Zubeidaa: Actress Who Married A Royal; Whose Life Inspired Award-Winning Film

The story of Zubeidaa Begum is one of rebellion, royalty, and tragedy. She dreamed of becoming a star, and for a moment, she was: One of the early faces of Indian cinema. When she married for love, outside her faith and into a royal family, her world changed forever. From the sets of Bombay to the palaces of Jodhpur, Zubeidaa's life was a bold saga of defying convention. However, her story remained hidden in the shadows until 2001, when it inspired a National Award-winning film.

Who was Zubeidaa?

Zubeidaa came from a respected family of businessmen, with a mother who was a classical singer, artistic yet bound by tradition. Her stern father arranged her marriage to a “suitable” man, in line with societal expectations, but it turned into an unhappy union and ended in divorce — a rare and bold move for women in pre-Independence India.

In 1940, she met Hanwant Singh, the Maharaja of Jodhpur, a charismatic royal who already had multiple wives, as was customary among princes. They soon married, but fate had something else in store. Given the conservatism of the time, the outcome felt tragically inevitable.

This story was finally brought to light through her own son, Khalid Mohamed, a renowned journalist and filmmaker, who wrote her life into cinema. Directed by Shyam Benegal and with Karisma Kapoor portraying Zubeidaa with emotional precision, the film gave voice to a woman long silenced. 

Zubeidaa was everything that society loved to shame — a divorcée, a Muslim, and an actress. Her relationship with Hanwant Singh was anything but smooth. To prove her commitment, she converted to Hinduism and married him in traditional Hindu rituals. But society didn’t forget — or forgive. Their love marriage was met with sharp criticism and isolation.

In fact, long before her royal life, Zubeidaa was reportedly cast in the film Usha Kiran, alongside Geeta Bali — a role that could’ve marked a turning point in her career. But the film never materialised. Her father, fiercely controlling of her public image, is said to have stormed the set with a pistol, determined to shut down the production.

The incident revealed how even her early ambitions were cut short by patriarchy. After marriage, she and Hanwant Singh moved from Umaid Bhawan Palace to the more secluded Mehrangarh Fort — a symbolic break from royal conventions and a fresh start. In 1951, they were blessed with a son, Rao Raja Hukum Singh — lovingly called Tutu — adding another layer to their joy, but also deepening the complexities they had to navigate. 

A Love Caught Between Legacy and Loss

In the early years of India’s independence, Hanwant Singh began nurturing serious political ambitions. Breaking away from the image of a traditional royal, he was preparing to contest elections and was widely expected to win. But fate had other plans. On January 26, 1952, just days before the elections, tragedy struck.

The private aircraft carrying Zubeidaa and Hanwant Singh crashed in Godwar, Rajasthan, killing them both instantly. A life already filled with complexities, resistance, and quiet rebellion came to a heartbreaking end, as sudden and abrupt as its beginning. 

All the enemies wore the same disguise — patriarchy. Against every rebel choice Zubeidaa made, the world pushed back harder. What could have been a smooth journey became a path lined with rocks simply because a woman dared to choose love, identity, and independence.

And of course — how could a woman like her be allowed to be happy? Society made sure her story faded into silence. But it didn’t stay buried forever. Her son, Khalid Mohamed, became her voice. He pulled her truth from the shadows and gave it life on screen, ensuring that the story of Zubeidaa, once lost, would echo through generations, unapologetically and forever.