Bahu Begum

Bahu Begum

Year: 1967

Runtime: 167 mins

Language: Hindi

Director: M. Sadiq

ComedyDramaRomance

On the day of her marriage, the bride goes missing. She ends up in a brothel, compelling her wealthy husband to pretend that all is well to keep the family’s honor intact.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Bahu Begum (1967)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Bahu Begum (1967). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Lucknow

The story unfolds in Lucknow, a city famed for its aristocratic milieu and rich cultural life. Key locations include a sprawling Nawab’s haveli, a neighborhood dargah where lovers meet on Fridays, and a nearby kotha that frames the courtesan world. The setting highlights the contrast between opulent interiors and rigid social codes that govern the characters’ lives.

🏰 Historic city 🏛️ Regal haveli 🕌 Sacred shrines

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:35

Main Characters – Bahu Begum (1967)

Meet the key characters of Bahu Begum (1967), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Zeenat Jahan Begum (Meena Kumari)

A poised yet hopeful young woman who yearns for luxuries beyond her means. Her choices are constrained by family honor and social expectations, leading her to navigate love, deception, and duty with quiet resilience.

🌟 Protagonist 💔 Tragic Love 👗 Socially aware

Nawab Sikander Mirza (Ashok Kumar)

A nobleman torn between his duty to family reputation and his genuine affection for Zeenat. His actions, shaped by honor and restraint, culminate in a drastic act to unite the lovers at great personal cost.

👑 Aristocrat 🛡️ Honour-bound

Nawab Yusuf (Pradeep Kumar)

Zeenat’s true love who becomes entangled in a conspiracy that separates him from his beloved. He struggles with loyalty, distance, and the harsh truth about the schemes surrounding their marriage.

💖 Lover 🧭 Conflicted

Suraiya (Kumari Naaz)

Sikander Mirza’s sister-in-law who relies on Zeenat to guide her own arranged future. Her marriage is arranged under Zeenat’s influence, highlighting the interconnected duties within the family.

👰 Sister-in-law 🗝️ Domestic role

Mir Qurban Ali (Balam)

A cunning maternal uncle who orchestrates the twisted path that drives Zeenat toward her supposed in-laws’ home. His scheming reveals the cynical use of family ties for personal ends.

🧭 Cunning 🪪 Uncle figure

Nazeeran Bai (Helen)

A courtesan who provides shelter to Zeenat after a fall from grace, illustrating the precarious margins of virtue, vulnerability, and social survival in the city’s underbelly.

🎭 Courtesan 🕯️ Rescuer

Nawab Mirza Sultan (D.K. Sapru)

Zeenat’s father, a widower who clings to tradition and family honor. His protective aggression masks a fear of social shame and a stubborn drive to preserve the family’s status.

🧭 Father 🛡️ Patriarch

Shafugupta Begum (Indira Bansal)

A matriarch who exerts influence over household decisions and acts as a voice of propriety within the strict social order. Her presence adds gravity to the enforcement of tradition.

👸 Matriarch 🛡️ Authority

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:35

Major Themes – Bahu Begum (1967)

Explore the central themes of Bahu Begum (1967), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Love vs Honor

Zeenat’s affection for Yusuf clashes with the family’s strict code of honor and an arranged marriage. The plot hinges on whether personal happiness can survive a society that prizes reputation over individual desire. The eventual tragedy exposes the high cost of upholding family prestige at the expense of true love.

🎭 Social Rituals

Nikah, the veiled presence of women, and the doli serve as instruments that control marriage, identity, and mobility. Zeenat’s status is manipulated to protect appearances, while the courtesan world and public performances blur lines between private choice and social expectation. Rituals here are both binding and revealing.

💎 Wealth and Deception

Appearances of wealth drive much of the plot: the family pretends prosperity, and status dictates the terms of marriage. Sikander Mirza’s prestige becomes a tool to secure alliances, even as true affection and loyalty threaten to upend the facade. The mansion fire ultimately exposes the hollowness of material wealth as the real stakes are love and honor.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:35

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Bahu Begum Summary

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Bahu Begum Summary

Bahu Begum Timeline

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Bahu Begum Timeline

More About Bahu Begum

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