# Deeba

Deeba (Urdu: دِیبا; born 1 August 1947) is one of Pakistan's most popular actresses in the 1960s and 1970s. She is best known for her romantic and tragic roles in Urdu and Punjabi films and for her iconic beauty, earning her the nickname the Pakistani Mona Lisa. Deeba also received two major awards: the Nigar Award and the Pride of Performance.

## Early life and career

Named Raheela at birth, Deeba was born in Ranchi, Bihar, British India, on 1 August 1947. In the 1950s, she was living with her married sister near Karachi Cantonment railway station in a slum area of Karachi. She started her career as a child actress in the film Miss 56 (1956) and was nicknamed "Chutanki" as she was still a little girl.
She got a breakthrough in Chiragh Jalta Raha (1962), a Fazal Karim Fazli's film. Her performances in several films, such as Milan (1964), Khamosh Raho (1964), Aina (1966), Payal ki jhankar (1966), Doraha, Sangdil (1968), Dard (1969), Sajna Door Diya (1970), Neend hamarey khuwab tumharey (1971), Ansoo (1971), Pardes (1972), and Seeta Maryam Margaret (1978), have won critical acclaim. She played many supporting characters, including the on-screen mother, in several films throughout most of the 1980s and 1990s. She acted in several television plays in the early 2000s.

## Personal life
### Childhood tragedy

As a child, Deeba lost her father, and her mother was separated from her during the partition of British India into Pakistan and India. She was taken to Karachi by her aunt and uncle, not knowing the fate of her mother until she became a film actress. In 1964, during the filming of her movie "Milan", her picture was published in a Dhaka film magazine. Her mother saw that picture and recognized her as her daughter Raheela. The Bengali writer Mohiuddin Nawab, who happened to be a neighbor of Deeba's mother in Dhaka, heard her story and wrote to the magazine. When Deeba saw an article about her mother in a magazine, she immediately began searching for her and eventually found her in Pakistan. After reuniting, she brought her mother with her to Lahore, where she continued her film career.

### Marriage

Deeba married cameraman Naeem Rizvi in 1971 and left the silver screen for 10 years. However, financial hardships made her join the Pakistani film industry again in 1987 as a supporting actress. She has three children, including daughter Madiha Rizvi, who is also an actress, and son Imran Rizvi, who is an actor.

## Pakistani Mona Lisa

Deeba's cheerful, innocent look has earned her the nickname "the Pakistani Mona Lisa.".

## List of television projects
### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 1999 | Boota from Toba Tek Singh | Zohra Begum | PTV |
| 2004 | Moorat | Sughra | ARY Digital |
| 2005 | Riyasat | Shahnawaz's wife | ARY Digital |
| 2006 | Manzil | Mahjabeen | ARY Digital |
| 2007 | Khuda Gawah | Saman's mother | ATV |
| 2007 | Sarkar Sahab | Shahi | ARY Digital |
| 2012 | Saheliyan | Nani | PTV |

### Telefilm

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2004 | Mother of Desert | Shabbir's mother |

