Zubeidaa

Zubeidaa

🎞️ Movie 153 min IN
โ˜… 6.6 /10 2001

The film begins with Riyaz (Rajat Kapoor), Zubeida's son setting out to research her life, and to meet the people who knew her. The story is thus told in the form of memories/reminiscences. Zubeida is a Muslim actress, who's career aspirations are thwarted by her film-producer father (Puri) who looks down upon a woman in acting. He arranges her marriage to her friend's son, but that breaks up after the birth of her son. Zubeida is now back at her parent's home, sad and depressed. Rose (Lilette Dubey) her father's mistress tries to cheer-up Zubeida by taking her out. On one of these outings, Zubeida meets Prince Vijayendra (Victor) Singh of Fatehpur (Bajpai). Quite taken with her, the Prince woos and marries her. Zubeida, now the 2nd wife of a Hindu prince, leaves her son behind with her mother (Sikri) and comes to live at Fatehpur. Here she meets the much older Mandira Devi (Rekha) the Prince's first wife, learns about the etiquette of being a Rani, and of the duties her husband has towards his first wife. Zubeida's relationship with Mandira (whom she calls Mandy didi) is tumultuous, seesawing between affection and jealousy. She frets about the restrictions on her as Rani and the choke-hold of royal duties on Victor, often venting out her frustrations at not having her husband to herself. When Victor decides to contest the elections, he relies on Mandira, as his Hindu consort (as opposed to Zubeida), to accompany him on his political jaunts. Zubeida, angry at being spurned, in obstinacy takes a decision, which has fatal consequences.

Cast

Karisma Kapoor
Karisma Kapoor
Zubeida
Rekha
Rekha
Mandira Devi
Manoj Bajpayee
Manoj Bajpayee
Raja Vijendra Singh
Rajit Kapoor
Rajit Kapoor
Riyaz Masud
Surekha Sikri
Surekha Sikri
Fayyazi
Amrish Puri
Amrish Puri
Suleiman Seth
Farida Jalal
Farida Jalal
Mammo
Shakti Kapoor
Shakti Kapoor
Dance Master Hiralal
Lillete Dubey
Lillete Dubey
Rose Davenport
๐Ÿ‘ค
Ravi Jhankal
Girivar Singh
A.R. Rahman
A.R. Rahman
Composer
Rajan Kothari
Rajan Kothari
Cinematographer