Farrukh Jaffar (1935-2021) was a veteran Indian actor best known as the first announcer of Akashvani Lucknow. He is also known for his modified acting skills in many popular Bollywood films such as Umrao Jaan (1981), Swades (2004), Peepli Live (2010), Sultan (2016), and Gulabo Sitabo (2020). He died in October 2021 after he suffered a stroke at the age of 88.
Wiki/Biography
Farrukh Jaffar was born in 1935 (age 88 years; at time of death) in Chakesar village, Jaunpur district, British Union Territory of India (now, Uttar Pradesh, India). Growing up in a feudal family in Jaunpur, Jaffar was inclined towards art and literature at a very early age. Since childhood, he is interested in watching movies, and he is always updated about new releases. After getting married at the age of thirteen, she gave birth to two daughters. When Jaffar comes to Lucknow from the suburbs as a teenage bride, in her charming way, she becomes well-loved by her in-laws. While in Lucknow, Jaffar graduated from Lucknow University. Although she does what every Indian woman does, such as cooking, cleaning, and other household chores, she always has a spark for performing arts, which makes her one of the most versatile method actors in India.
Family
Farrukh Jaffar belonged to a Muslim family consisting of feudal lords (Zamindars) of Jaunpur. She married Syed Muhammad Jaffar in 1948. Syed Muhammad Jaffar was an Indian freedom fighter and prominent journalist who later became a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) of the Congress Party in Uttar Pradesh. Jaffar is survived by two daughters, Mehru Jaffer, who is a published author and journalist, and Shaheen, who runs a school.
Career
Radio
It was the early 60s, Jaffar had just graduated from Lucknow University, and by chance, he got a job as an announcer at All India Radio Lucknow in 1963. Jaffar accompanied one of his friends to the radio station for an audition, and after seeing the recording rooms, microphones, and studios, Jaffar became so fascinated that he asked GM Shaw, a family friend who was a producer at the time, if he could also audition, and after the audition, he was chosen on the spot together with Parveen Talha and one Mr. Sinha, and the rest is history. Farrukh Jaffar later became the first broadcaster of Akashvani Lucknow. While talking about it in an interview, he said,
Don’t know why people call me the first female radio announcer. I was the first when Vividh Bharti station started in Lucknow. Along with Parveen Talha and one Sinhaji, we were selected in the first lot.”
While working as an announcer at Akashvani Lucknow, he wrote several plays and acted those roles on air. One of his most popular shows ‘Geeton Bhari Kahani’ is a fusion of fictional and Bollywood songs. Jaffar’s other show ‘Program Panchrangi’ also became very popular, and Jaffar became a household name with his one-liners –
“Aap ab suniye all india radio ka panchrangi program akashwani”
Jaffar worked at Akashvani Lucknow until 1966, and later, she moved to Delhi where her husband took a job as a reporter with the Chicago Daily News followed by The Washington Post. Jaffar’s deep love for drama and films took him to Vividh Bharti in Delhi, where he met Manzoor Lamin (station director), who immediately offered him a job, and he joined Vividh Bharti at All India Radio Delhi. Soon, he was promoted as the most senior adviser in the Urdu Foreign Service, he worked there till 1970. Due to family reasons, he quit his job at AIR Delhi and returned to his hometown. In an interview, he talked about this. He said,
Delhi humko raas nahi aai. Kuch gharelu masle the…So, I had to go to my mother in Chakesar (Jaunpur) to settle things at my nanihal (maternal grandmother’s house).”
Theater & Drama
Farrukh Jaffar attended several acting workshops by Ebrahim Alkazi, one of the most famous directors from the Delhi National School of Drama and one of the most influential stage directors and drama teachers of the 20th century. Under the guidance of Ebrahim Alkazi, Jaffar played the role of a mother in the Urdu translation of Luigi Pirandello’s Italian play ‘Six Characters in search of an Author.’
Television
Farrukh Jaffar is also known for his work in many popular television shows such as ‘Husn-e-Jana,’ ‘Adha Gaon,’ ‘The Shawl,’ and ‘Neem Ka Ped’ (1991).
