Shammi (actress)

Shammi
Shammi at the Khap Film Press Meet
Born	Nargis Rabadi 1931 (age 85–86) Bombay, India
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1949–2013

Shammi (born as Nargis Rabadi in 1931) is an Indian film actress who appeared in over two hundred Hindi films. Shammi remained a sought after with filmmakers when it came to goofy and comic roles especially in the period 1949-1969 and later from 1980-2002. She has been a leading actress playing main female lead or second female lead in Hindi films between 1949-1955 as well. Later since 1986 till 1998 she appeared in many popular television serials like Dekh Bhai Dekh, Zabaan Sambhal Ke, Shriman Shrimati, Kabhi Yeh Kabhi Woh and Filmi Chakkar.

Rabadi was born in 1931 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 the food at all the religious functions organized by the Parsi community to earn money. 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 1967-1994. Her mother's younger sister lived with her. 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.

Rabadi got into films by chance. A family friend Chinuu Mama was working with filmmaker Mehboob Khan. Chinuu 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. Chinnu Mama asked Rabadi whether she would like to join films and asked her to meet Sheikh Mukthar in the studios the next day. Mukhtar was concerned about her Hindi-speaking skills as she was a Parsi. Rabadi immediately told a worried Sheikh that she would be talking with him in Hindi itself, and that he should point out any flaw if he was able to find any. Sheikh Mukhtar was quite shocked but was impressed. The next day, she was called to Mahalaxmi studios for her screen test for a film. 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. She was just 18 when she signed 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.