# Zarina Wahab

Zarina Wahab is an Indian actress who predominantly worked in Hindi and Malayalam films. Known for critically acclaimed roles in Chitchor and Gopal Krishna in Hindi and Malayalam cinema with films like Madanolsavam, Chamaram, Palangal and Adaminte Makan Abu.

## Early life

Wahab was born in Visakhapatnam. She is fluent in her mother tongue Telugu, in addition to Urdu, Hindi and English. She was trained at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. Wahab has three sisters and one brother.

## Career

After receiving negative feedback about her appearance from film producer Raj Kapoor, Wahab worked on her appearance and attended film parties and events. She eventually got noticed and was cast in films. She was usually cast as the middle-class girl after her first leading role in Basu Chatterjee's Chit Chor (1976) in movies like Agar, Jazbaat, Sawan Ko Aane Do, and Raees Zada. She was nominated for a Filmfare Award in the Best Actress category for Gharonda (1977). She has acted in many Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, films. Wahab made a comeback to Malayalam films with Calendar, in 2009 and has continued to act in Malayalam movies. She is still remembered for her role in the critically acclaimed Adaminte Makan Abu. She also appeared in My Name Is Khan as the mother of Rizwan Khan (Shah Rukh Khan's character). Wahab currently plays older roles in television serials.

## Personal life

Wahab met actor Aditya Pancholi on the sets of Kalank Ka Tika. They married in 1986 and have a daughter, Sana and a son, Sooraj. News of their turbulent marriage, her husband's temper and rumors of infidelity have been in the gossip columns. Wahab's daughter is an actress. Her son, Suraj, was arrested in June 2013, in connection with the death of Jiah Khan. He made his Bollywood debut with Sunil Shetty's daughter Athiya Shetty in 2015 in the movie Hero.
in 2024, She defended her husband and her son during controversies.