Movie
Farrukh Jaffar started his Bollywood career in 1981 when he played Rekha’s mother in Umrao Jaan. He got the role by chance when he modeled Purdil Kaka, a man from Jaffar village who used to speak in ‘dehati’ (village) dialect with reference to people with unique names like Karia, ‘Bachwa’ and ‘Banmanus. ‘ While improvising Purdil Kaka’s accent in his own way at a family function, he was discovered by Muzzaffar Ali who immediately offered him a role in the film Umrao Jaan. At first, he was hesitant to venture into a career in Bollywood, but his deep love for Bollywood movies made him decide to try acting. In an interview, he uttered his favorite dialogue from Umrao Jaan –
जाने क्या धुन्दती रहती है ये अग्यण …. मुज राच के देर में न शोले हैन न चिंगारी”
After her debut in Umrao Jaan, she was offered Swades (2004) 23 years later. In Swades, her role as ‘Panch Fatima Bi’ received critical acclaim. In an interview, while talking about Swades, Jaffar recalled his famous dialogue from the film –
उस चोकरे से केहना, बर्फ का मुक्डडर होता है प्री ही पानी में गुज्ञा जाना”
Farrukh Jaffar (far right) in Swades
After Swades, she didn’t look back, and she went on to appear in many popular Bollywood films, such as Aamir Khan’s Peepli Live, Prakash Jha’s Chakravyuh, Salman Khan’s Sultan, and Tanu Weds Manu’s Kangana Ranaut. He also won critical acclaim for films like Parched (2015), Barefoot to Goa (2013), and Amma Ki Boli (2012). In 2013, he appeared in the film ‘Anwar Ka Ajab Qissa’ with Nawazuddin Siddiqui; the film is directed by renowned poet, essayist, novelist, and filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta. Among all his performances, Farrukh Jaffar is famous for his role of ‘Amma’ in Peepli Live. Amma’s character smokes beedi and utters expletives, making her one of the most adored characters from the film.
Farrukh Jaffar in Peepli Live
For the role of ‘Amma’ in Peepli Live, he was also nominated for the Apsara Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Farrukh has worked in many other famous films such as The House Next Door (2017), Secret Superstar (2017), and Photograph (2019). In 2019, he was involved in Sandeep Kumar’s film “Mehrunissa,” which was his first film as a protagonist.
Sandeep Kumar and Farrukh Jaffar shooting for the film Mehrunissa in Lucknow
Farrukh Jaffar received praise for his performance in the Bollywood film Gulabo Sitabo where he appeared as ‘Begum’ alongside megastar Amitabh Bachchan.
Farrukh Jaffar in Gulabo Sitabo
Favourite
Death
On October 15, 2021, Farrukh Jaffar, at the age of 88, breathed his last after he suffered a stroke at his residence in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow.
Facts/Trivia
- Farrukh Jaffar is also known as Farrukh Jaffer and Farrokh Jaffer.
- When she came to Lucknow as a teenage bride, she secretly went to the roof to listen to the speakers on the jeep announcing the arrival of the latest film because at that time, brides were not allowed to go on the roof or the streets. Once, in the process, he accidentally dropped a brick that fell on his 8-year-old brother-in-law’s head.
- She did her studies after marriage and graduated from Lucknow University.
- Jaffar’s stint as an announcer at All India Lucknow was a turning point in his life.
- He started his career as a radio announcer purely as a hobby because he was very talkative, and he liked to interact with people.
- When Jaffar started his career as a radio announcer in Lucknow, his youthful voice and charisma attracted people.
- He was in awe of the city of Lucknow, where he spent more than five decades of his life. While talking about Lucknow, once he quoted –
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!”
- Although Farrukh Jaffar had no formal training, he was an A1 category announcer in India in the 1960s and ’70s.
- After quitting her job at AIR Delhi, she became the head woman of Chakesar village in Jaunpur district, where she got an opportunity to interact with people and resolve their day-to-day disputes.
- She shares a very close bond with popular Bollywood actress Rekha who played the role of Jaffar’s daughter in Umaro Jaan. During a private party in Mumbai, Rekha introduced Jaffar to everyone present at the event and told them –
Ye meri asli maa hai.”
Farrukh Jaffar with Rekha
- He considers Muzaffar Ali as his godfather who saw his talent and offered him a role in his debut film, Umrao Jaan.
- Reportedly, he has never knocked on any filmmaker’s door nor has he ever had a PRO do so.
- Farrukh is known for his extempore dialogues, which have a rustic appeal and have become his specialty and trademark.
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
