Shammi (actress)

Nargis Rabadi (24 April 1929 – 6 March 2018), better known by her stage name Shammi, was an Indian actress who appeared in over two hundred Hindi films.

Rabadi was born in 1929 in Bombay, India.

Her father was a priest in an agyari (Parsi fire temple) and died when she was around three years old.

After her father's death, her mother used to cook food at all the religious functions organized by the Parsi community to earn money.

They stayed in Tata Blocks in Parel, South Mumbai in 1930–47 period.

Her sister joined Johnson and Johnson as a secretary after completing her secondary school education.

In 1942, Johnson and Johnson manufactured tablets and Rabadi was employed in the packing department.

Her job was to collect the tablets that were not sealed in the tablet case, and had fallen off from the machine.

She had to put them into big bottles which would go to hospitals for free distribution to patients.

She was paid Rs 100 per month for doing this job.

Shammi got into films by chance.

A family friend was very friendly with actor and producer Sheikh Mukhtar.

At that time, Mukhtar was looking for an actress for the second lead, in a film he was to start with Begum Para as the main female lead.

He got her to meet Sheikh Mukhtar.

Mukhtar was concerned about her Hindi-speaking skills as she was a Parsi.

Shammi immediately told a worried Sheikh that she would be talking with him in Hindi and that he should point out any flaw if he was able to find any.

Sheikh Mukhtar was impressed with her.

The next day, she was called to Mahalaxmi studios for her screen test.

She was advised by director Tara Harish to change her name to "Shammi" as there was another actress named Nargis in the industry.

Her monthly salary was Rs 500.

She was asked to sign a three-year contract with a condition that she couldn't work outside without their permission.

Shammi remained a sought-after actress with filmmakers when it came to goofy and comic roles, especially in the period 1949–1969 and later from 1980–2002.

Her famous films as supporting actress included Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai, Half Ticket, Halaku, Samaj Ko Badal Dalo, Khuda Gawah, Coolie No. 1, Gopi Kishan and Hum Saath Saath Hain and films with Rajesh Khanna like The Train, Aanchal, Kudrat, Red Rose, Awara Baap and Swarg.

She had been a leading actress playing main female lead or second female lead in Hindi films between 1949–1955 as well.

She was just 18 when she signed for her first film, Ustad Pedro, in January 1949.

Ustad Pedro had Sheikh Mukhtar opposite Begum Para and Mukri as the comedian and it was directed by Tara Harish and this Begum Para-Sheikh Mukhtar starrer was a hit film at the box office in 1949.

She had to attend the studio every day and practice acting even when she had no shoot.

Shammi had to read dialogues of other films and Harish, the film's director taught her a lot of things since he was an actor himself.

Harish was directing another film produced by Mukesh, called Malhar.

Shammi was given the main lead in that film.

Since the director was the same, Shammi was allowed to work outside the Sheikh Mukthar banner.

She got good reviews for Malhar.

The movie's music was also a hit.

'Malhar' made Shammi a star.

Shammi was financially stable now, so they shifted to Bandra.

During the shooting of Malhar, she met Nargis Dutt through the latter's mother Jaddan bai.

Rabadi had an elder sister Mani Rabadi, who was a fashion designer and worked extensively with many actresses as their dress designer in Hindi films between 1967 and 1994.

Her mother's younger sister lived with her.

Later, from 1986 till 1998, she appeared in many popular television serials such as Dekh Bhai Dekh, Zabaan Sambhal Ke, Shriman Shrimati, Kabhi Yeh Kabhi Woh and Filmi Chakkar.

Shammi is the younger sister of fashion designer Mani Rabadi.