## Filmography
### Feature films

List of Zarina Wahab film credits :
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
| 1974 | Ishq Ishq Ishq | Prema | Hindi | |
| 1975 | Anokha | Sudha Manchanda | Hindi | |
| 1975 | Gajula Kishtayya | Radha | Telugu | |
| 1976 | Chitchor | Geeta P. Choudry | Hindi | |
| 1976 | Raeeszada | Julie | Hindi | |
| 1977 | Gharaonda | Chaya | Hindi | |
| 1977 | Navarathinam | Pushparagam, | Tamil | |
| 1977 | Agar... If | Anju Agarwal | Hindi | |
| 1978 | Tumhare Liye | Rajnartaki | Hindi | |
| 1978 | Madanolsavam | Elizabeth | Malayalam | |
| 1978 | Anpadh | Jyoti | Hindi | |
| 1978 | Amara Prema | Jaya Mala | Telugu | |
| 1978 | Tumhare Liye | Rajnartaki | Hindi | |
| 1979 | Gopal Krishna | Radha | Hindi | |
| 1979 | Jeena Yahan | Sushma | Hindi | Guest appearance |
| 1979 | Salaam Memsaab | Radha | Hindi | |
| 1979 | Sawan Ko Aane Do | Chandramukhi | Hindi | |
| 1979 | Naiyya | Geeta | Hindi | |
| 1979 | Do Hawaldar | Paro | Hindi | |
| 1980 | Chamaram | Indu | Malayalam | |
| 1980 | Naayattu | Bhavani | Malayalam | |
| 1980 | Swattu | Rohini | Malayalam | |
| 1980 | Mr. Michael | Lilly | Malayalam | |
| 1980 | Prathishta | | Malayalam | |
| 1980 | Pappu | Herself | Malayalam | Cameo |
| 1980 | Sitara | Dhaniya/Sarita | Hindi | |
| 1980 | Aakhri Insaaf | | Hindi | |
| 1980 | Taxi Chor | Ruby | Hindi | |
| 1980 | Hema Hemeelu | Seeta | Telugu | |
| 1980 | Jazbaat | Sapna/Sangeeta | Hindi | |
| 1981 | Ek Aur Ek Gyarah | Hirnibai | Hindi | |
| 1981 | Roohi | Sajjo/Roohi | Hindi | |
| 1981 | Aakhri Mujra | Sitara | Hindi | |
| 1981 | Paanch Qaidi | Shanti | Hindi | |
| 1981 | Khoon Ki Takkar | Rajju | Hindi | |
| 1981 | Ammakkorumma | Sindhu | Malayalam | |
| 1981 | Palangal | Usha | Malayalam | |
| 1982 | Sara Varsham | Savitha | Malayalam | |
| 1982 | Enthino Pookunna Pookal | Savithri | Malayalam | |
| 1982 | Football | Celine | Malayalam | |
| 1982 | Veedu | Sumi | Malayalam | |
| 1982 | Barrister | | Hindi | |
| 1982 | Tadap | Shaila | Hindi | |
| 1982 | Maine Jeena Seekh Liya | Reema | Hindi | |
| 1982 | Shiv Charan | Bijili | Hindi | |
| 1982 | Karwat | | Hindi | |
| 1983 | Kaivarisai | Jaisankar's sister | Tamil | |
| 1983 | Dard-E-Dil | Reshma | Hindi | |
| 1983 | Chor Police | Anjana | Hindi | |
| 1983 | Paanchwin Manzil | Meena | Hindi | |
| 1983 | Lal Chunariyaa | Kamini | Hindi | |
| 1983 | Parasparam | Meera | Malayalam | |
| 1984 | Hanste Khelte | Meena | Hindi | |
| 1984 | Manasariyathe | Sindhu | Malayalam | |
| 1985 | Punnaram Cholli Cholli | Vinodini | Malayalam | |
| 1985 | Choodatha Pookal | Sreedevi | Malayalam | |
| 1985 | Hum Naujawan | Meenakshi | Hindi | |
| 1986 | Amrit | Savitri Sharma | Hindi | |
| 1986 | Adhikar | Rita | Hindi | |
| 1986 | Inteqam Ki Aag | Seema | Hindi | |
| 1986 | Dahleez | Jameela Ali | Hindi | |
| 1987 | Ee Bandha Anubandha | | Kannada | |
| 1987 | Maashuka | | Hindi | |
| 1987 | Dozakh | Dancer | Hindi | |
| 1987 | Mera Yaar Mera Dushman | | Hindi | |
| 1989 | Toofan | Mrs. Laxmi Gopal Sharma | Hindi | |
| 1992 | Jai Kaali | Divya | Hindi | |
| 1995 | Mera Damad | Kimi/Sunita Choudhry | Hindi | |
| 2001 | Zindagi | Geeta | Hindi | |
| 2004 | Dil Maange More!!! | Kavita | Hindi | |
| 2005 | Kisna: The Warrior Poet | Shanta | Hindi | |
| 2006 | Jaane Hoga Kya | Mrs. Krishnan | Hindi | |
| 2006 | Prateeksha | Kunti | Hindi | |
| 2007 | Kaisay Kahein | Mrs. Rao | Hindi | |
| 2008 | Kabadi Kabadi | | Malayalam | |
| 2009 | Calendar | Thankam Joseph | Malayalam | |
| 2010 | Aagathan | Malathi Varma | Malayalam | |
| 2010 | My Name Is Khan | Razia Khan | Hindi | |
| 2010 | Rakta Charitra | Jayalakshmi | Hindi | |
| 2010 | Rakta Charitra | Jayalakshmi | Telugu | |
| 2010 | Rakta Charitra 2 | Jayalakshmi | Hindi | |
| 2010 | Rakta Charitra 2 | Jayalakshmi | Telugu | |
| 2010 | Khilafath | | Malayalam | |
| 2010 | Malik Ek | Shanti | Hindi | |
| 2011 | Adaminte Makan Abu | Aishumma | Malayalam | |
| 2011 | Naayika | Herself | Malayalam | Cameo |
| 2012 | Agneepath | Suhasini Chauhan | Hindi | |
| 2013 | I, Me, aur Main | Nisha Sabharwal | Hindi | |
| 2013 | Himmatwala | Savitri | Hindi | |
| 2013 | Vishwaroopam | Psychiatrist | Tamil | |
| 2013 | Aaru Sundarimaarude Katha | Chachi Moothedan | Malayalam | |
| 2013 | Olipporu | Olipporali's mother | Malayalam | |
| 2013 | Club 60 | Mrs. Sinha | Hindi | |
| 2013 | Zila Ghaziabad | Satbeer's mother | Hindi | |
| 2014 | Bobby Jasoos | Saida | Hindi | |
| 2014 | Love U Crazy Girl | Khushi's mother | Hindi | |
| 2015 | Dil Dhadakne Do | Smita Sangha | Hindi | |
| 2016 | Chalk n Duster | Indu Shastry | Hindi | |
| 2016 | Yea Toh Two Much Ho Gayaa | Mann's mother | Hindi | |
| 2016 | Anbendraale Amma | Mother | Tamil | Short film |
| 2017 | Viswasapoorvam Mansoor | Sairabanu | Malayalam | |
| 2017 | Thrissivaperoor Kliptham | Ammachi | Malayalam | |
| 2017 | Jia Aur Jia | Jia Grewal's mother | Hindi | |
| 2017 | The Door | Mother | Hindi | |
| 2019 | Minnaminukalude Aakasham | | Malayalam | |
| 2019 | The Last Meal | Mother | Hindi | |
| 2019 | And the Oscar Goes To... | Ummukulsu | Malayalam | |
| 2019 | Priyapettavar | Menon's mother | Malayalam | Photo only |
| 2019 | PM Narendra Modi | Hiraben Modi | Hindi | |
| 2019 | One Day: Justice Delivered | Abdul's mom | Hindi | |
| 2019 | Junction Varanasi | Mamta | Hindi | |
| 2019 | Mudda 370 J&K | Suraj's mother | Hindi | |
| 2020 | Mai Gayatri Jadhav | Lawyer | Hindi | |
| 2020 | Main Mulayam Singh Yadav | Mulayam's mother | Hindi | |
| 2020 | The Lovers | Nithya's mother | Hindi | |
| 2020 | The Waiting | Mehak | Hindi | |
| 2020 | Guns of Banaras | Guddu's Mother | Hindi | |
| 2020 | Street Dancer 3D | Amrinder's Mother | Hindi | |
| 2021 | Mera Fauji Calling | Maaji | Hindi | |
| 2022 | Before You Die | | Hindi | |
| 2022 | Hero of Nation Chandra Shekhar Azad | Jagrani Devi | Hindi | |
| 2022 | Lalitham Sundaram | Mary Das | Malayalam | |
| 2022 | Virata Parvam | Ravi's mother | Telugu | |
| 2022 | Ishq Pashmina | | Hindi | |
| 2023 | Dasara | | Telugu | |
| 2023 | Lafzon Mein Pyaar | Devki | Hindi | |
| 2023 | Ajmer 92 | Urmila | Hindi | |
| 2023 | The Purvanchal Files | | Hindi | |
| 2024 | Devara: Part 1 | Devara's Mother | Telugu | |

