Shyam Sundar Chadha (20 February 1920 – 25 April 1951) better known mononymously as Shyam, was an Indian actor in Hindi cinema. He began his career in 1942 and worked in over 30 films until his death in 1951 at the age of 31.

Early life

Shyam was born as Shyam Sundar Chadha on 20 February 1920 in Sialkot, Punjab but grew up in Rawalpindi. Shyam graduated from Gordon College in Rawalpindi. He was a close friend of Saadat Hasan Manto and was the inspiration to many of his stories. Even after the independence of Pakistan in 1947, their friendship remained strong.

Early life and career

Shyam was born as Shyam Sundar Chadha on 20 February 1920 in Sialkot, Punjab but grew up in Rawalpindi. Shyam graduated from Gordon College in Rawalpindi. He was a close friend of Saadat Hasan Manto and was the inspiration to many of his stories. Even after the independence of Pakistan in 1947, their friendship remained strong.Shyam's film career began in 1942 with the Punjabi film ''Gowandhi''. In 1944, he moved to Bombay and started acting in Hindi films. He acted opposite several of the top actresses of the time such as Nargis, Nigar Sultana, Suraiya and Nalini Jaywant. One of his most famous movies was ''Bazaar'', released in 1949, in which he starred with Nigar Sultana. Some of his other notable films include Nirdosh (1941), ''Room No. 9'' (1943), (1944), W. Z. Ahmed's (1944), ''Majboor'' (1948), ''Chandni Raat'' (1948), ''Char Din'' (1949), ''Dillagi'' (1949), ''Patanga'' (1949), ''Naach'' (1949), ''Kaneez'' (1949), ''Bazar'' (1949), ''Meena Bazaar'' (1950) and ''Samadhi'' (1950). His last film was ''Shabistan'' (1951), starring opposite Naseem Banu, released in 1951 after his death.

Early life & career

Early life & career
Shyam was born Sunder Shyam Chadha on 20 February 1920 in Sialkot, Punjab but grew up in Rawalpindi. Shyam graduated from Gordon College in Rawalpindi. He was a close friend of Saadat Hasan Manto and was the inspiration to many of his stories. Even after the independence of Pakistan in 1947, their friendship remained strong.Shyam's film career began in 1942 with the Punjabi film Gowandhi. In 1944, he moved to Bombay and started acting in Hindi films. He acted opposite several of the top actresses of the time such as Nargis, Nigar Sultana, Suraiya and Nalini Jaywant. One of his most famous movies was Bazaar, released in 1949, in which he starred with Nigar Sultana. Some of his other notable films included W. Z. Ahmed's Man Ki Jeet (1944), Majboor (1948 film), Dillagi (1949), Patanga (1949), Chandni Raat (1949), Meena Bazaar (1950) and Samadhi. His last film was Shabistan (1951 film) which was released after his death.

Career

Shyam's film career began in 1942 with the Punjabi film ''Gowandhi''. In 1944, he moved to Bombay and started acting in Hindi films. He acted opposite several of the top actresses of the time such as Nargis, Suraiya, Nigar Sultana and Nalini Jaywant. One of his most famous movies was ''Bazaar'', released in 1949, in which he starred with Nigar Sultana. Some of his other notable films include ''Room No. 9'' (1943), (1944), W. Z. Ahmed's (1944), ''Majboor'' (1948), ''Chandni Raat'' (1948), ''Char Din'' (1949), ''Dillagi'' (1949), ''Patanga'' (1949), ''Naach'' (1949), ''Kaneez'' (1949), ''Bazar'' (1949), ''Meena Bazaar'' (1950) and ''Samadhi'' (1950). ''Dillagi'' (1949), opposite Suraiya was the most successful film in his career. In 2021, National Film Archive of India, Pune added the film its collection. Deepa Gahlot praised the film and added it in her book ''50 Films that Deserve a New Audience''. Shyam's last film was ''Shabistan'', opposite Naseem Banu, that was released in 1951 after his death.

Personal life

Shyam married Mumtaz Qureshi (also called “Taji”) and they had two children together. The elder was a daughter, Sahira, and the younger was a son, Shakir, who was born two months after Shyam's death. It was a troubled marriage and according to some reports, Mumtaz had reportedly moved out to live with her sister Zeb Qureshi (a small-time actress in Bombay) before Shyam's death in an accident. However, it is also said that she had gone, as per Indian custom, to her maternal family in order to give birth to her child.After Shyam's sudden death in 1951 in a horse-riding accident, Mumtaz migrated to Pakistan with her elder sister, Zeb Qureshi, who was her closest surviving relative, and they settled in Lahore. Mumtaz later married a Pakistani man named Ansari, due to which Shyam's children were sometimes known by the surname Ansari. However, it is also said that she had gone, as per Indian custom, to her maternal family in order to give birth to her child.After Shyam's sudden death in 1951 in a horse-riding accident, Mumtaz migrated to Pakistan with her elder sister, Zeb Qureshi, who was her closest surviving relative, and they settled in Lahore. Mumtaz later married a Pakistani man named Ansari, due to which Shyam's children were sometimes known by the surname Ansari. Both of Shyam's children thus grew up in Pakistan and were raised as Muslims. Shyam's daughter Sahira followed in her late father's footsteps and became an actress, working in Pakistani TV serials. She is married since 1974 to the Pakistani TV actor Rahat Kazmi and they are the parents of two children, Ali (son) and Nida (daughter). Shyam's son Shakir pursued higher education and is a psychiatrist based in the United Kingdom.