ''[[State Express]]'' (1938). It was stated to be a "successful film," doing well at the box office. The main draw was a "performing gorilla" and Sardar Akhtar's songs and performance. It was cited by Rajadhyaksha and Willemen as one of the "best stunt films" from Bhatt, who normally made mythologicals.<ref name="RajadhyakshaWillemen2014 p. 279">RajadhyakshaWillemen2014, p. 279</ref>

In 1939, Sardar Akhtar was cast because of her natural earthy looks in Sohrab Modi's ''Pukar'' as the washer-woman Rami Dhoban. Her husband has been accidentally killed by an arrow shot by Empress Nur Jahan. Rami demands justice of Emperor Jehangir, evoking his tenet "A life for a life". Akhtar's role was appreciated by the public and the critics; it was a turning point in her career — from doing stunt roles to big production socials.

1940 had Akhtar working in ''[[Ali Baba (1940 film)|Ali Baba]]''. The film was directed by Mehboob Khan, someone Akhtar had been trying to meet for some time.<ref name=Reuben1994 /> It co-starred Surendra and Waheedan Bai and turned out to be a commercial success. A relationship started between Mehboob and Akhtar during the making of ''Ali Baba'', with the two marrying in 1942.

''[[Aurat (1940 film)|Aurat]]'' (1940), directed by Mehboob Khan for National Studios, is referred to as "one of the best classics of Hindi cinema".{{citation needed|date=January 2017}} Described as a "powerful predecessor of Mother India",<ref name="Raj2009">{{cite book |author=Ashok Raj |title=Hero Vol.1 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tgo9BAAAQBAJ&pg=PT126 |accessdate=19 July 2015 |date=1 November 2009 |publisher=Hay House, Inc |isbn=978-93-81398-02-9 |pages=126– |chapter=Mehboob Khan}}</ref> The role displayed Akhtar's acting potential fully, and her "interpretation of the mother figure" was lauded.<ref name="Mishra2013">{{cite book |author=Vijay Mishra |title=Bollywood Cinema: Temples of Desire |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v1zcvGwVckgC&pg=PA72 |accessdate=21 July 2015 |date=21 August 2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-31092-9 |page=69}}</ref> Akhtar described it as her favourite film performance.<ref name=Interview>{{cite journal |title=Sardar Akhtar's Snow-White Simplicity |journal=Filmindia |date=September 1941 |volume=7 |issue=9 |pages=42 |url=https://archive.org/stream/filmindia194107film_1#page/n583/mode/2up/search/Akhtar |accessdate=19 July 2015 |ref=Sardar Akhtar interview by Hyacinth}}</ref>

''[[Pooja (1940 film)|Pooja]]'' in 1940 was termed as a "thundering success" by [[Baburao Patel]] in his review. Produced by National studios and directed by A. R. Kardar, the review title described it as "Kardar Produces The Best Picture Of The Year". The story, inspired by ''[[The Old Maid (1939 film)|The Old Maid]]'' (1939) by Warner Pictures, was about sisters played by Akhtar and [[Sitara Devi]]. Akhtar was commended for performing her role with sincerity.<ref name=Patel>{{cite journal |last1=Patel |first1=Baburao |title=Review-Puja |journal=Filmindia |date=January 1941 |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=33 |ref=Review-Kardar Produces The Best Picture Of The Year}}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:SardarBahar_Akhtar.jpg|thumb|right|Sardar Akhtar, Bahar (Mrs. [[A. R. Kardar]]), Rita Carlyle, [[Naseem Banu]], and Flo Gubby]]
Sardar Akhtar was the older sister of Bahar Akhtar, also an aspiring actress.<ref name=Reuben1994 /> During their debut together opposite [[A. R. Kardar]] in his film ''Qatil Katar'', Bahar and Kardar eloped. Production was halted and, ultimately, Bahar stopped working in films.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}