### Television series

| Year | Serial | Role | Notes |
| 1999 | Naya Zamana | Dr.Shubhada Singh, Principal of college | |
| 2000 | Babul Ki Duwayen Leti Jaa | Prof Nafisa Siddiqui | |
| 2000 | Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi | Tulsi's Childhood friend | |
| 2001–2003 | Heena | Nagma Begum |
| 2002–2004 | Kammal | Rini Sanyaal | |
| 2004–2005 | Tumhari Disha | Suhasini Vijayendra Bhonsale | |
| 2005 | Kohinoor | Mrs Kohli, Iravati Mom | |
| 2006–2007 | Zaara | Sana Khan | |
| 2006–2009 | Kashmakash Zindagi Ki | Pooja's Mother | |
| 2007–2008 | Virrudh | Vasudha Mother | |
| 2009–2010 | Yahaaan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli | Pratibha Jagmohan Prasad | |
| 2012 | Savdhaan India | Rajjo | One Episode |
| 2012 | Sajda Tere Pyaar Mein | Mahendra Pratap Mother | |
| 2012–2013 | Madhubala Ek Ishq Ek Junoon | Meera Malik Sultan Mother | |
| 2014 | FIR | Bajrang Pandey's Mother | |
| 2014 | Zindagi Ek Bhanwar | Sharda Devi | |
| 2016 | Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hai | Ketki Gaikwad | |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Language | Network |
| 2016 | Love Life & Screw Ups | Honey | Hindi | |
| 2022 | Tanaav | Nabeela Riaz | Hindi | Sony Liv |
| 2023 | Taj: Divided by Blood | Salima Sultan Begum | Hindi | Zee5 |
| 2023 | Tooth Pari: When Love Bites | Mamta | Hindi | Netflix |
| 2023 | Kafas | Neelima | Hindi | Sony Liv |
| 2023 | P I Meena | Chandana Dey | Hindi | Amazon Prime Video |
| 2024 | Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: The Messiah | Azizunnisa Begum | Urdu | Apple TV |

## Awards and nominations

* Nominated–Filmfare Award for Best Actress (1977) for Gharonda