# Kumari Naaz

Salma Baig (20 August 1944 - 19 October 1995) popularly known as Kumari Naaz or Baby Naaz was an Indian actress in Hindi language films.

## Career

She started her career as a child actor in films. Her best remembered role as a child artiste was in R. K. Films’ Boot Polish (1954) and Bimal Roy's Devdas. She earned rave reviews for her earnest natural performance from The New York Times and a special distinction (along with co-actor Rattan Kumar) from Cannes Film Festival in 1955, where the film was shown in competition.
In 1958, a Hindi film adaptation called Do Phool (Two Flowers) was released based on the Swiss literary novel/ icon Heidi. The role of Heidi – called Poornima in the film – was played by Baby Naaz who was one of the most famous child stars at the time along with Master Romi.
She matured into a character actress and bagged good roles in films like Bahu Begum, Kati Patang and Sachaa Jhutha (where she played Rajesh Khanna's physically challenged sister).

## Awards and honours
### 1955 Cannes Film Festival

* Special Mention (Distinction): She received this honour with child actor Pablito Calvo for his performance in the 1955 Spanish film Marcelino, pan y vino.

## Later career

She later transitioned into a second career as a dubbing artiste. Before Sridevi started using her own voice, Kumari Naaz dubbed for her in the early Hindi hits of the 1980s.

## Personal life

She married actor Subbiraj (cousin of veteran actor Raj Kapoor) in 1965 and continued working; the two had acted together in Mera Ghar Mere Bachche (1960) and Dekha Pyar Tumhara (1963). She converted to Hinduism after marriage, renaming herself "Anuradha". The couple had two children: Girish and Gauri.
Naaz was later diagnosed with terminal illness of liver and died in 1995.

## Filmography

Her films include:
| Year | Film | Character/Role |
| 1989 | Apna Desh Paraye Log | |
| 1989 | Pyase Nain | Dr. Bharti |
| 1986 | Bhai Ka Dushman Bhai | |
| 1986 | Sheesha | Pramila (as Naaz) |
| 1984 | Phulwari | Shobha |
| 1984 | Boxer | Mrs. Khatau (as Naaz) |
| 1982 | Bhai Aakhir Bhai Hota Hai | |
| 1982 | Swami Dada | Lallu's Wife |
| 1982 | Shriman Shrimati (as Naaz) | |
| 1980 | Bambai Ka Maharaja | Mary |
| 1978 | Kaala Aadmi (as Naaz) | |
| 1978 | Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (as Naaz) | |
| 1978 | Phandebaaz | Princess Ratna |
| 1978 | Bhola Bhala | Sarla (as Naaz) |
| 1977 | Chakkar Pe Chakkar | Mrs. Babu (as Naaz) |
| 1977 | Niyaz Aur Namaaz | Sayeeda |
| 1977 | Karm | Kammo |
| 1976 | Aap Beati | Sheela Jumani |
| 1976 | Bairaag | Vimla (as Naaz) |
| 1976 | Do Khiladi | Dancer during Qawwali |
| 1975 | Do Jhoot | Vandana's Sister (as Naaz) |
| 1975 | Sanyasi | Savitri (uncredited) |
| 1975 | Sewak | Neeru |
| 1974 | Do Aankhen | |
| 1974 | Paise Ki Gudiya | Neela Gupta |
| 1974 | Woh Main Nahin | |
| 1974 | Phir Kab Milogi | Amba (as Naaz) |
| 1974 | Friend | Kalyani Sharma (as Naaz) |
| 1973 | Samjhauta | Champa (as Naaz) |
| 1973 | Raja Rani | Patron's Wife (as Naaz) |
| 1972 | Shaadi Ke Baad | Savitri B. Singh |
| 1972 | Shor | Shankar's Sister (as Naaz) |
| 1972 | Wafaa | Meera (as Naaz) |
| 1971 | Dushmun | Kamla G. Din (as Naaz) |
| 1971 | Jwala | Rajkumari Rupa |
| 1971 | Preetam | Gauri (as Naaz) |
| 1971 | Haathi Mere Saathi | Paro (as Naaz) |
| 1970 | Himmat | Banthu (as Naaz) |
| 1970 | Kati Patang | Poonam (uncredited) |
| 1970 | Sachcha Jhutha | Belu (as Naaz) |
| 1970 | Rootha Na Karo | Naina |
| 1969 | Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke | Sangeeta Y. Singh |
| 1969 | Jahan Pyar Miley | |
| 1969 | Raja Saab | Hameshbahar |
| 1968 | Juari | Princess Sabita |
| 1968 | Nadir Shah | |
| 1967 | Bahu Begum | Suraiya (as Naaz) |
| 1967 | Chhaila Babu | Meena |
| 1965 | Saiyan Se Neha Lagaibe (as Naaz) | |
| 1964 | Baghi | |
| 1964 | Chandi Ki Deewar | |
| 1964 | Char Dervesh | Princess Hamida |
| 1964 | Hercules | |
| 1964 | Kaise Kahoon | Anita Laxmichand |
| 1964 | Majboor | Seema |
| 1963 | Bidesiya | Parvati |
| 1963 | Dekha Pyaar Tumhara | |
| 1963 | Mere Arman Mere Sapne | Shanti |
| 1963 | Mujhe Jeene Do | Chauthi Begum (as Naaz) |
| 1963 | Pyar Ka Bandhan | Sona (as Naaz) |
| 1962 | Man-Mauji | Laxmi |
| 1962 | Gangu | |
| 1961 | Ganga Jumna | Young Dhanno (as Naaz) |
| 1961 | Zindagi Aur Khwab | Rasila |
| 1960 | Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai | Munni |
| 1960 | Mera Ghar Mere Bachche | Meena |
| 1960 | Lambe Haath | |
| 1960 | Maa Baap | Pratima (as Naaz) |
| 1959 | Four Faces of India (as Baby Naaz) | |
| 1959 | Heera Moti | Roopnandan's Daughter (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1959 | Kangan | Secretary |
| 1959 | Kaagaz Ke Phool | Pramila Sinha (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1959 | Ardhangini | Dancer / Singer |
| 1959 | Bhai Bahen | Soni K. Rai (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1958 | Do Phool | Poornima (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1958 | Ghar Grihasti | |
| 1958 | Ghar Sansar | Asha |
| 1958 | Lajwanti | Renu (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1958 | Yahudi | Young Lydia (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1958 | Miss 58 | |
| 1957 | Musafir | Munni (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1957 | Payal | Padma (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1956 | Diwali Ki Raat (as Naaz) | |
| 1956 | Ek Shola | Usha (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1956 | Rajdhani | |
| 1956 | Ek Hi Rasta | Girl in Raja's birthday (singing "Bade Bhaiya Laya Hai") (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1955 | Kundan | Young Radha / Young Uma (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1955 | Lagan (as Baby Naaz) | |
| 1955 | Mast Qalandar | |
| 1955 | Patit Pawan | |
| 1955 | Raftar (as Baby Naaz) | |
| 1955 | Devdas | Young Parvati (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1955 | Hatimtai Ki Beti (as Naaz) | |
| 1954 | Chandni Chowk (as Baby Naaz) | |
| 1954 | Subah Ka Tara | Heera |
| 1954 | Boot Polish | Belu (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1954 | Shama Parwana (as Naaz) | |
| 1953 | Gunah (as Baby Naaz) | |
| 1950 | Rupaiya (as Baby Naaz) | |