Akhtar met Mehboob Khan during the making of ''Alibaba'' and the two entered into a relationship, which culminated in their marriage in 1942. This was Mehboob's second marriage.<ref name="Ahmed2008">{{cite book |author=Rauf Ahmed |title=Mehboob Khan: The Romance of History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2juLPQAACAAJ |accessdate=21 July 2015 |date=1 January 2008 |publisher=Wisdom Tree |isbn=978-81-8328-106-5 |page=34}}</ref>

Though Akhtar stopped working after 1945, she was, as stated by Mehboob, his inspiration for making films like ''[[Aan]]'' (1952), ''Andaz'', and the remake of ''Aurat'': ''[[Mother India]]'' (1957).<ref name="Kohli1983">{{cite book |author=Yash Kohli |title=The Women of Punjab |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h_wpAAAAYAAJ |accessdate=19 July 2015 |year=1983 |publisher=Chic Publications |page=54}}</ref> Fond of watching films, her favourite actors were [[Bette Davis]], [[Norma Shearer]], [[Vivien Leigh]], and [[Charles Boyer]].<ref name=Interview />

==Death==
Sardar Akhtar died on 2 October 1986,<ref name=DNA /> following a heart attack in New York City, [[US]]. Mehboob and Akhtar had no children.

After Mehboob's death in 1964, she became his legal heir, with shares in Mehboob Studios and three flats. The property went into litigation once Akhtar's nephew made forgery claims regarding Akhtar's will. The two-decade old dispute is still pending.<ref name=TOI>{{cite news |last1=Deshpande |first1=Swati |title=Two accused of forging sign of filmmaker Mehboob Khan's widow withdraw plea |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Two-accused-of-forging-sign-of-filmmaker-Mehboob-Khans-widow-withdraw-plea/articleshow/21813630.cms |accessdate=21 July 2015 |work=The Times of India |publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd |date=14 August 2013}}</ref><ref name=DNA>{{cite news |last1=Mahajani |first1=Urvi |title=Two charged with forging will to take over Mehboob Studio |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-two-charged-with-forging-will-to-take-over-mehboob-studio-1961319 |accessdate=21 July 2015 |agency=dna |publisher=Diligent Media Corporation Ltd. |date=12 February 2014}}</ref>

