Salma Baig, known by her screen name Naaz, was once the brightest child star of 1950s Bollywood, having started her career at just four years old and earning the highest pay in her category. However, her life was fraught with profound personal struggles.
Naaz’s rise to prominence came hand in hand with trauma; she was reportedly abused and exploited by her mother, who wielded emotional and financial control over her young daughter. As she toiled under her mother’s harsh demands, she was denied basic necessities—sometimes even food—and forced to dance for money, leveraging her young talent to keep her family afloat
As adult acting offers dwindled, the glitz of her childhood faded into obscurity. Once celebrated, she gradually became a forgotten figure in the industry, overshadowed by new talent and trends. The emotional scars of her youth—and the absence of industry support—left her life defined by bitterness and neglect
Naaz passed away at the age of 51, her later years marked by silence and anonymity. In a stark, heartbreaking reflection of her isolation, no one from Bollywood attended her funeral—a painful testament to an industry quick to consume talent but slow to offer compassion
Summary Table:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Naaz (Salma Baig) |
| Born | 1944, Mumbai |
| Child Career | Highest-paid child actor in 1950s |
| Abuse | Emotional and financial abuse by mother; denied food; forced to dance for money |
| Later Life | Largely forgotten; no significant adult acting success |
| Death | At age 51, with no attendees from Bollywood at her funeral |
Naaz’s tragic story underscores a harsh reality: fame can be fleeting, and child stars are often left to navigate adulthood in isolation. Her life serves as a poignant reminder of the need for empathy, support networks, and safeguarding those who entertain us so young.