The singing star Suraiya died at the age of 75 after a brief illness. She was admitted to a hospital in south Mumbai for various health problems including loss of appettite, low blood sugar and general weakness.
Born in Lahore, Suraiya's tryst with showbiz began in 1941 when she accompanied uncle Zahoor to the sets of Prakash Pictures' Taj Mahal and ended up being cast as the young Mumtaz Mahal.
She was subsequently launched as a singing star in Bombay Talkies' Humaari Baat (1943) and made her presence felt in what was perhaps India's first multi-starrer, K Asif's Phool (1944).
The 1948-49 phase saw her rise to her peak when she became the highest paid female star of her time. Shop owners would down their shutters to see her starrers on the first day and crowds would
throng outside her residence at Marine Drive in Bombay just to get a glimpse of her.