Mughal-e-Azam is not just a film, it’s a landmark in cinema that has greatly impacted the film industry. The film beautifully captures the essence of love, sacrifice and art, and it still inspires people today.
During an appearance on After Hours, hosted by Ushna Shah, actress Zhalay Sarhadi shared her personal connection to the iconic film.
Zhalay shared that her grandfather, Zia Sarhadi, was an accomplished writer who contributed to some legendary films, including Mother India and Mughal-e-Azam. Zhalay said, “He was one of the writers of Mother India, he was one of the writers of Mughal-e-Azam also contributed as a writer for other significant projects. My father was a beautiful singer, which adds to our family’s artistic legacy.”
Zhalay also talked about an interesting family connection, “My phupo is Salma Agha, and she may not be directly related to my father, she is my father’s cousin, so she is also part of the family.”
“During my time working in India, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Annu Kapoor. When I first met him at 19, he asked me ‘What is your relation to Zia Sarhadi?” and I said, ‘He is my grandfather’ and he treated me with so much respect, making me feel valued despite being a newcomer. That was when I realized the depth of my family’s legacy,” The Hadsa actress added.
Despite her impressive family background, Zhalay wants to establish her own identity in the entertainment industry, “I have never used any nepotism card; I wanted to make a name for myself based on my talent,” she stated.