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Film | Language |
| 1956 | Miss 56 | Urdu |
| 1959 | Faisla | Urdu |
| 1962 | Chiragh Jalta Raha | Urdu |
| 1962 | Dosheeza | Urdu |
| 1962 | Mehboob | Urdu |
| 1963 | Jab Say Dekha Hay Tumhen | Urdu |
| 1963 | Sazish | Urdu |
| 1964 | Milan | Bengali |
| 1964 | Chingari | Urdu |
| 1965 | Riwaj | Urdu |
| 1965 | Dil Ke Tukre | Urdu |
| 1965 | Sartaj | Urdu |
| 1965 | Ham Matwalay Nojawan | Urdu |
| 1965 | Zamin | Urdu |
| 1966 | Payal Ki Jhankaar | Urdu |
| 1966 | Aina | Urdu |
| 1967 | Phir Subah Hogi | Urdu |
| 1968 | Sangdil | Urdu |
| 1968 | Behan Bhai | Urdu |
| 1969 | Ishara | Urdu |
| 1969 | C.I.D. | Urdu |
| 1969 | Tumhi Ho Mehboob Meray | Urdu |
| 1969 | Dard | Urdu |
| 1969 | Ghar Damaad | Urdu |
| 1969 | Aneela | Urdu |
| 1969 | Buzdil | Urdu |
| 1970 | Afsana | Urdu |
| 1970 | Sajnan Door Dia | Punjabi |
| 1970 | Anjuman | Urdu |
| 1971 | Neend Humari Khawab Tumharay | Urdu |
| 1971 | Aansoo | Urdu |
| 1972 | Zindgi Ek Safar Hai | Urdu |
| 1972 | Ek Raat | Urdu |
| 1974 | Shama | Urdu |
| 1974 | Haqeeqat | Urdu |
| 1975 | Saajan Rang Rangeela | Urdu |
| 1975 | Haku | Punjabi |
| 1975 | Jageer | Urdu |
| 1975 | Ajj Di Gall | Punjabi |
| 1975 | Shikwa | Urdu |
| 1975 | Nakabandi | Punjabi |
| 1975 | Ajnabi | Urdu |
| 1976 | Koshish | Urdu |
| 1977 | Sadqay Teri Mout Tun | Punjabi |
| 1978 | Amber | Urdu |
| 1978 | Seeta Maryam Margaret | Urdu |
| 1979 | Goga Sher | Punjabi |
| 1979 | Nishana | Urdu |
| 1980 | Zamir | Urdu |
| 1980 | Double Cross | Urdu |
| 1980 | Nahin Abhi Nahin | Urdu |
| 1981 | Qurbani | Urdu |
| 1981 | Athra Tay Jeedar | Punjabi |
| 1983 | Aakhri Dushman | Punjabi |
| 1984 | Chor Chokidar | Punjabi |
| 1985 | Da Veenay Daray | Pashto |
| 1987 | Mera Insaf | Urdu |
| 1988 | Sakhi Daata | Punjabi |
| 1988 | Dushman Dada | Pashto |
| 1988 | Roti | Punjabi |
| 1989 | Kraye Kay Qatil | Urdu |
| 1989 | Miss Allah Rakhi | Punjabi |
| 1989 | Mera Challenge | Punjabi |
| 1989 | Inteqam Ham Lain Gay | Urdu |
| 1990 | Sarmaya | Punjabi |
| 1991 | Watan Kay Rakhwalay | Punjabi / Urdu |
| 1992 | Muhib Sheedi | Sindhi |
| 1993 | Mr. Charlie | Urdu |
| 1993 | Khuda Gawah | Punjabi / Urdu |
| 1993 | Daku, Chor, Siphai | Punjabi / Urdu |
| 1993 | Ilzam | Punjabi / Urdu |
| 1993 | No Baby No | Punjabi / Urdu |
| 1993 | Mr. Tabedar | Urdu |
| 1994 | International Luteray | Punjabi / Urdu |
| 1995 | Jeeva | Urdu |
| 1995 | Gabhar Singh | Punjabi |
| 1995 | Main Nay Pyar Kiya | Punjabi / Urdu |
| 1995 | Sargam | Urdu |
| 1995 | Panah | Urdu |
| 1996 | Hawaen | Urdu |
| 1997 | Karam Data | Punjabi / Urdu |
| 1997 | Deevanay Teray Pyar Kay | Urdu |
| 1998 | Deewaren | Urdu |
| 1998 | Nikah | Urdu |
| 1998 | Dulha Lay Kay Jaun Gi | Urdu |
| 1998 | Choorian | Punjabi |
| 1999 | Nikki Jei Haan | Punjabi |
| 1999 | Ik Pagal Si Larki | Urdu |
| 1999 | Jazba | Urdu |
| 1999 | Pal Do Pal | Urdu |
| 2000 | Angaray | Urdu |
| 2000 | Yaar Badshah | Punjabi |
| 2000 | Pehchan | Urdu |
| 2000 | Meri Touba | Punjabi |
| 2001 | Khoye Ho Tum Kahan | Urdu |
| 2001 | Aaj Ki Larki | Urdu |
| 2001 | Sapnay Apnay Apnay | Urdu |
| 2002 | Kon Banay Ga Karorpati | Urdu |
| 2002 | Fire | Urdu |
| 2008 | Zill-e-Shah | Punjabi |

## Awards and recognition

| Year | Award | Category | Result | Title | Ref. |
| 1970 | Nigar Award | Special Award | Won | Sajna Door Diya | |
| 2020 | Pride of Performance | Award by the President of Pakistan | Won | Herself | |