[3] Naseem Banu was born as Roshan Ara Begum in Old Delhi, India, into a community of performers and entertainers.

[5] Naseem studied at Queen Mary's High School, Delhi; her mother Shamshad Begum wanted her to become a doctor.

Having played the role, Naseem was unable to continue her education as the school was shocked at her acting in films, then considered a lowly profession.

[3] After the classic Pukar, the demand for Naseem as an actress increased and she was approached by several film studios to act with them.

Sheesh Mahal (1950), produced by Minerva show-cased her acting talents devoid of make-up and jewellery and clad only in simple sarees.

Married to Ehsan by now, the husband-wife team started Taj Mahal Pictures[9] and made several films like Ujala (1942), Begum (1945), Mulaqat (1947), Chandni Raat (1949) and Ajeeb Ladki (1942) under the home banner.

[8] She continued to remain active, first trying her hand as a producer, and then as her daughter's dress-designer when Saira entered films with Junglee (1961).

Naseem married her childhood friend an architect, Mian Ehsan-ul-Haq, with whom she started the Taj Mahal Pictures banner.

[12][citation needed] Naseem moved to England and stayed there for some time with both her son and daughter studying there for a while.