#Fact1She acted in a supporting role in the film "Maang Saja Do Meri" (1984) with Sanjeev Kumar, Rishi Kapoor, and Ranjeeta Kaur, but it was never released.2Her idol is Vyjayanthimala, and they shared a dance number and a comedy scene in the hit film Aasha (1957). Two years later, Asha became a heroine with the hit film Dil Deke Dekho (1959), but still she continued to be in awe of Vyjayantimala, even sneaking on to the Amrapali (1966) set to watch her. She played a Vyjayantimala fan in the film Jawan Muhabat (1971). In real life, the two stars would occasionally have lunch together. In 2016, almost 60 years since they first worked together, Vyjayantimala remembered Asha as "a very nice girl".3She acted with Bengali star Uttam Kumar in a Hindi film titled "Jhankar", but it was never released.4Filmmaker Vijay Anand's wife Sushma said that the reason he directed Asha in three films and acted opposite her in another film was because he liked her "naughtiness".5Threw a big bash to celebrate her 60th birthday attended by former co-stars, admirers, colleagues, politicians, and friends. [October 2002]6Celebrated her 70th birthday by throwing a big bash, attended by some of the biggest stars in Hindi films. [October 2012]7She is fluent in several languages: Gujarati (her mother tongue), Hindi, and English. She had also delivered Punjabi dialogue in some regional films.8Asha Parekh was one of the highest paid actresses of her time.9Before Asha became a star with "Dil Deke Dekho" (1959), she shared scenes with Madhubala (the biggest female star in Hindi films) in "Jwala". Since Madhubala fell ill, the film was shelved. When she died in 1969, Asha attended her funeral and paid her last respects. "Jwala" resumed with various actresses doubling for Madhubala and was released two years after her death in 1971.10She beat out a then-unknown Sadhana for her breakout role in the hit film "Dil Deke Dekho" (1959). But Sadhana soon got her big break with the hit "Love in Simla" (1960) and found a husband on the set, the film's director R.K. Nayyar.11Her first hero Shammi Kapoor initially wanted actress Waheeda Rehman to be his heroine for "Dil Deke Dekho" (1959) but agreed to meet Asha and saw that she was reading Harold Robbins' novel "The Carpetbaggers." He told the then sixteen-year-old that she was too young to be reading such a racy novel, and she cheekily responded, "Yes Chacha (Uncle)." And they hit it off immediately. For the rest of their lives, he called her bhatiji (niece) and she called him chacha (uncle).12Turned down hit films that Sharmila Tagore later accepted: Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), An Evening in Paris (1967), Aradhana (1969) (Tagore won Filmfare Best Actress Award), and Choti Bahu (1971).13Claims to have turned down hit films that Hema Malini later accepted, such as Sharafat (1970) and Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), the latter earned Malini the Filmfare Best Actress Award.14Claims to have turned down Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973) for her longtime director Nasir Hussain that Zeenat Aman later accepted.15I.S. Johar offered her a role in Bewaqoof (1960), but director Vijay Bhatt told her to turn down the offer as he had cast her in Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959), but he soon fired her and she was without work until Nasir Husain cast her in Dil Deke Dekho (1959), which made her a star.16Had a complicated working relationship with Manoj Kumar. In their third film together, Manoj was not only the hero of "Upkar," but also the writer and director. He shushed Asha when she complained about the number of takes for a very early morning shot. She got upset and stopped talking to him. She didn't attend the film's premiere, even though the film's critical and box office success raised her asking price. However, she agreed to act with Manoj in their last film together "Sajan" (1969) at which time they started talking again. In 2009, she referred to him as a "very intelligent person". And in 2012, he attended her 70th birthday party.17Didn't want to act in the film "Baharon Ke Sapne" (1967) for her longtime director Nasir Hussain, but he talked her into it. She had a lot of fun with her then-unknown leading man Rajesh Khanna, but by the time she worked with him again on Kati Patang (1970)and Aan Milo Sajna (1970) he had become a huge star, and they didn't have time to have fun. She didn't work with him until much later in Dharm Aur Qanoon (1984), when they played character roles, but she maintained that Khanna was always okay with her.18Unlike her favorite hero Shammi Kapoor, she rarely attended musical recordings of her films and was amazed and flattered that music composers and lyricists still wrote beautiful songs for her.19All five of her films with actor Dharmendra were hits. Even though, he is an handsome actor with a reputation as a ladies man, Asha denied an affair with him by stating that "I drew the lines in our friendship quite clearly". She valued their friendship so much that she tried to get him cast in the film Nadaan (1971) with her, because she felt his career was at a low phase at that time. However, the film's director Deven Verma was in an awkward position, because he had already cast another actor. Dharmendra graciously backed out and not wanting Asha to be upset with the director, instead told her that he wasn't right for the role. They maintained their friendship for more than 50 years.20Although actress Sharmila Tagore claimed that she was first offered Kati Patang (1970), a claim confirmed by the film's director Shakti Samanta, Asha denied that she was ever second-choice for the role that won her the Filmfare Best Actress Award.21Shatrughan Sinha made his debut in a small role in Sajan (1969), which starred Asha. He stopped talking to her because of a comment she made on the set, and he continued to ignore her in their next film together Heera (1973). Many years later, he felt that his behavior was immature and started talking to her again, and said that she was "very gracious about it". In 2010, he said that they are very cordial to each other.22Is a fan of actor Dilip Kumar and was disappointed when they didn't get to act together in a film, although they came close with the film Zabardast (1985) for her frequent director Nasir Husain. She was upset when the internet published false reports that claimed that the reason she didn't work with him was because she didn't like him. Dilip and his wife Saira Banu told Asha that they never believed the false story and attended her 70th birthday celebration in 2012. The couple remain close to Asha. They invited