Tabu: Indian actor's Pakistani roots draws widespread curiosity

Bollywood actor Tabu recently made headlines as revelations about her Pakistani roots emerged, which shed light on her family background and surprised many with this previously undisclosed aspect of the acclaimed actress' life.

As reported by Indian media, Tabu, whose full name is Tabassum Fatima Hashmi, is the daughter of the Pakistani actor Jamal Hashmi.

The reports mention that Jamal Hashmi tied the knot with Rizwana, an educator from Hyderabad, India, before 1970 during the pinnacle of his career. 

The couple initially settled in Lahore but later relocated to India when they encountered difficulties in Lahore.

They eventually established their home in Hyderabad, where they became parents to two daughters – the renowned Bollywood star Tabu and her sister Farah Naaz.

According to a report in the Indian newspaper 'Indian Express,' Tabu revealed in an earlier interview that her parents divorced when she was three years old, and she never had the opportunity to meet her father. 

The actress shared that she has no memory of her father.

She shared that her upbringing was under the care of her mother and maternal grandparents. Although her birth name was Tabassum Fatima Hashmi, she opted not to adopt her father's surname Hashmi during her school days and preferred going by the name Tabassum Fatima.

“I have no memories of him. My sister has met him on occasion, but I have never really felt like meeting him. I am not curious about him, I am happy the way I am, the way I have grown up. I am very settled in my own life,” she said in an interview to the Indian Express.

As per media reports, the 1970s Jamal Hashmi rose to fame as a notable Pakistani actor under the mentorship of Ali Affan Siddiqui, a prominent producer and director in Pakistan.

Jamal Hashmi gained considerable acclaim, particularly for his impactful role in Ali Affan Siddiqui's film ‘Sazaa.’