She was the first Indian star to own a Rolls-Royce car. Raj Kapoor's co-star passed away alone

Remember the yesteryear siren who shook her legs to the sensuous song ‘Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh Mud Mud Ke’ in the Raj Kapoor-starrer ‘ Shree 420’? Florence Ezekiel, aka the luminous Nadira, captured the Indian audience’s attention as Maya, a sultry temptress, in the 1955 blockbuster. Nadira made a name for herself as Bollywood’s first vamp. At her peak, she was known for essaying bold, unapologetic women living on the edge.

A Childhood Rooted in Mumbai

Biographical accounts note that Nadira was born on December 5, 1932, in Baghdad, Iraq, to a Baghdadi Jewish family. Her family, led by her father, Ezekiel, moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) when she was still an infant, seeking better opportunities in business. As documented by early film records, Nadira entered cinema in 1943 as a child performer in Mauj at the tender age of 10 or 11.

Mehboob Khan’s Recognition

Her real breakthrough came when Sardar Akhtar, the wife of acclaimed filmmaker Mehboob Khan, noticed her potential. As chronicled in Mehboob Khan’s studio archives, Nadira was offered the role of a Rajput princess in Aan (1952). Sharing screen space with the legendary Dilip Kumar, this debut established her as an actress of substance. Film scholars often note that this collaboration with Mehboob Khan placed her in the right circle at a pivotal moment in cinema, years before Khan would immortalize himself with Mother India.

Shree 420 and the Burden of Typecasting

Raj Kapoor’s offer to play Maya in Shree 420 shaped her identity in cinema forever. Contemporary reviews from the 1950s reveal that Nadira accepted the role eagerly because it meant working with Kapoor, a dream for any young actress of that era. Although she wanted to be a heroine, her portrayal of Maya was so impactful that it left her typecast as the eternal vamp. In later interviews, as reported by mainstream media, Nadira admitted that while she had accepted the role as a challenge, it ultimately became her “Waterloo,” since filmmakers continued offering her similar characters.

“I took up Shree 420 for a lark but it became my Waterloo. I took up the role as a challenge, to prove my versatility, and it ruined my career," she said.

A Life of Glamour and Wealth

During her career, Nadira appeared in nearly 73 films. According to industry anecdotes, she was larger than life not just on-screen but off-screen as well. She was known for her fondness for expensive cars and fine liquor, and she became the first Indian actor to purchase a Rolls Royce, as per a Mid Day report.

Solitude and Final Years

Nadira’s last appearance came in Josh (2000), alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Following her retirement, she chose a solitary life. According to reports in Mumbai dailies, she never married and remained in her flat with the support of her domestic help after her family migrated abroad.

Her final years were marked by declining health, with conditions such as tubercular meningitis, alcoholic liver disorder, and paralysis. As reported by hospital records and media outlets, Nadira passed away in 2006 at the age of 73, leaving behind a legacy that redefined how Indian cinema viewed the archetype of the vamp.