Born in Agra (U.P.) in 1933 in a pathani family, Chand Usmani made her debut as a lead actress opposite Shammi Kapoor in Jeevan Jyoti in 1953. She played the lead opposite some of the leading heroes of her time as well as character roles and mother roles in her career which spread over three decades. She won her only Filmfare trophy for her supporting role in the 1970 Manoj Kumar starrer Pehchan. Some of her memorable films have been Naya Daur (Dilip Kumar’s sister role), Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan, Baap Re Baap, Prem Patra, April Fool, Shagoon, Khilona, Amanat, Duniya Rang Rangili, Ujala Hi Ujala, Pukar, Yaarana, and Zakhmi Aurat. She was married to director Mukul Dutt and succumbed to cancer in 1989 at the age of 56.