Zubeidaa(2001)
Zubeidaa is a 2001 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Shyam Benegal and written by Khalid Mohamed. The cast includes Karisma Kapoor, Rekha, Manoj Bajpayee, Surekha Sikri, Rajit Kapoor, and Amrish Puri. The story follows Zubeidaa, a young Muslim actress who marries a Hindu king, and her son Riyaz's later quest to uncover her true story. Set in 1940s India, the film explores the clash between personal freedom and rigid royal traditions. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi and earned Karisma Kapoor the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress. The film is regarded as one of Benegal's finest works and is the concluding chapter of his trilogy on Muslim women.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Prime Video, MX Player, ShemarooMe
- Theatrical Release
- 19 January 2001
- Director
- Shyam Benegal
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 33m
- Rating
- 5.7/10
Storyline
A young woman named Zubeidaa dreams of being an actress. Her father stops her and forces her into marriage. After a divorce, she marries a king. But palace life crushes her spirit. Her son later searches for the truth about her life and death.
“A love that destroyed them both.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Zubeidaa
Cast reunions in this film: Manoj Bajpai & Manoj Bajpayee (29 films together), Shakti Kapoor & Amrish Puri (24 films together), Shakti Kapoor & Karisma Kapoor (18 films together), Amrish Puri & Farida Jalal (11 films together), Rekha & Amrish Puri (8 films together), and Rekha & Shakti Kapoor (7 films together).
Trivia
- The film is based on the real-life story of Zubeida Begum, a famous actress from the 1940s.
- Karisma Kapoor learned to play the sitar for her role as the title character.
- The film's music was composed by A.R. Rahman, who recorded the songs in just five days.
- It was the first time Shyam Benegal directed a film with a mainstream Bollywood star like Karisma Kapoor.
- The movie features a cameo by Farida Jalal as the older version of Zubeidaa's mother.
- Many of the royal palace scenes were shot at actual locations in Rajasthan, India.
- The film did not perform well at the box office despite critical acclaim.