New Delhi: Actress Farrukh Jaffar, who started her career as a radio announcer in Vividh Bharati in Lucknow and later made her mark as a theatre artist and film actress, passed away today in Lucknow. She was 88 years old and was battling age-related ailments for a long time.
Farrukh Jaffar started her film career with the famous 1981 film ‘Umrao Jaan’ directed by Muzaffar Ali. In this film, she played the role of Rekha's mother. But due to some reasons, she remained away from the glamour of the film world for almost two decades.
Significantly, after 23 years, Farrukh Jaffar once again appeared on screen when she worked in Shah Rukh Khan starrer film ‘Swades’. Apart from 'Umrao Jaan', the actress also starred in Aamir Khan-produced 'Peepli Live', Salman Khan starrer 'Sultan', Prakash Jha directed 'Chakravyuh' and Kangana Ranaut starrer 'Tanu Weds Manu'.
Belonging to a landlord family of Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, Farrukh Jaffar's last film was the 2020 film 'Gulabo Sitabo' directed by Shoojit Sircar. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, instead of releasing the movie in theatres, the movie was released directly on the OTT platform Amazon Prime Video. Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushmann Khurrana were in the lead roles in this film and Farrukh Jaffar played the role of Big B’s mother in the film. She was also awarded the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Fatima Begum in 'Gulabo Sitabo'. She became the oldest actress to win a Filmfare Award as an actor.
Apart from all these films, she also played roles in films like 'Anwar Ka Ajab Kissa', 'Aligarh', 'Parched', 'Secret Superstar', 'Photograph'.
Farrukh Jaffar was married at the age of 13 to Syed Muhammad Jaffer, who contributed to the freedom struggle and later made his mark as a journalist. After marriage, the actress completed her graduation and later started her career as an announcer in All India Radio in Lucknow.
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