Amy Minwalla

Amy Minwalla
ایمی منوالا
Born
Occupations
  • Actress
  • Dancer
Years active1955 – 1971

Ami Minwala, Amy Minwalla or Emmy Minwala is a Pakistani actress and dancer.[1][2] She was primarily active in the Urdu and Punjabi film industry during the 1960s and is known for her kathak and classical dances in many Pakistani films.[1][3]

Early life

Minwalla was born into a Parsi family in Karachi, Pakistan and practices the religion Zoroastrianism.[4][5][6] She came from a musical family with tawaif background. She studied art under her parents' guidance from a young age and received professional Kathak dance training.[7][8]

Career

Amy Minwala made her screen debut in 1955 from Punjabi-language film Sohni (1955 film) directed by M. J. Rana.[1][5] She was active in the Pakistani film industry for about 20 years (1950s - 1970s) as a notable supporting actress and dancer and was frequently invited to perform dances at important social events. Her dances were considered very popular among the Pakistani cinemagoers and a necessary ingredient of many Pakistani films.[5][9] Minwalla once performed at the Metropole Hotel of Karachi, where she performed ballet with international dancers.[10]

Personal life

Minwalla married Pakistani film director Hassan Tariq, with whom she had a daughter.[1][5] They later divorced.[11]

Her cousin Kanga Asheville is also an actress and dancer.[12]

Filmography

Year Film
1955 Sohni[1][5]
1959 Faisala
Savera
Gumrah[1]
1960 Gharib
Bhabhi
Shehzadi
2 Ustad[1]
Shehbaz
Mitti Dian Moortan
Daku Ki Larki
Neelofar
Laggan
1961 Chhotay Sarkar
Farishta
Sunehray Sapnay
Mangol
Ghazi Bin Abbas
2 Rastay
1962 Shaheed[1][5]
Darwaza
Azra
Husn-o-Ishq
Chodhary
Ajnabi
Dosheeza[5]
Unchay Mahal
Barsat Mein
1963 Ishq Par Zor Nahin[1]
3 & 3
Shikva
Yahudi Ki Larki
Baaji[1]
Nateeja
Teer Andaz
Kala Aadmi
Seema
Qatal Kay Baad
1964 Lutera
Mamta
Pyar Na Kar Nadaan
Gehra Dagh[1]
Jhalak[1]
Andhi Mohabbat
Vah Bei Vah
Sher Di Bachi
Hath Jori
1965 Doctor
Kalay Log
1000 Dastan[1]
Mujahid[1]
Ham Matvalay Nojavan
Kaneez[1][5]
1966 Taqdeer
1968 Pakeeza
1970 Darinda
1971 Roop Behroop[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Profile of Amy Minwala (alternate name spellings used on Cineplot.com website - Emmy Minwala)". Cineplot.com website. 25 December 2009. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  2. ^ "The defiant queen". The News International. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Dance in Pakistan". Narthaki. Retrieved 23 October 2010.
  4. ^ Tanveer Qaisar Shahid (11 August 2017). "گیارہ اگست قائد اعظم کا خطاب ا ور ہماری اقلیتیں قائداعظم نے فرمایا تھا کہ پاکستان کی اقلیتوں کا ہر فرد پاکستانی اکثریت کے ہر فرد کے برابر حقوق کا مالک ہے۔ - (Founder of Pakistan as a country) Quaid-e-Azam's Address on August 11 and Our Minorities - Quaid-e-Azam had said that every member of Pakistan's minorities has the same rights as every member of the Pakistani majority". Express News. Archived from the original on 19 April 2026. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Emmy Minwalla profile". Cineplot.com website. 25 December 2009. Archived from the original on 27 April 2026. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  6. ^ "Non-Muslims from Pakistan That Have Made the Country a Better Place". The Parsi Family.
  7. ^ Fouzia, Saeed (2014). TABOO: The Hidden Culture of a Red Light District. Made for Success. p. 155. ISBN 978-1483007397.
  8. ^ Shakuntala, Banaji (1 October 2011). South Asian Media Cultures: Audiences, Representations, Contexts (Anthem South Asian Studies) - Amy Minwala and other popular film dancers listed. Anthem Press via Google Books. pp. 183–184. ISBN 978-0857284099.
  9. ^ "69 Non-Muslims From Pakistan That Have Made The Country A Better Place". Mangobaaz.
  10. ^ Chester Williams (12 November 2021). "Karachi by Night". SindhCourier.com website. Archived from the original on 12 November 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
  11. ^ Jafri, Aqeel (2010). Pakistan Chronicle. Karachi: Virsa/Fazli Sons. p. 527. ISBN 978-969-9454-00-4.
  12. ^ "First person: Bewitched!". DAWN. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2011.