her to Dilip's 93rd birthday celebration in 2015, an intimate event meant only for family and close friends. Asha was happy to attend it.23She received two Lifetime Achievement Awards in 2007: One from the Fifth Annual Pune International Film Festival in India, and the other from the Ninth Annual Bollywood Awards in New York, USA.24She received the 7th International Indian Film Academy Award for outstanding achievement in Indian cinema on June 16, 2006 in Dubai. She was chosen unanimously by the advisory board for her status as an industry icon, and for her career as actress, producer, director, and also having been the first female chairperson of the Indian film censor board.25Asha has formed a group with five other actress friends to ease loneliness, so she,Sadhana, Nanda, Waheeda Rehman, Shammi, and Helen meet regularly at each other's homes to chat, have lunch, or watch a movie. Asha has urged other retired performers to do the same before it's too late as nothing is more therapeutic in life than companionship. In 2013, she, Waheeda, and Helen went on a 10-day Scandinavian cruise, but Nanda, Sadhana, and Shammi couldn't join them because of poor health.26When Asha was shooting for films, she would always carry her food from home. Her heroes Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, and Rajesh Khanna looked forward to eating her fried fish and Goan fish curry.27She said that although it is difficult to be a woman director in the television industry, she has no problem commanding respect from everyone on the set when she is shooting television serials.28She claims to be a bad cook and doesn't like salads, because they remind her of diets.29Asha claims that she starred in a "very sweet film" with Shashi Kapoor titled "Sweetheart," (1970) directed by Suraj Prakash and written by Brij Katyal, but it was never released. (She also appeared in another unreleased film "Jaane Janna", again with Shashi Kapoor, in the 1980's, where she had a supporting role.).30Was recognized as the first Gujarati to become a superstar in Hindi films, and at the height of her fame, she paid tribute to her Gujarati heritage by starring in her first Gujarati film, "Akhand Saubhagyarati" (1963), which became a big hit. Coincidentally, the title "Akhand Saubhagyarati" would be used for a Gujarati television serial that Asha produced in 2005.31Began a highly successful career as a television director in the early 1990s with a Gujarati serial "Jyoti." Her production company, "Akruti", has come out with television serials "Palash ke Phool", "Baaje Payal", "Kora Kagaz" and a comedy "Dal Mein Kaala."32She is the treasurer of the Cine Artists' Welfare Association Trust(CINTA), which is a home for many film and television artistes fallen on bad days. She is also a trustee for the Cine Artistes Welfare Fund of India, a trust floated by the National Film Development Corporation from the earnings of the film Gandhi (1982) for the welfare of cine artistes in need of assistance.33The Asha Parekh Hospital in Mumbai is named after her, because of her many humanitarian contributions.34She was the president of the Cine Artistes' Association from 1994-2000, and later said that it was time consuming, difficult, and ultimately a "thankless job."35She gave up acting in 1995 to concentrate on her passion of directing television serials, of which she had done many.36From 1998 to 2001, Asha was the first woman in history to be appointed as the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification ("film censor board") for which she received no salary but plenty of controversy, because she requested that many films be censored.37In addition to Nasir Hussain, many major directors cast Asha more than once due to her immense talent, beauty, and professionalism, such as Pramod Chakravorthy, Vijay Anand, Raj Khosla, Raghunath Jhalani, Mohan Segal, Shakti Samanta, and J.P. Dutta.38Her favorite song that was picturized on her is "Jayiye aap kahaan jaayenge" from the film Mere Sanam (1965), sung by Asha Bhosle.39Her personal favorite films are Do Badan (1966), Chirag (1969), Kati Patang (1970), Pagla Kahin Ka (1970) and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978).40Although, Shammi Kapoor was her favorite leading man, and she also liked working with his younger brother Shashi Kapoor, her dream was to work with the eldest Kapoor brother Raj Kapoor. But it was a half-realized dream because the film that she made with him, "Chor Mandali" (1982) never got released.41In her eagerness to devote more time to do dance shows, she turned down film roles that made stars out of others.42Shammi Kapoor is her favorite leading man, and although they played a romantic pair in their four films together, he never made a pass at her in real life and always called her "bhatiji" (niece), while she called him "chacha" (uncle).43As a classically trained dancer, she did stage shows from childhood to middle-age.44Claims she didn't have affairs with her leading men but loved playing pranks on them.45Nasir Hussain gave her a cameo in their eighth film together, Manzil Manzil (1984).46Producer-Director Nasir Hussain found Asha to be so professional that he cast her as the heroine in seven films: Dil Deke Dekko (1959), Jab Pyar Kisse Hota Hai (1961), Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963), Teesri Manzil (1966), Baharon Ke Sapne (1967), Pyar Ka Mausam (1969), and Caravan (1971).47Never married, Asha says her reputation of being unapproachable probably made people hesitate in asking for her hand in marriage.48Director Vijay Bhatt had first cast Asha in a child's role in Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1954). A few years later, he offered her the chance to make her debut as a heroine in Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959), but fired her claiming she wasn't star material. Almost immediately, Nasir Hussain cast Asha in Dil Deke Dekho (1959) opposite Shammi Kapoor, which made her a star. Bhatt hired actress Ameeta to replace Asha in his film. Ironically, she had just starred with Shammi Kapoor in the Nasir Hussain hit film Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957). But Hussain didn't want to work with Ameeta again, complaining that she had never fit his concept of a heroine. He continued to work with Asha in other films, and while her star ascended, Ameeta's star dimmed and her career ended in 1968.49Top Hindi Film Heroine from 1959 to 1973. She has the distinction of being one of the few heroines who had the most box-office hits in a male-dominated film industry.50Acted as a child in small roles.

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