The successful career of Sakina Jaffrey demonstrates why it is critical to maintain effort even after you have accomplished what you set out to do. Despite the fact that she made her debut in front of the camera in 1988, it was not until well over a decade later that she was cast in her first significant part.
Madhur Jaffrey was born in New York City on February 14, 1962, to Indian-born parents, actress, chef, and travel writer Madhur Jaffrey and actor Saeed Jaffrey. Her parents split when she was three years old, and she spent her childhood isolated from her father, who later relocated to the United Kingdom.
She graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles, California. She also took acting lessons with Lee Strasberg. After a brief career as a model, she made her acting debut in the Broadway play “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune,” earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play. She had appeared on Broadway in two other plays: “The Black Crook” (which netted her an Obie Award) and “The Cherry Orchard” (for which she received another Tony nomination).
In this article, we have a compilation of some things about the actress you probably never knew about.
1. She Is Descended from An Artistic Family
Sakina’s career began quite early in her life as she was born into a family of actors. Her mother, Madhur Jaffrey, is a well-respected Indian chef and cookbook author who became a published writer in the United States. Her father, Saeed Jaffrey, was an actor of Indian origin. His career included roles in Bollywood and American cinema with several prominent actors, including his son, Anupam Kher. He had worked with famous stars of Hindi cinema such as Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna, and Shashi Kapoor before his death in 1996.
Sakina’s uncle was the late dancer and choreographer Guru Dutt.
2. She Used to Take Dance Lessons When She Was Younger
It was all clear Sakina was talented right from an early age. Despite this, it took her a long time before she knew she was gifted at acting, despite spending most of her childhood taking ballet classes. Jaffrey is said to have started taking acting lessons at the age of 14. She studied acting with Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio Drama School.
3. She Has a Soft Spot in Her Heart For Canines
Jaffrey has shown a soft spot for canines and always has a dog by her side. She has been seen with her dog on several occasions, such as in ‘The Golden Compass’ and ‘Memoirs of a Geisha.’ In an interview, she says that it is important for her to have the company of a pet. It was clear that Sakina had no problem interacting with canines because she even won the Golden Retriever Dog Club of America’s first annual Celebrity Dog (of the Year) award.
4. She Once Acted in A Play While Pregnant
Jaffrey was not only known for taking drama classes but also stood up and acted in plays when she was pregnant. She said she enjoyed the experience, which gave her a feel of what it would be like to carry a child.
In an interview, Jaffrey was asked whether she had acted while she was pregnant. She revealed that she had gone on stage in “The Cherry Orchard” when she was pregnant with her daughter Ruby and in another play, “The Vagina Monologues,” when she was pregnant with her son Jonah.
5. Her Surname Has Arabic Roots
In her Instagram post, Sakina revealed that she knew the meaning of her name and that it also had an Arabic origin. “Presence of God, Calm and Comfort” is what she mentioned as the meaning of her name.
6. She Is a Strong Supporter of Social Justice
Being a woman of color, she knew the kinds of challenges she would probably face. Through her work as an actress, she tries to make a difference when it comes to raising awareness of social issues facing people of color. She believes that it becomes more important for those in a position of power to exert their influence to create change and make the world a better place.
7. She Is Close Friends with Mary J. Blige
Jaffrey considered Mary Blige as one of her closest friends and was her bridesmaid at her wedding. The two have been friends for over 20 years, even before they started acting together on stage. Jaffrey also sang backing vocals on the soundtrack for “Beloved,” which was directed by Jonathan Demme and starred Blige in 1998.
8. She Featured in an Episode of Sex and The City
In 2004, Sakina was featured in the Sex and the City American series. She was also featured in the Law and Order series.
9. She Is a Well-Known Vegetarian
Jaffrey has been a long-time advocate for animal rights and animal welfare and is a vegetarian herself. In 2009, she starred in PETA’s “Not Pictured” campaign to raise awareness of the cruelty inflicted on animals raised for food in the United States. Sakina has been quoted saying that she feels it’s important to be active in her activism because it means you can make a difference.
10. She Received A SAG Award Nomination
In 2015, Sakina Jaffrey was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” She shared the nomination with her co-stars, Bill Murray, F. Murray Abraham, Wes Bentley, and Adrien Brody.
She was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 1991 BAFTA Film Awards for “Memoirs of a Geisha.”
Sakina has co-written three books with her mother: Madhur Jaffrey: Indian Home Cooking, and Madhur Jaffrey’s Bombay.
Conclusion
Sakina Jaffrey was always a hard-working person, even when she was a child. She has proven herself to be a great actress and an activist. Her mother has been her inspiration as she would’ve never taken her as an example of being a successful actress if she hadn’t done it first. She is surely an example to anyone who wants to follow their dreams and passions.
