Suraiya Jamaal Sheikh, also known as Suraiya, was born on June 15, 1929, in Lahore and was a playback singer and actress. She was a leading star of Indian films during the 1940s and 1950s. She moved with her family to Mumbai when she was about one year old. Her maternal uncle, M. Zahoor, was an actor in the Bombay film industry and helped introduce her to the world of cinema. She began her acting career as a child artist and later became a major leading lady. She also began singing in films at a young age, making her singing debut in Nai Dunya (1942). She appeared in 67 films and recorded approximately 338 songs. Some of her most acclaimed films include Anmol Ghadi, Mirza Ghalib, and Rustam Sohrab. Her songs, including “Socha Tha Kya, Kya Ho Gaya,” “Dil-e-Nadaan Tujhe Hua Kya Hai,” and “Yeh Kaisi Ajab Dastan,” helped establish her as one of the era's most popular singer-actresses. After appearing in Rustam Sohrab in 1963, she retired from films at the age of 34. She spent her later years living largely away from the spotlight in Mumbai. She died on January 31, 2004.
