The movie could not hit the box office but critics predicted successful future of teenage new star of Pakistani cinema. During her early years, she performed side roles in number of movies. Meanwhile, her work in films 'Miss 56' with Aslam Pervaiz and 'Anarkali' with Noor Jehan got public attention. Film 'Anarkali' was her first successful movie as a side heroin; here she appeared as a sister of Noor Jehan, the leading heroin of 'Anarkali'. 'Aalam Ara', 'Roopmati', 'Baaz Bahadur' and 'Raaz', were some of other movies she worked in side roles.
Notable achievements:
She worked hard to have successful career in Pakistani film industry. She joined the industry in the presence of glamorous leading film-stars. However, she surpassed her contemporary stars with her eastern look and elegant style. Success of film 'Saheli' was a milestone in her career. It released in 1960 and other leading stars were Nayer Sultana, Darpen and Aslam Pervaiz. The film revolved around love and dedication of two friends. Most of the film songs became super hit at that time. Soon Shamim Ara became the household name.
In 1962, a song of film 'Qaidi', 'Mujh Se Pehli Si Muhabbat Meray Mehboob Na Maang' written by Faiz Ahmed Faiz and sung by Madam Noor Jehan fostered her career. She was honoured of acting in a first colour movie 'Naila' in 1965.
During her 30 years voyage she acted in almost ninety films with every leading male actor of her time. Interestingly, she was senior than most of her heroes of film industry, still she made hit pair with all the leading men. She performed unforgettable characters with Santosh Kumar in 'Fashion', with Habib in 'Dil Kae Tukrae', with Aijaz in 'Lakhoo Mae Ik', with Nadeem in 'Suhag', with Mohammad Ali in 'Aanch', with Waheed Murad in 'Doraha' and with Sudheer in 'Aag Ka Deriya'. She was among those few heroines who got an opportunity to work with Ghulam Mohiudddin. She also acted in two Punjabi movies 'Jaidaad' (1959) and 'Tees Maar Khan' (1989).
A versatile actress:
Shamim Ara performed unforgettable roles in movies like 'Saiqa', 'Hill station', 'Zindigi Aik Safar Hai', 'Waqt', 'Dil-e-Baytaab', 'Aansoo Bun Gaye Moti' and 'Khaak Aur Khoon'.
She was a versatile actress of Pakistani film industry. The marvellous actress portrayed naughty collage girl, weird lover, well-mannered dancer, distressed lover, wonderful singer, impaired twin sister, helpless mother, Hindu girl, and devoted woman characters successfully and did justice to all her characters.
Stunned beauty:
She fetched the heart of movie lovers with her tall and slim figure, innocent smile, perfect facial expressions and melodious voice and perfect dialogue delivery. Women of her time copy her makeup and hairstyle. At that time, "Shamim Ara style outfit" was a popular choice for both upper and middle-class women.
Her acting career spanned from the late 1950s until the early 1970s. During 50s and 60s she ruled the Pakistani film industry left behind many leading heroines of that time.
A successful director and producer:
During her acting career, she produced a box office hit 'Saiqa' based on Razia But novel. Her first film as director was 'Jeeyo Aur Jeenay Do'. After her acting career was over in the early '70s, she became full time film director and producer. As a director and producer she gave film industry high quality movies like 'Playboy', 'Meray Apnay', 'Miss Hong Kong', 'Miss Singapore', 'Miss Colombo', 'Lady Smuggler' and 'Lady Commando'.
List of awards:
Shamim Ara won a Nigar Award for her supporting role in 'Saheli'. She got her best actress awards for 'Faringi', 'Naila', 'Lakhon Main Aik', and 'Saiqa' (1964 and 1968). In 1989 Shamim Ara won the Nigar award for best actress for the film 'Tees mar khan'. (Besides being the second and last Punjabi film of Shamim Ara, 'Tees mar khan' also happened to be her last film as an actress). She received Nigar Awards in 1993 and 1994, as well as for the best director for her flicks 'Haathi Mere Saathi' and 'Aakhri Mujra'.
Personal life:
Shamim Ara was first married to Sardar Rind, a landlord of Balochistan, who later died in a car accident? She then married Abdul Majid Carim from Agfa Colour Film Company and had a son, Salman Majid Carim. The marriage ended in divorce. Her third marriage was to Fareed Ahmed, a film director and a son of famous film director W.Z. Ahmed. That marriage, too, ended in divorce. Shamim Ara later married Pakistani film director and writer Dabeer Ul Hassan.
Shamim Ara was settled in UK in 2007. It was the year 2010 when she came to Karachi from London to visit her relatives when she suffered serious brain haemorrhage. She was admitted to a private hospital and later shifted to UK. There she had been in Coma for the last six years.
Shamim Ara will always remain unmatched and motivational in the Pakistani film industry.