| Kumari Naaz | |
| Birthname: | Salma Baig |
| Othername: | Baby Naaz, Kumari Naaz |
| Birth Date: | 20 August 1944 |
| Birth Place: | Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India |
| Occupation: | Actress |
| Notable Works: | Boot Polish (1954) |
| Spouse: | Subbiraj |
Salma Baig (20 August 1944 - 19 October 1995) popularly known as Kumari Naaz or Baby Naaz was an Indian actress in Hindi language films.[1]
She started her career as a child actor in films. Her best remembered role as a child artiste was in R. K. Films’ Boot Polish (1954) and Bimal Roy's Devdas.[2] She earned rave reviews for her earnest natural performance from The New York Times and a special distinction (along with co-actor Rattan Kumar) from Cannes Film Festival in 1955, where the film was shown in competition.[3] [4]
In 1958, a Hindi film adaptation called Do Phool (Two Flowers) was released based on the Swiss literary novel/ icon Heidi. The role of Heidi – called Poornima in the film – was played by Baby Naaz who was one of the most famous child stars at the time along with Master Romi.[5]
She matured into a character actress and bagged good roles in films like Bahu Begum, Kati Patang and Sachaa Jhutha (where she played Rajesh Khanna's physically challenged sister).[6]
She later transitioned into a second career as a dubbing artiste. Before Sridevi started using her own voice, Kumari Naaz dubbed for her in the early Hindi hits of the 1980s.[15]
She married actor Subbiraj (cousin of veteran actor Raj Kapoor) in 1965 and continued working. The two had acted together in Mera Ghar Mere Bachche (1960) and Dekha Pyar Tumhara (1963).[16] She was later diagnosed with terminal illness of the liver and died in 1995.[17]
Her films include:[18]
| Year | Film | Character/Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Apna Desh Paraye Log | |
| 1989 | Pyase Nain | Dr. Bharti |
| 1986 | Bhai Ka Dushman Bhai | |
| 1986 | Sheesha | Pramila (as Naaz) |
| 1984 | Phulwari | Shobha |
| 1984 | Boxer | Mrs. Khatau (as Naaz) |
| 1982 | Bhai Aakhir Bhai Hota Hai | |
| 1982 | Lallu's Wife | |
| 1982 | Shriman Shrimati (as Naaz) | |
| 1980 | Bambai Ka Maharaja | Mary |
| 1978 | Kaala Aadmi (as Naaz) | |
| 1978 | Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (as Naaz) | |
| 1978 | Phandebaaz | Princess Ratna |
| 1978 | Bhola Bhala | Sarla (as Naaz) |
| 1977 | Chakkar Pe Chakkar | Mrs. Babu (as Naaz) |
| 1977 | Niyaz Aur Namaaz | Sayeeda |
| 1977 | Karm | Kammo |
| 1976 | Aap Beati | Sheela Jumani |
| 1976 | Bairaag | Vimla (as Naaz) |
| 1976 | Do Khiladi | Dancer during Qawwali |
| 1975 | Do Jhoot | Vandana's Sister (as Naaz) |
| 1975 | Sanyasi | Savitri (uncredited) |
| 1975 | Sewak | Neeru |
| 1974 | Do Aankhen | |
| 1974 | Paise Ki Gudiya | Neela Gupta |
| 1974 | Woh Main Nahin | |
| 1974 | Amba (as Naaz) | |
| 1974 | Friend | Kalyani Sharma (as Naaz) |
| 1973 | Samjhauta | Champa (as Naaz) |
| 1973 | Raja Rani | Patron's Wife (as Naaz) |
| 1972 | Shaadi Ke Baad | Savitri B. Singh |
| 1972 | Shor | Shankar's Sister (as Naaz) |
| 1972 | Wafaa | Meera (as Naaz) |
| 1971 | Kamla G. Din (as Naaz) | |
| 1971 | Rajkumari Rupa | |
| 1971 | Gauri (as Naaz) | |
| 1971 | Haathi Mere Saathi | Paro (as Naaz) |
| 1970 | Himmat | Banthu (as Naaz) |
| 1970 | Kati Patang | Poonam (uncredited) |
| 1970 | Sachcha Jhutha | Belu (as Naaz) |
| 1970 | Rootha Na Karo | Naina |
| 1969 | Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke | Sangeeta Y. Singh |
| 1969 | Jahan Pyar Miley | |
| 1969 | Raja Saab | Hameshbahar |
| 1968 | Juari | Princess Sabita |
| 1968 | Nadir Shah | |
| 1967 | Bahu Begum | Suraiya (as Naaz) |
| 1967 | Chhaila Babu | Meena |
| 1965 | Saiyan Se Neha Lagaibe (as Naaz) | |
| 1964 | Baghi | |
| 1964 | Chandi Ki Deewar | |
| 1964 | Char Dervesh | Princess Hamida |
| 1964 | Hercules | |
| 1964 | Kaise Kahoon | Anita Laxmichand |
| 1964 | Majboor | Seema |
| 1963 | Bidesiya | Parvati |
| 1963 | Dekha Pyaar Tumhara | |
| 1963 | Mere Arman Mere Sapne | Shanti |
| 1963 | Mujhe Jeene Do | Chauthi Begum (as Naaz) |
| 1963 | Pyar Ka Bandhan | Sona (as Naaz) |
| 1962 | Man-Mauji | Laxmi |
| 1962 | Gangu | |
| 1961 | Ganga Jumna | Young Dhanno (as Naaz) |
| 1961 | Zindagi Aur Khwab | Rasila |
| 1960 | Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai | Munni |
| 1960 | Mera Ghar Mere Bachche | Meena |
| 1960 | Lambe Haath | |
| 1960 | Maa Baap | Pratima (as Naaz) |
| 1959 | Four Faces of India (as Baby Naaz) | |
| 1959 | Heera Moti | Roopnandan's Daughter (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1959 | Kangan | Secretary |
| 1959 | Pramila Sinha (as Baby Naaz) | |
| 1959 | Ardhangini | Dancer / Singer |
| 1959 | Bhai Bahen | Soni K. Rai (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1958 | Do Phool | Poornima (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1958 | Ghar Grihasti | |
| 1958 | Ghar Sansar | Asha |
| 1958 | Renu (as Baby Naaz) | |
| 1958 | Yahudi | Young Lydia (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1958 | Miss 58 | |
| 1957 | Musafir | Munni (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1957 | Payal | Padma (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1956 | Diwali Ki Raat (as Naaz) | |
| 1956 | Ek Shola | Usha (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1956 | Rajdhani | |
| 1956 | Ek Hi Rasta | Girl in Raja's birthday (singing "Bade Bhaiya Laya Hai") (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1955 | Kundan | Young Radha / Young Uma (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1955 | Lagan (as Baby Naaz) | |
| 1955 | Mast Qalandar | |
| 1955 | Patit Pawan | |
| 1955 | Raftar (as Baby Naaz) | |
| 1955 | Young Parvati (as Baby Naaz) | |
| 1955 | Hatimtai Ki Beti (as Naaz) | |
| 1954 | Chandni Chowk (as Baby Naaz) | |
| 1954 | Subah Ka Tara | Heera |
| 1954 | Boot Polish | Belu (as Baby Naaz) |
| 1954 | Shama Parwana (as Naaz) | |
| 1953 | Gunah (as Baby Naaz) | |
| 1950 | Rupaiya (as Baby Naaz) | |