==Filmography==
List:<ref name=Indiancinema>{{cite web |title=Sardar Akhtar |url=https://wiki.indiancine.ma/wiki/Sardar%20Akhtar |website=wiki.indiancine.ma |publisher=Indiancine.ma |accessdate=21 July 2015 |archive-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027011934/https://wiki.indiancine.ma/wiki/Sardar%20Akhtar |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=Sardar>{{cite web |title=Sardar Akhtar |url=http://www.citwf.com/detailPerson.asp?personID=68899&sortOn=YEAR&sortBy=UP |website=citwf.com |publisher=Alan Goble |accessdate=21 July 2015}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Film !! Director !! Co-stars !! Studio
|-
|1933 || ''Id Ka Chand'' || A. P. Kapoor (Anand Prasad Kapoor) ||Ashraf Khan, Zebunisa || Saroj Movietone
|-
|1933 ||''Malati Madhav'' ||A. P. Kapoor ||Ashraf Khan, Gulab, Zebunisa ||Saroj Movietone
|-
|1933 ||Roop Basant ||A. P. Kapoor ||Ashraf Khan, Gulab, Zebunisa ||Saroj Movietone
|-
|1933 ||''Naqsh-e-Sulemani'' a.k.a. ''Tilasmi Taveez'' ||A. P. Kapoor ||Jani Babu, Zebunisa ||Saroj Movietone
|-
|1933 ||''Husn Ka Gulam'' ||J. P. Advani (Jagatrai Pesumal Advani) ||Ashraf Khan, Gulab, Zebunisa ||Paramount
|-
|1934 ||''Johar-e-Shamsheer'' a.k.a. ''The Feats Of The Sword'' ||J. P. Advani ||Nissar, Jani Babu Zebunisa ||Saroj Movietone
|-
|1934 ||''Gafil Musafir'' a.k.a. ''Careless Traveller'' ||J. P. Advani ||Ashraf Khan, Ghulam Mohammed, Prabhashankar ||Saroj Movietone
|-
|1934 ||''Tilasmi Talwar'' a.k.a. ''Magic Sword'' a.k.a. ''Shaif-e-Sulemani'' ||Nanubhai Desai ||Ashraf Khan, Zebunisa, Gulab ||Saroj Movietone
|-
|1934 ||''Hothal Padmini'' ||[[Kanjibhai Rathod]] ||Ashraf Khan, Zebunisa || Saroj Movietone
|-
|1934 ||''Ajamil'' ||A. R. Kabuli ||Ashraf Khan, Zebunisa || Saroj Movietone
|-
|1934 ||''Dilara'' ||J. P. Advani ||Ashraf khan Zebunisa, Ebrahim ||Hindustan Cine
|-
|1934 ||''Jaan Nissar'' ||Kanjibhai Rathod ||Sultana, Jani Babu, Zebunisa ||Sarla Cinetone
|-
|1935 ||''Shah Behram'' ||J. P. Advani ||Zebunisa, Master Nissar, Dulari, Jani Babu ||Saroj Movietone
|-
|1935 ||''Farebi Duniya'' ||J. P. Advani ||Zebunisa, Navin Yagnik ||Golden Eagle
|-
|1935 ||''Misar Ka Khazana'' ||Rajhans ||Zebunisa, Master Nissar, Ganpat Bakre, Jani Babu ||Saroj Movietone
|-
|1935 ||''Dharma Ki Devi'' a.k.a. ''Religious Woman'' ||Hiren Bose ||Kumar, feroze Dastur, Hari Shivdasani, Rafiq Ghaznavi ||Eastern Arts
|-
|1935 ||''Delhi Express'' ||Madanrai Vakil || Zohra, Ghulam Farid, Master Mohan, Roshan Ara ||Roshanare
|-
|1936 ||''Piya Ki Jogan'' a.k.a. ''Purchased Bride'' ||Hiren Bose ||Pramod Chandra, Asha Lata, Krishna Kumari ||Golden Eagle
|-
|1936 ||''Pratima'' ||Ram Daryani ||[[Nazir Ahmed Khan|Nazir]], Gope, Indu Kumari ||Daryani Productions
|-
|1936 ||''Prem Bandhan'' ||C. N. Lala ||[[Sitara Devi]], Benjamin, Putli ||Golden Eagle
|-
|1936 ||''Sangdil Samaj'' ||Ram Daryani ||Nazir, Gope, Padma Devi, Omkar Devaskar, [[Hari Shivdasani]] ||Daryani Productions
|-
|1936 ||''Sher Ka Panja'' ||Dwarka Khosla ||Nazir, Gope, Yasmin, Omkar Devaskar, [[Hari Shivdasani]], Asha Lata, Gope ||Eastern Arts
|-
|1936 ||''Fida-E-Watan'' a.k.a. ''The Patriot'' ||G. R. Sethi ||Indu Rani, Gope ||Daryani Productions
