Farrukh Jaffar Age, Death, Husband, Children, Family, Biography & More StarsUnfolded

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Hometown: Lucknow

Husband: Syed Muhammad Jaffar

Age: 88 Years

Some Lesser Known Facts About Farrukh Jaffar

Farrukh Jaffar was an Indian actress who is best known for being one of the noted announcers, actors, and dramatists of her times.

She grew up in an affluent environment as she belonged to a Zamindar (feudal lords) Muslim family of Jaunpur.

Although in those times, people with Victorian values and feudal mindset were sceptical about women working in the entertainment industry, Farrukh defied all the barriers and went on to carve a niche for herself in the industry. In fact, for a daughter of an affluent Zamindar family, it was considered taboo to work in films.

Since childhood, Farrukh was attracted to creative activities like theatre and films.

During her teenage and most of her adulthood, she used to enjoy needlework, knitting, and gardening.

At the age of thirteen, she got married to Syed Muhammad Jaffar who was an Indian freedom fighter. After India’s independence, her husband also tried his hand in politics and became a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) in Uttar Pradesh on a Congress’ ticket.

After arriving as a teenage bride in Lucknow, she became very dear to her in-laws. During her stay at her in-laws home in Lucknow, she loved to hear the loudspeaker on the jeep announcing the arrival of the latest films from the rooftop. However, in those times, it was a taboo for women to go on the rooftop. Once, when she went to the rooftop secretly, she accidentally dropped a brick on her 8-year-old brother-in-law’s head.

While in Lucknow, on the recommendation of her husband, Jaffar attended Lucknow University where she did her graduation.

Apart from doing all the chores that a typical Indian woman does, like cooking and cleaning, Farrukh never let her aspirations die silently, and she went on to accomplish her dreams.

After graduating from Lucknow University, she joined All India Radio Lucknow as an announcer in 1963. In fact, she landed this job by chance as she had accompanied one of her friends for the auditions at All India Radio Lucknow where she got mesmerised by seeing the recording room, mic, and studio, and she asked GM Shaw, the then producer at All India Radio Lucknow who was also her family friend, that if she could also give the audition, and after she was allowed to give the audition, she was selected instantly along with Parveen Talha and one Mr Sinha.

After landing a job at All India Radio Lucknow, Farrukh Jaffar became the announcer of Akashvani Lucknow. In an interview, while talking about it, she said,
Don’t know why people address me as the first female radio announcer. I was the first when Vividh Bharti station began in Lucknow. Along with Parveen Talha and one Sinhaji, we were selected in the first lot.”

While working at Akashvani Lucknow, Farrukh Jaffar wrote many plays for its several shows including ‘Geeton Bhari Kahani.’ which was a blend of fiction and Bollywood songs. Among her most popular shows, ‘Panchrangi program’ was one of them, which made her a household name. Her one-liner for ‘Panchrangi program’ became very popular –
Aap ab suniye all india radio ka panchrangi program akashwani”

After working in Akashvani Lucknow till 1966, Farrukh shifted to Delhi where her husband had taken up a job as a correspondent with the Chicago Daily News followed by The Washington Post.

While in Delhi, Jaffar met Manzoor Lamin who was the station director at Vividh Bharti, and who offered her to join the Vividh Bharti at Delhi’s All India Radio, which she happily accepted, and soon, she was promoted as a senior most anchor in the Urdu External Services.

Farrukh Jaffar worked with Vividh Bharti at Delhi’s All India Radio till 1970. Thereafter, she quit her job at AIR Delhi and returned to her hometown where she had to resolve some family issues, and where she became the head woman of Chakesar village in Jaunpur district. While talking about it, Jaffar says –
Delhi humko raas nahi aai. Kuch gharelu masle the…So, I had to go my mother in Chakesar (Jaunpur) to sort out things in my nanihal (maternal grandmother’s house).”

She attended a few acting workshops by one of the most famous directors from Delhi’s National School of Drama, Ebrahim Alkazi, who is also considered one of the most influential stage directors and drama teachers of the 20th century. While taking lessons of acting under Ebrahim Alkazi, Farrukh played the role of a mother in the Urdu translation of Luigi Pirandello’s Italian play ‘Six Characters in search of an Author.’

Jaffar is also known for her remarkable performances in many popular television shows such as Husn-e-Jana,’ ‘Adha Gaon,’ ‘The Shawl,’ and ‘Neem Ka Ped’ (1991).

Jaffar landed the role of Rekha‘s mother in the Bollywood classic Umrao Jaan (1981) by a chance when Muzaffar Ali spotted her at a family gathering, where she was improvising Purdil Kaka’s accent in her own way. Purdil Kaka was a person from her village who used to talk in a ‘dehati’ (rustic) dialect by referring to people with unique names like ‘Karia,’ ‘Bachwa,’ and ‘Banmanus.’ Jaffar considers Muzaffar Ali as her godfather for giving her a role in Umrao Jaan. Here’s a popular dialogue of Farrukh Jaffar from Umrao Jaan –
जाने क्या ढूँढती रहती है ये आँखें …. मुझ राख के ढेर में न शोले हैं न चिंगारी”
Farrukh Jaffar (right) in Umrao Jaan

After a long time of Umrao Jaan, when she met Rekha at a private party in Mumbai, Rekha introduced Jaffar as her real mother, she said –
Ye meri asli maa hai.”
Farrukh Jaffar With Rekha

After Umrao Jaan, Jaffar appeared in a Bollywood film after 23 years when she played the role of ‘Panch Fatima Bi’ in Swades (2004). Here’s a famous dialogue of Farrukh Jafar from Swades –
उस छोकरे से कहना, बर्फ का मुकद्दर होता है अपनी ही पानी में पिघल जाना”
Farrukh Jaffar in Swades

Jaffar is also known for her remarkable performances in the films Amma Ki Boli (2012), Barefoot to Goa (2013), and Parched (2015).
Farrukh Jaffar in Barefoot to Goa

Farrukh Jaffar is one of the few actors in Bollywood who have worked with all the three Khans – Shah Rukh Khan (Swades), Aamir Khan (Peepli Live), and Salman Khan (Sultan).

In 2013, Farrukh appeared in Buddhadeb Dasgupta’s acclaimed film ‘Anwar Ka Ajab Qissa’ alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

Although Farrukh was noticeable in all her performances, she is best known for playing the role of ‘Amma’ in Peepli Live (2010). For Amma’s role, Jaffar was also nominated for the Apsara Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
Farrukh Jaffar in Peepli Live

Jaffar is also known for her critical performances in the films House Next Door (2017), Secret Superstar (2017), and Photograph (2019).
Farrukh Jaffar in Photograph

In 2019, Farrukh appeared in Sandeep Kumar’s film “Mehrunissa.” This is the first film of Farrukh Jaffar as a protagonist.
Farrukh Jaffar in Mehrunissa

In 2020, Farrukh played the role of ‘Begum’ in the film ‘Gulabo Sitabo’ alongside Amitabh Bachchan. She received huge appreciation for her performance in the film.
Farrukh Jaffar in Gulabo Sitabo

Farrukh always believed in natural acting, which is reflected in her extempore performances in various films. Reportedly, she never used glycerine or applied cosmetics to enhance her performance.

Farrukh Jaffar couldn’t talk enough while appreciating the beauty of Lucknow. In an interview, while talking about her stay in Lucknow, she said,
I have lived in ‘Naya’ Lucknow all my life, away from the Old City — Hazratganj, 40-odd years in Lawrence Terrace and now Gomti Nagar…tab to yahan kuch bhi nahi tha!”

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