Shakila was an Indian Actress, Best known for her roles in Guru Datt’s films : Aar Par (1954) and C. I. D. (1956). Shakila known by the title ‘Arbi Chehra’ (Arabian Princess), having starred in numerous mythological and fantasy films.

Kardar offered Shakila the chance to act in Dastaan (1949). She made her debut as a child artist in the film, which starred Suraiya. She quickly acted in another film with Suraiya titled Duniya (1949). After working in some routine films in secondary roles including Gumasta (1951), Sindbad the Sailor (1952), Rajrani Damyanti (1952), Aagosh (1953), Shahenshah (1953), Raj Mahal (1953), Armaan (1953).

Shakila’s aunt was managing her career and she didn’t want Shakila to be typecast in fantasy films, so she quoted a large sum of Rs.10000 for Alibaba and Forty Thieves (1954) thinking it would dissuade the producer from casting her, but he agreed and she acted in the film. It became a hit.

In Guru Datt’s film Aar – Paar (1954), she played the other woman in Guru Datt’s life, the cabaret dancer, who is disdained by society and is a complex and embittered person. Aar – Paar was a super hit film and its best songs were picturized on Shakila. Shakila first caught the eye playing a night club dance who ends up losing the man she loves Guru Datta breezy musical with a dark touch. As she swayed with abandon amidst cigarette fumes singing, “Babuji Dheere Chalna”, an O. P. Nayyar – Geeta Dutt classic, warning the hero about the perils of life and love, V. K. Murty’s enticing light and shade photography deftly captured the enticing mood of the moment. The song became a signature moment in her career.

Datt was impressed with Shakila’s performance to respect her in Raj Khosla’s C. I. D. (1956). The scenes of wooing in C. I. D, where Dev Anand follows her all over Bombay and pays off two Street Singers to croon “Leke Pehla Pehla Pyaar” became a template for hundreds of similar numbers in popular Hindi Cinema.

Shakila was reduced to B – grade mythological and fantasy films and she earned the title “Arbi Chehra” (Arabian Princess) from the film fraternity. She acted in Lalpari (1954), Veer Rajputani (1955), Roop Kumari (1956), Agra Road (1957), Al-Hilal (1958) etc. She played a ethereal fairy in “Hatim Tai” (1956), which is an A-grade color hit film, based on an Arabian Nights Tale.

In 1958, she starred opposite Sunil Datt in suspense / thriller “Post Box 999”. Two other interesting films in her career were : Raj Kapoor’s 1960s social drama film “Shriman Satyavadi” and “Begunah” (1957), where she was paired opposite Kishore Kumar. The movie was a copy of Hollywood Comic Actor Danny Kaye’s film, “Knock on the Wood”. It was a very good comedy. Unfortunately, a week after the film was released, Danny Kaye came to Bombay and heard the movie was based on his film and had it banned.

During the course of her fourteen year career, she appeared in more than 50 films with well-known actors and directors.

Photo courtesy Google. Excerpts taken from Google.