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When in 1967, Rajshri Pictures produced `Taqdeer` Farida Jalal, playing a thin chit of a girl, drew a lot of attention. Women wept in their handkerchief when Farida cried, and she became quite popular.
But she was to draw much more than attention when she played the leading lady to Rajesh Khanna in his golden jubilee `Aradhana`. Rajesh had a double role in this film. While in the first part his heroine was Sharmila Tagore, who played the widow mother of Rajesh in the second part, Farida was the wife of the debonair pilot in it.
Baagon mein bahar hai, picturised on the two, was one of the many hit songs of this film. She also gave a very good account of herself as a slightly loony girl in `Bobby`. Somehow, despite being a good actress, Farida found her-self trapped in sister roles.
Farida took a Sabbath when she got married but like happens to most, she returned.
She was a mature woman now. Instead of a plump sister, Farida of the later day was a pleasantly fat mausi. The same RK camp that brought her to the attention of the masses signed her to play an old hakeema (native doctor) in `Henna`.
Farida sparkled in serials too. Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, a serial during the golden era of tele-serials had her showing a talent for comedy. This grew into a well-received and popular character in Dekh Bhai Dekh. Farida also has become an interviewer on TV. Exactly the way Tabassum did, she too interviews stars for `Is Duniya Ke Sitare`. However, she continues on the big screen too. Her performances in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995), Raja Hindustani (1996) and Dil to Pagal Hai (1997) have shown her in sensitive roles that often bring lump in the throat of the viewers.
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