An Intimate Photo-Shoot With India's First Glamour Queen Circa 1951

Begum ParaJames Burke, for Life Magazine

Bollywood’s glitz and glamour has never failed to fascinate the spectators. This larger than life industry, or as it is portrayed, has always aroused curiosity and wonder in those who look in from the outside. Most, however, are unaware of the reality behind the scenes – casual everyday challenges like sexism, objectification and class hierarchies. Life Magazine’s celebrated photographer, James Burke was one of the few people who got to go behind the scenes and capture screen tests and profiles of actresses in stunning photo shoots. One of the actresses featured was none other than the iconic heroine Begum Para, a celebrated actress in the 1940s and 50’s. She made her comeback with her role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya as Sonam Kapoor’s grandmother after a hiatus of almost 50 years.

Dressed in a gorgeous, plain white sari and white blouse, glamour queen Begum Para posed boldly in front of Burke’s lens back in 1951. Her sensuous, intimate photographs have made headlines ever since. Even today, these vintage sepia-tinted black and white pictures continue to fascinate us with her beauty and serve as an ode to the icon she was.