Tabassum (born Kiran Bala Sachdev (later Govil); 9 July 1944[1] – 18 November 2022), was an Indian actress, talk show host and YouTuber, who started her career as child actor Baby Tabassum in 1947. She later had a television career as the host of first TV talk show of Indian television, Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan. It ran on National broadcaster Doordarshan from 1972 to 1993, wherein she interviewed film and TV personalities.
Early life and background
Tabassum was born in Mumbai, then known as Bombay, in 1944 to Ayodhyanath Sachdev, an Indian freedom fighter, and Asghari Begum, a freedom fighter, journalist and author. She explained how she was named in an interview in 2014:
My father named me 'Tabassum', keeping my mother's religious sentiments in mind. My mother kept my name 'Kiran Bala', keeping my father's religious sentiments in mind. My name on all official documents was 'Kiran Bala Sachdev'. After marriage, it became 'Kiran Bala Govil'. 'Tabassum' is my screen name; it means muskhurahat (smile).[2]
Career
AI upscaled image of Baby Tabassum (left) with Parikshit Sahni in the song "Bachpan Ke Din."
Tabassum made her film debut as a child actor with Nargis (1947) followed by Mera Suhaag (1947), Manjhdhar (1947) and Bari Behen (1949). Later in Deedar (1951), directed by Nitin Bose, she played the childhood role of Nargis; the hit song Bachpan Ke Din Bhula Na Dena sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Shamshad Begum was picturised on her.[3] Also, in the next year, she appeared in another important film Baiju Bawra (1952) directed by Vijay Bhatt, where she appeared in the childhood role of Meena Kumari. She also worked in the popular film Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon starring Joy Mukherjee and Asha Parekh. She also starred in the beautiful song 'Aji qibla mohtarma'. After a gap, she reentered films in adult roles, working as a character actress.[4]
Tabassum in the 1960s
Tabassum hosted the first talk show of Indian television, Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan, which ran for 21 years from 1972 to 1993. Produced by Doordarshan Kendra Mumbai, it was based on interviews of film celebrities and became immensely popular.[3][5] This also led to a career as stage compere.[6] She was also the editor of Grihalaxmi, a Hindi women's magazine for 15 years and wrote many joke books.[7]
Tabassum continued to work as an interviewer for television and was doing a TV show on TV Asia USA and Canada titled Abhi Toh Main Jawaan Hoon based on the Golden Era of Hindi Cinema directed by her son Hoshang Govil for 12 years[8] In 2016, she launched her channel on YouTube, titled "TabassumTalkies" Produced and Directed by her son Hoshang Govil who is carrying her legacy by hosting Tabassum Talkies which consists of nostalgic talks, interviews of celebrities, shayaris, jokes and more.[9] Subsequently she returned to television with "Tab Aur Ab" in 2020.[10]
Personal life
Tabassum was married to Vijay Govil, elder brother of television actor Arun Govil. Their son Hoshang Govil had brief career as a lead in three films Tum Par Hum Qurbaan (1985), which was produced and directed by Tabassum and introduced Johnny Lever for the first time on screen as a comedian, Kartoot (1987) and Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeah (1996) produced by Zee TV and directed by J Om Prakash (grandfather of Hrithik Roshan).[citation needed] In 2009, her granddaughter Khushi (daughter of Hoshang) made her film debut with Hum Phir Mile Na Mile.[6]
Death and tributes
Tabassum suffered from gastrointestinal issues in her last days.[11] She was admitted in hospital but passed away on 18 November 2022, after suffering two successive cardiac arrests. She was 78.[12]
Various celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan,[13]Twinkle Khanna, Adnan Sami,[14]Asha Parekh, Waheeda Rehman, Deepti Naval and others condoled her death.[15] Milk brand Amul gave Tabassum a tribute with a special doodle.[16]
^ ab"Want a golden belan?". DNA India. 23 June 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2013. In her late 60s, ...
^Conjugations: Marriage and Form in New Bollywood Cinema, Sangita Gopal, pp. 3, University of Chicago Press, 2012, ISBN9780226304274, "... Further, Hindi film became far more integrated with other forms of media – as exemplified by the proliferation of film magazines such as Filmfare, Stardust, and Cine Blaze, as well as the phenomenal popularity of television shows such as Chitrahaar and Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan..."
