When Raj Kapoor dreamed of launching his cousin in ‘Henna’, destiny had other plans; the actress once starred opposite Raj Babbar

A Bollywood actress known for her beautiful and expressive eyes had a stunning debut in a film that captured national attention. Yes! we are talking about Salma Agha, who came into the spotlight in 1982 for B.R. Chopra’s film ‘Nikaah’ opposite Raj Babbar and Deepak Parashar. The film, which dealt with sensitive social matters around marriage and divorce, encountered four legal battles at the time of its release. Though controversial, it turned into a watershed project, with Salma Agha finding instant fame as an actress and singer.

The Kapoor bloodline

Very few know that Salma Agha is part of a family with a strong connection to cinema, and that is the well-storied Kapoor bloodline. Her maternal grandmother, Anwari Bai Begum, was among the first Indian actresses, having appeared in A.R. Kardar’s 1932 Punjabi talkie “Heer Ranjha,” which is Punjab’s first sound film. Her mother, Naseerin, carried on the legacy by playing the role in Kardar’s 1946 classic ‘Shahjahan’ by Kamal Amrohi. Salma’s own mother had dreams of being a singer, but her conservative family rejected the notion. Salma, in turn, inherited a burgeoning interest in music and cinema and grew up in London having a keen sense of performing.

Raj Kapoor wanted to cast Salma Agha

Her maternal grandfather, Jugal Kishore Mehra, however, vehemently opposed her pursuing film despite her having several other opportunities during that time. Notably, she was initially chosen by Raj Kapoor for the ambitious cross-border love story ‘Henna.’ Raj Kapoor’s father, Prithviraj Kapoor, and Salma’s maternal grandfather were siblings, making her Raj Kapoor’s cousin. The legendary actor was excited to add her to the film, but family members resisted again. After Raj Kapoor passed away in 1988, his son Randhir Kapoor finished ‘Henna’ in 1991, including Zeba Bakhtiar in the star cast.

Salma Agha's Bollywood journey

But when she finally made her debut with ‘Nikaah,’ Salma Agha became an overnight star. Though the movie was successful, her acting career in Bollywood did not quite achieve sustained momentum. And so she became a celebrated name in movies for both her vibrant screen presence and her lovely voice. And through this she became a pivotal part of one of the most controversial yet also most unforgettable films from the 1980s.