There was an actress in the industry who made her debut with Dev Anand and became a star. However, she had to leave the industry because of fugitive Dawood Ibrahim.
Published: August 3, 2025 8:05 PM IST
The most memorable era of Bollywood was from the 80s to the 90s when many new faces tried their luck in the industry. While some sustained, others had to leave as they couldn’t make a mark. Then there were those actors and actresses who were allegedly known for their connection with the underworld. Today, we will discuss an actress who was Pakistani but wanted to become a big name in Bollywood. However, she had to leave the industry soon, and the reason was fugitive Dawood Ibrahim. If you are wondering who we are talking about, this actress is Anita Ayub.
Who is Anita Ayub?
Born in Karachi, Pakistan, Anita studied in an all-girls college. She earned a master’s degree in English Literature from Karachi University before moving to India to pursue acting.
Anita enrolled at the Roshan Taneja School of Acting in Mumbai, where Roshan Taneja became her mentor. In 1993, she returned to India to shoot an advertisement, during which she met Dev Anand. Impressed by her ad, Dev Anand cast her in his film Pyar Ka Tarana.
In 1993, Anita made her in the film Pyar Ka Tarana alongside Dev Anand. After this, she again worked with Dev Anand in the film Gangster in 1995, which was a box-office success.
Anita Ayub’s Career Was Ruined
A major turn in Anita’s life came when rumors about her dating Dawood Ibrahim began to spread. Both were spotted together multiple times. In 1995, producer Javed Siddiqui turned down the actress an refused to cast her in his next Bollywood project, and shortly afterward, he was murdered. Many reports claim that Siddiqui was shot by Ibrahim’s men.
Later, the Pakistan-based magazine Fashion Central reported that many in the industry believed Anita Ayub to be a Pakistani spy, leading to her being banned from films. Following these allegations and controversies, her Bollywood career came to a complete halt.
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