Tabassum

Tabassum (born Kiran Bala Sachdev (later Govil); 9 July 1944[1] – 18 November 2022), was an Indian actress, talk show host and YouTuber, who started her career as child actor Baby Tabassum in 1947. She later had a television career as the host of first TV talk show of Indian television, Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan. It ran on National broadcaster Doordarshan from 1972 to 1993, wherein she interviewed film and TV personalities.

For other uses, see Tabassum (disambiguation).

Tabassum
Born
Kiran Bala Sachdev

(1944-07-09)9 July 1944[1]
Bombay, Bombay Province, British India
Died18 November 2022(2022-11-18) (aged 78)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
NationalityIndian
Other namesBaby Tabassum
Occupation(s)Actress, Talk show host
Years active1947–2022
Known forPhool Khile Hain Gulshan Gushan (1972–1993)
SpouseVijay Govil
RelativesArun Govil (brother-in-law)

Early life and background

Tabassum was born in Mumbai, then known as Bombay, in 1944 to Ayodhyanath Sachdev, an Indian freedom fighter, and Asghari Begum, a freedom fighter, journalist and author. She explained how she was named in an interview in 2014:

My father named me 'Tabassum', keeping my mother's religious sentiments in mind. My mother kept my name 'Kiran Bala', keeping my father's religious sentiments in mind. My name on all official documents was 'Kiran Bala Sachdev'. After marriage, it became 'Kiran Bala Govil'. 'Tabassum' is my screen name; it means muskhurahat (smile).[2]

Career
AI upscaled image of Baby Tabassum (left) with Parikshit Sahni in the song "Bachpan Ke Din."

Tabassum made her film debut as a child actor with Nargis (1947) followed by Mera Suhaag (1947), Manjhdhar (1947) and Bari Behen (1949). Later in Deedar (1951), directed by Nitin Bose, she played the childhood role of Nargis; the hit song Bachpan Ke Din Bhula Na Dena sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Shamshad Begum was picturised on her.[3] Also, in the next year, she appeared in another important film Baiju Bawra (1952) directed by Vijay Bhatt, where she appeared in the childhood role of Meena Kumari. She also worked in the popular film Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon starring Joy Mukherjee and Asha Parekh. She also starred in the beautiful song 'Aji qibla mohtarma'. After a gap, she reentered films in adult roles, working as a character actress.[4]

Tabassum in the 1960s

Tabassum hosted the first talk show of Indian television, Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan, which ran for 21 years from 1972 to 1993. Produced by Doordarshan Kendra Mumbai, it was based on interviews of film celebrities and became immensely popular.[3][5] This also led to a career as stage compere.[6] She was also the editor of Grihalaxmi, a Hindi women's magazine for 15 years and wrote many joke books.[7]

In 1985, she directed, produced and wrote her first film, Tum Par Hum Qurban.[7] In 2006, she returned to television, as an actress in Pyaar Ke Do Naam: Ek Raadha, Ek Shyaam, produced by Rajshri Productions.[3] She became a judge in a reality stand-up comedy show Ladies Special (2009) on Zee TV.[4]

Tabassum in 1995

Tabassum continued to work as an interviewer for television and was doing a TV show on TV Asia USA and Canada titled Abhi Toh Main Jawaan Hoon based on the Golden Era of Hindi Cinema.[8] In 2016, she launched her channel on YouTube, titled "TabassumTalkies" Produced and Directed by her son Hoshang Govil who is carrying her legacy by hosting Tabassum Talkies which consists of nostalgic talks, interviews of celebrities, shayaris, jokes and more.[9] Subsequently she returned to television with "Tab Aur Ab" in 2020.[10]

Personal life

Tabassum was married to Vijay Govil, elder brother of television actor Arun Govil. Their son Hoshang Govil had brief career as a lead in three films Tum Par Hum Qurbaan (1985), which was produced and directed by Tabassum and introduced Johnny Lever for the first time on screen as a comedian, Kartoot (1987) and Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeah (1996) produced by Zee TV and directed by J Om Prakash (grandfather of Hrithik Roshan). In 2009, her granddaughter Khushi (daughter of Hoshang) made her film debut with Hum Phir Mile Na Mile.[6]

Death and tributes

Tabassum suffered from gastrointestinal issues in her last days.[11] She was admitted in hospital but passed away on 18 November 2022, after suffering two successive cardiac arrests. She was 78.[12] Various celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan,[13] Twinkle Khanna, Adnan Sami,[14] Asha Parekh, Waheeda Rehman, Deepti Naval and others condoled her death.[15] Milk brand Amul gave Tabassum a tribute with a special doodle.[16]

Filmography

Films

Television

Source(s): [17][18]

Web
  • Tabassum Talkies (2016–2022, YouTube)

References
  1. "We Will Miss You". Tabassum Talkies, YouTube. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  2. "Nargis, Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Suraiya... they all loved me". Rediff.com. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  3. Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty (21 April 2006). "The darling of all". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 May 2006. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  4. "Want a golden belan?". DNA India. 23 June 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2013. In her late 60s, ...
  5. Conjugations: Marriage and Form in New Bollywood Cinema, Sangita Gopal, pp. 3, University of Chicago Press, 2012, ISBN 9780226304274, "... Further, Hindi film became far more integrated with other forms of media – as exemplified by the proliferation of film magazines such as Filmfare, Stardust, and Cine Blaze, as well as the phenomenal popularity of television shows such as Chitrahaar and Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan..."
  6. "Tabassum's granddaughter in B'wood". The Times of India. 18 June 2009. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  7. "Lost and found: Thirty newsmakers from the pages of Indian history and where they are now: Cover Story". India Today. 3 July 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  8. "Tabassum opposes fake doctor's plea". DNA India. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  9. "From Doordarshan to YouTube: Actor Tabassum on keeping up with the times". Hindustan Times. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  10. "Two worlds, one story". Twitter. 8 February 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  11. "Arun Govil on sister-in-law Tabassum's death: It was her wish to not inform anyone about her demise for at least 2 days". Hindustan Times. 20 November 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  12. "Veteran actor Tabassum dies due to cardiac arrest". Dev Discourse. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  13. "Day 5394". Tumblr. 20 November 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  14. "To Tabassum Govil, Tributes From Twinkle Khanna, Adnan Sami And Other Celebs". NDTV. 20 November 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  15. "Tribute to Tabassum: Her son, industry friends and colleague share fond memories". Free Press Journal. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  16. "Tribute to the legendary actress and TV show host". Facebook. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  17. "When Bollywood stars would queue outside Doordarshan office to be on Tabassum's show Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan". Hindustan Times. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  18. "Tabassum back on TV!". Tellychakkar.com. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
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