Hunterwali, released in 1935, featured a masked, cloaked adventurer whose performance established a template for female-led Indian cinema. The star behind this production, Mary Ann Evans, navigated a career as a stunt performer and actor that spanned several decades, evolving from circus troupe member to a significant figure within the Wadia Movietone studio system during the 1930s.
Early Development and Relocation
Born in Perth, Western Australia, in 1908 to Herbertt and Margret Evans, Mary Ann moved to Bombay with her father in 1913. Following the death of her father in 1915 during World War I, the family moved to Peshawar, located in the North-West Frontier Province, now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. During this period, she acquired skills in shooting, fishing, hunting, and horseback riding. By the 1920s, she returned to Bombay with her mother and her son, Robert Jones, while pursuing studies in ballet under Madam Astrova.
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Before entering the film industry, Evans worked as a salesgirl at the Army and Navy Store in Bombay. Her transition to performance began through Madam Astrova’s troupe, which toured military bases and villages, allowing her to master gymnastics, including splits and cartwheels. Seeking a career in entertainment based on the advice of an Armenian fortune teller, she adopted the stage name Nadia. She joined the Zarko Circus in 1930 and eventually secured an introduction to Jamshed Wadia, the founder of Wadia Movietone.
Cinema Career and Collaboration
J.B.H. Wadia initially cast Nadia in minor roles, including a slave girl in Desh Deepak and Princess Parizaad in Noor-e-Yaman. Recognizing her athletic prowess, he and his brother Homi Wadia developed her into a leading star of action-oriented cinema. She became widely recognized for her stunt work in films throughout the 1930s. Her career remained active into her later years, evidenced by her appearance in the 1967–68 James Bond spoof, Khiladi.
Later Life and Cultural Legacy
Nadia married Homi Wadia in 1961, becoming Nadia Wadia. Although they had no biological children, Homi adopted her son. She died on 9 January 1996 in Mumbai at age 88. Her influence persisted long after her death, with her life documented in the 1993 film Fearless: The Hunterwali Story by Riyad Vinci Wadia. In 2015, the Government of India issued a postage stamp in her honor, and Google featured a doodle dedicated to her in 2018.
Fast facts
- Born: 1908, Perth
- Died: 1996, Mumbai
- Notable Film: Hunterwali
- Spouse: Homi Wadia
- Professional debut: Zarko Circus, 1930
- Citizenship: Australia, India, British Raj, Dominion of India
- Languages: Hindi, English
Questions readers ask
How did Mary Ann Evans choose the name Nadia?
An Armenian fortune teller predicted her success, provided she selected a name starting with the letter N; she chose Nadia because it sounded exotic.
Did Nadia have any children?
She did not have biological children, but her husband Homi Wadia adopted her son, Robert Jones.
Achievements
- Notable work: Hunterwali
- Worked as actor, stunt performer and film actor
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