Rukhsana Sultana (born Meenu Bimbet) is an Indian socialite known for being one of Sanjay Gandhi's close associates during the state of Emergency in India between 1975 and 1977.[1] During this period she became known for leading Sanjay Gandhi's sterilisation campaign in Muslim areas of Old Delhi.[2][3][4][5][6]
Rukhsana Sultana | |
---|---|
Born | Meenu Bimbet |
Occupation | Political activist |
Years active | 1970–1976 |
Spouse | Shivinder Singh Virk (divorced) |
Children | Amrita Singh |
Relatives | Begum Para (Aunt) Nasir Khan (Uncle) Ayub Khan (cousin) Sara Ali Khan (granddaughter) |
Rukhsana was born as Meenu Bimbet to Zarina Sultana (sister of film actress, Begum Para) and Mohan Bimbet. She is connected through birth and marriage to a number of well-known personalities in Indian films and media. Rukhsana married Shivinder Singh Virk, an officer in the Indian Army. They later divorced. They had one daughter, Amrita Singh who was a leading Bollywood actress in the 1980s. Rukhsana is grandmother to Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim Ali Khan, the children of Amrita, and former mother-in-law to Amrita's former husband, Saif Ali Khan.[7][8]