Zubeida Begum Mehta (1926–1952) was an Indian actress whose brief but dramatic life, marked by a controversial royal marriage and a tragic end, has become a poignant tale in Indian history, most notably immortalised in the 2001 film Zubeidaa.
Zubeida was born in 1926 in Surat, British India, into a Muslim family. Her father was Shri Qasembhai Mehta, a businessman, and her mother was Faiza Bai, a singer from Bombay. Growing up in a household with artistic inclinations, Zubeida entered the film industry at a young age.
Zubeida Begum Mehta’s acting career was short and is not as well-documented as that of her namesake. Her career began before her first marriage. The films most credibly associated with her include: Aurat Ki Zindagi (1937) and Kiski Pyari (1937). Her last film, Nirdosh Abla (1949), was reportedly left unfinished. It is crucial to note that Zubeida Begum Mehta was not the star of the landmark film Alam Ara (which was Zubeida Begum Dhanrajgir). Her primary contribution to public memory stems from her life story rather than an extensive filmography.
Zubeida’s personal life was far more eventful than her professional one. She was married at a very young age and had a son from this union, Khalid Mohamed, who grew up to be a respected film critic, journalist, and screenwriter.
Her life took a dramatic turn when she met the dashing Maharaja Hanwant Singh of Jodhpur (1923–1952). The Maharaja, an avid aviator and a modern ruler, was already married to Maharani Krishna Kumari. He fell deeply in love with Zubeida. Their romance was passionate and swift, culminating in their marriage in December 1950.
The union was highly controversial. For Zubeida to marry the Maharaja, she had to defy several social conventions. She was a Muslim, a commoner, and a divorcée with a child, while he was a ruling Hindu Rajput king. She converted to Hinduism to marry Maharaja Hanwant Singh. Upon her conversion and marriage, she was given the Hindu name Vidya Rani. The couple had a son, Rao Raja Hukum Singh (1951–1981), affectionately known as ‘Tutu’.
Zubeida’s life was cut short at the age of 25. On January 26, 1952, India’s second Republic Day, she and Maharaja Hanwant Singh were killed in a plane crash. The Maharaja, a passionate pilot, was flying his own light aircraft, which went down near Godwar, Rajasthan. Their untimely deaths left their infant son, Tutu, orphaned. Tutu was subsequently raised by the Rajmata of Jodhpur, Krishna Kumari. In a further tragedy, Tutu himself was murdered in 1981, a crime that remains unsolved.