Trivia: Nargis was a major Indian star during the '40s and '50s recognized for her charisma, tremendous dignity, great intelligence, and ability to play a variety of roles ranging from shy coquettes to westernized women. Her most famous role was that of a courageous peasant woman who defies all in her endeavors to preserve her self-respect -- even to the point of killing her son to protect the honor of the other women in her community -- in Mehboob Khan's 1957 classic Mother India. Nargis was born in northern India, but was raised in Bombay. When she was 14 her mother, a courtesan, forced her to become an actress -- Nargis herself had dreamed of becoming a doctor. After enduring the stigma of being involved with the cinema she became a major star after beginning a personal and professional partnership with filmmaker Raj Kapoor. She and Kapoor worked together on some of India's greatest films including Awaara (1951) and Shree 420 (1955). Their romantic entanglement provided fans with hours of gossipy entertainment as Kapoor was a married man. After marrying actor/producer Sunil Dutt in 1957, Nargis retired from films to raise her children and to volunteer for charitable work. She still remained active in the film industry using her friendship with Indira Ghandi to help lobby for better conditions for filmmakers. In 1980 she became a member of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament).

Trivia: Started his career in radio, where he gained widespread popularity as a host. Debuted in Railway Platform (1955) and rose to fame through his appearance in Mother India (1957). Was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, in 1968. Became the sheriff of Mumbai in 1981. Launched his son Sanjay's career with Rocky (1981). Founded the Nargis Dutt Foundation in memory of his wife in 1981, which supports cancer research. Went to Japan in 1988 to appeal for global disarmament and to protest for the same, he walked from Nagasaki to Hiroshima. Won the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996. Was Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports in the Indian government from 2004 until his death in 2005.

Trivia: Hindi actor Raaj Kumar's best-known performance to Western audiences is his work in Mother India (1957). In his own country, he was popular from the '50s through the early '70s. Born Kulbhushan Pandit in a part of what is now Pakistan, Kumar made had his first starring role in films in 1952 with Merry Woman. His subsequent film credits include Neel Kamal/The Blue Lotus (1968) and Pakeezah/The Pure One (1971).

Trivia: Worked as an assistant to director H.S. Rawail for almost five years. Debuted in Kidar Sharma's Jogan (1950). Received the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, in 1969. Three-time nominee for the Filmfare Best Actor Award, for Dil Ek Mandir (1963), Aayee Milan Ki Bela (1964) and Aarzoo (1965). Got the nickname "Jubilee Kumar" in the 1960s, when numerous films of his ran for more than 25 weeks, thus becoming a silver jubilee film.