|-
|1936 ||''[[Karodpati]]'' a.k.a. ''Millionaire'' ||Hemchandra Chunder ||[[K. L. Saigal]], [[Pahari Sanyal]], Trilok Kapoor, Molina ||[[New Theatres Ltd]]
|-
|1937 ||''Bismil Ki Arzoo'' ||B. S. Higle ||Ramola, Noor Jehan, Mirza, Tara ||U. P. Cinetone
|-
|1937 ||''Khwab Ki Duniya'' ||[[Vijay Bhatt]] ||[[Jayant (actor)|Jayant]], Shirin Banu, Umakant, Madhav Marathe ||Prakash Pictures
|-
|1937 ||''His Highness'' ||Balwant Bhatt ||Jayant, Gulab, Shirin ||Prakash Pictures
|-
|1938 ||''[[State Express]]'' ||[[Vijay Bhatt]] ||[[Jayant (actor)|Jayant]], Shirin Banu, Umakant ||Prakash Pictures
|-
|1938 ||''Poornima'' ||Balwant Bhatt ||Ranjit, Gulab, Badriprasad, Noor Jehan, Umakant ||Prakash Pictures
|-
|1939 ||''[[Pukar (1939 film)|Pukar]]'' ||[[Sohrab Modi]] ||Chandra Mohan, [[Naseem Banu]], Sohrab Modi ||[[Minerva Movietone]]
|-
|1940 ||''[[Ali Baba (1940 film)|Ali Baba]]'' || [[Mehboob Khan]] ||[[Surendra (actor)|Surendra]], Wahidan, Ghulam Mohammed ||Sagar Movietone
|-
|1940 ||''[[Aurat (1940 film)|Aurat]]'' a.k.a. ''Woman'' ||[[Mehboob Khan]] ||Surendra, [[Yakub (actor)|Yakub]], Jyoti ||National Studios
|-
|1940 ||''[[Bharosa (1940 film)|Bharosa]]'' ||[[Mehboob Khan]] ||Chandra Mohan, Naval, Sheela ||Minerva Movietone
|-
|1940 ||''[[Pooja (1940 film)|Pooja]]'' a.k.a. ''Worship'' ||[[A. R. Kardar]] ||Sitara Devi, Zahur Raja, Jyoti ||National Studios
|-
|1941 ||''Aasra'' ||Lalit Mehta ||Husn Banu, Amar, Veena ||National Studios
|-
|1941 ||''[[Nai Roshni (1941 film)|Nai Roshni]]'' ||Chimankant Gandhi ||Husn Banu, [[Meena Kumari]], [[Kanhaiyalal (actor)|Kanhaiyalal]] ||National Studios
|-
|1942 ||''[[Ghar Sansar (1942 film)|Ghar Sansar]]'' ||Vishnu Vyas || Jehanara Kajjan, Mazhar Khan, Nazir ||Sunrise Pictures
|-
|1942 ||''Uljhan'' a.k.a. ''The Dilemma'' ||N. R. Acharya ||Mazhar Khan, Anjali Devi ||Acharya Art
|-
|1942 ||''[[Phir Milenge (1942 film)|Phir Milenge]]'' ||Sohrab Modi ||[[Meena Shorey]], [[K. N. Singh]], Sohrab Modi ||Minerva Movietone
|-
|1942 ||''[[Duniya Ek Tamasha]]'' a.k.a. ''The World's A Show'' ||Dwarka Khosla ||Urmila, Gope, W. M. Khan ||Saubhagya Pictures
|-
|1943 ||''Masterji'' ||Krishna Gopal ||Harish, Veena Kumari, Pande ||Raja Movies
|-
|1943 ||''Fashion'' ||S. F. Hasnain ||Chandra Mohan, Sabita Devi, [[Bhudo Advani]] ||Fazil Bros.
|-
|1945 ||''Rahat'' ||Ramnik Desai ||[[P. Jairaj|Jairaj]], Indira, Kanhaiyalal ||Kirti Pictures
|-
|1971 ||''[[Hulchul (1971 film)|Hulchul]]'' ||[[O. P. Ralhan]] ||Kabir Bedi, Sonia Sahni, Helen ||O. P. Ralhan
|-
|1973 ||''[[Bandhe Haath]]'' ||O. P. Goyal ||[[Amitabh Bachchan]], [[Mumtaz (Indian actress)|Mumtaz]], Kumud Chhugani ||O. P. Ralhan
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0015293}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Akhtar, Sardar}}
[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:1984 deaths]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Urdu cinema]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses from Lahore]]
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]

Sardar Akhtar - Revision history

Svetlsgx: put up the stub and citations