Child Star's Tragic Exploitation: A Life of Pain

Baby Naaz, born Salma Baig, achieved significant fame as a child star, earning a 'Special Mention' at the 1955 Cannes Film Festival for "Boot Polish." However, her childhood was shadowed by exploitation, hunger, and despair. She began earning for her family at four, and by eight, she was acting regularly, leaving her education behind. Her mother, focused on the easy income, reportedly continued accepting film roles on Naaz's behalf. This intense pressure led the ten-year-old Naaz to attempt suicide twice, being saved by her ayah. Raj Kapoor, impressed by her talent, offered to sponsor her education in Switzerland, but her mother refused, fearing the loss of her primary income source. Naaz later learned of her parents' marital troubles and her mother's alleged affair. Despite acting in around 120 films, Naaz had no financial security, with all assets in her mother's name. At sixteen, Naaz asserted control, refusing to live with her mother's new partner and ceasing financial support. She married actor Subiraj in 1965, finding love and stability, though her childhood fame never returned. Facing industry compromises for adult roles, she moved into dubbing and hosting. Naaz died of cancer in 1995 at 53, her dream of regaining stardom unfulfilled.