In the golden era of Hindi cinema, few stars shone as brightly as Nimi, whose real name was Nawab Bano. Born into a Muslim family in Agra, her life embodied simplicity, resilience, and unwavering principles. As we approach her birth anniversary on February 18, let’s uncover the charming tale behind her unique name and her iconic role as Mangla in the classic film ‘Aan’.
Nimi’s grandfather, a modest landowner, harbored a lifelong ambition to earn the title of ‘Nawab’ from the British government. Despite his persistent efforts, the honor never came. When Nimi was born, joy swept through the household. Her grandmother rushed to her grandfather with the good news: ‘Congratulations, it’s a baby girl!’ Without hesitation, he declared, ‘Name her Nawab right away – give her the title I’ve always wanted!’ When reminded she was a girl, he insisted it didn’t matter. Thus, she became Nawab Bano, a name reflecting her grandfather’s unfulfilled dream.
Entering films, Raj Kapoor rechristened her Nimi, perfectly suiting her innocent charm. She dazzled in timeless hits like ‘Barsaat’, ‘Deedar’, ‘Aan’, ‘Udan Khatola’, ‘Kundan’, and ‘Basant Bahar’. Her portrayal of Mangla, the spirited village girl in Mehboob Khan’s 1952 epic ‘Aan’, captivated audiences nationwide. The film’s international premiere at London’s Rialto Theatre, released as ‘Savage Princess’, marked a milestone, with Nimi in attendance.
Nicknamed India’s ‘Unkissed Girl’, Nimi never shared a screen kiss, staying true to her values. At the ‘Aan’ premiere, she politely refused a director’s attempt to kiss her hand. Hollywood offers tempted her, but she turned them down to uphold her principles. Orphaned young and without formal schooling, Nimi’s grit propelled her to stardom. Raj Kapoor spotted her on the set of ‘Andaz’, cast her in ‘Barsaat’, and eased her nerves by letting her tie him a rakhi.
Nimi’s legacy endures, a testament to talent triumphing over adversity. Her story reminds us that true stardom lies in character as much as craft.