Considered Pakistan’s foremost film star and a most talented film actress, Sabiha Khanum passed away in the United States, aged 84, her family confirmed from Virginia.





She was suffering from renal disease. A celebrated film star of Pakistani cinema in the 1950s and ‘60s, she gave super-hit movies, including Kaneez, Mukhra, Anokha, Tehzeeb and many others. Most of Sabiha’s movies were with her husband playing the lead role, the late Santosh Kumar who passed away in 1982. Sabiha, born Mukhtar Begum, and Santosh were highly regarded as the ‘perfect couple’ by the public. Khanum was conferred with a Pride of Performance award in 1986 by the government of Pakistan. Over the years, she has also been the recipient of a number of Nigar awards. She is considered the First Lady of Pakistan’s silver screen.