11 best Nargis Dutt movies that showcase her flawless onscreen presence

Below mentioned is a list of some of the best Nargis Dutt movies that are gold. We are revisiting her films as she is one of the most iconic actresses ever.

By Arpita Sarkar

Updated on Jun 11, 2024 | 12:49 AM IST | 192.5K

11 best Nargis Dutt movies that prove her acting prowess

Image credit: Nargis Dutt - IMDb

Nargis Dutt is one of the finest and greatest actresses of Hindi Cinema. In a career spanning three decades, she worked in several movies, and today, we will reflect on some of the best Nargis Dutt movies. She started her career as a child artist with the 1935 film Talash-E-Haq.

Nargis Dutt's first film as a lead heroine was the 1943 film Taqdeer, and she was only 14 years old when she signed for the film. Nargis worked a lot with Raj Kapoor in her career, and they had exceptional onscreen chemistry. Some of Nargis and Raj Kapoor's movies are Shree 420, Barsaat, Chori Chori, etc.

In 1958, Nargis got married to her Mother India co-star, Sunil Dutt. They both fell in love on the set of Mother India when Dutt saved her from fire. Nargis Dutt’s last film was 1967 film Raat Aur Din. Notably, she is also a National Film Award winner for her last film, Raat Aur Din. Sadly, she died in 1981 due to pancreatic cancer. So, today, let’s remember this remarkable performer - Nargis Dutt, who charmed her audience with her screen presence. Scroll down to read further.

11 Nargis Dutt movies that prove she has left a legacy with her spectacular performance

1. Mother India

Cast: Nargis Dutt, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar Tuli
Director: Mehboob Khan
IMDb Rating: 7.8
Movie Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama
Release year: 1957
Where to watch: YouTube

Mother India is considered Nargs Dutt’s most iconic performance of all time. The film was a remake of the 1940 film Aurat. Nargis played the role of a poverty-stricken woman, Radha, who struggled to raise her sons in the movie. Despite being only 26, she played the role of the new wife, a young single mother, and an aged mother of two sons. Mother India is a famous Nargis and Sunil Dutt movie.

2. Shree 420

Cast: Nargis, Raj Kapoor, Nadira
Director: Raj Kapoor
IMDb Rating: 7.9
Movie Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Release year: 1955
Where to watch: ZEE5

Next on the list of Nargis Dutt’s best movies is Shree 420, one of the cult classics. Directed by Raj Kapoor, the film was released in 1955. Nargis played Raj Kapoor’s love interest in the movie, and their chemistry was loved by many. Shree 420 was the highest-grossing Indian film of 1955.

3. Awaara

Awaara (IMDb)

Cast: Raj Kapoor, Nargis, Prithviraj Kapoor
Director: Raj Kapoor
IMDb Rating: 7.8
Movie Genre: Drama, Musical, Romance
Release year: 1951
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, ZEE5

Considered one of the best Nargis Dutt movies featuring her along with Raj Kapoor in the lead roles, Awaara explores the themes of social injustice and redemption. It was released in 1951. The music of the film was loved by many.

4. Chori Chori

Chori Chori (IMDb)

Cast: Raj Kapoor, Nargis Dutt, Gope
Director: Anant Thakur
IMDb Rating: 7.2
Movie Genre: Comedy, Musical, Romance
Release year: 1956
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, SonyLIV

Released in 1956, Chori Chori was a rom-com inspired by the 1934 American film It Happened One Night, directed by Frank Capra. This was the last movie in which Nargis and Raj Kapoor were seen as lead pair in one frame; however, later, Nargis Dutt made a cameo appearance in the Kapoor starrer film Jagte Raho, released in 1956.

5. Andaz

Cast: Nargis Dutt, Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar
Director: Mehboob Khan
IMDb Rating: 6.7
Movie Genre: Musical, Drama, Crime
Release year: 1949
Where to watch: YouTube

Andaz was a love triangle between Nargis, Raj Kapoor, and Dilip Kumar. Released in 1949, the movie tangled between the storyline of love, friendship, and sacrifice. Andaz was the highest-grossing Indian film ever until its record was broken by Raj Kapoor's Barsaat that same year.

6. Barsaat

Cast: Raj Kapoor, Nargis Dutt, Premnath Malhotra
Director: Raj Kapoor
IMDb Rating: 7.2
Movie Genre: Drama, Romance, Musical
Release year: 1949
Where to watch: ZEE5

Barsaat was highly appreciated for Raj Kapoor and Nargis’ on-screen chemistry. This movie was a box office hit. Some parts of the movie were shot in the Kashmir Valley, making it the first film to be shot in Kashmir. Nargis Dutt was also appreciated for her remarkable performance in the movie.

7. Deedar

Cast: Nargis Dutt, Ashok Kumar< Dilip Kumar
Director: Nitin Bose
IMDb Rating: 7.0
Movie Genre: Musical, Romance
Release year: 1951
Where to watch: YouTube

A love triangle between Nargis, Dilip Kumar, and Ashok Kumar, Deedar is a story of unfulfilled love. Noted as one of the tragedies made in early Hindi cinema, the film was a popular film of the Golden Era. Notably, the film was remade in Tamil as Neengadha Ninaivu in 1963.

8. Taqdeer

Cast: Nargis Dutt, Motilal, Chandra Mohan
Director: Mehboob Khan
IMDb Rating: 6.4
Movie Genre: Drama
Release year: 1943
Where to watch: YouTube

Taqdeer marked Nargis’ official debut as a lead and was directed by Mehboob Khan. She was about 14 when she signed for the movie opposite a 33-year-old Motilal. Nargis got lots of appreciation for her role in the film, and even at the box office, the movie was well-taken.

9. Anhonee

Cast: Raj Kapoor, Nargis Dutt
Director: Khwaja Ahmad Abbas
IMDb Rating: 7.1
Movie Genre: Drama, Romance, Thriller
Release year: 1952
Where to watch: YouTube

Nargis played a dual role in the 1952 film Anhonee, and her performance garnered critical acclaim. The film also starred Raj Kapoor in a pivotal role. To note, this movie marked the first collaboration in which an actor was signed for a dual role. It was directed by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas.

10. Jogan

Cast: Nargis Dutt, Dilip Kumar, Pratima Devi
Director: Kidar Nath Sharma
IMDb Rating: 7.6
Movie Genre: Drama, Musical, Romance
Release year: 1950
Where to watch: YouTube

Jogan was a romantic drama and was released in 1950. Nargis’ exceptional performance in the film was highly appreciated. Her chemistry with Dilip Kumar in the movie was loved by many. The film was directed by Kidar Nath Sharma. Note that the movie features the hit song Ghunghat Ke Pat Khol, sung by Geeta Dutt.

11. Raat Aur Din

Cast: Nargis Dutt, Pradeep Kumar, Feroz Khan
Director: Satyen Bose
IMDb Rating: 7.5
Movie Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Release year: 1967
Where to watch: YouTube

This psychological drama marked Nargis Dutt’s last appearance in the films. Nargis played the role of a woman with dissociative identity disorder, and her powerful performance garnered a lot of appreciation. To note, the actress won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in Raat Aur Din.

Tell us in the comments how many Nargis Dutt movies you have watched.

ALSO READ: Meet actor who started career in modeling, worked with Emraan Hashmi and Bipasha Basu, later disappeared but now rocking OTT space