Sardar Akhtar (1915–1986) was an Indian actress who worked in Hindi and Urdu films.

Akhtar married Mehboob Khan in 1942, whom she had met when he cast her in Ali Baba (1940).

She started as a supporting "dancer-artiste"[5] and commenced her film career by acting in stage plays produced by Madan Theatres Ltd.[citation needed] Akhtar started her career at Saroj Movietone doing what were then termed as "stunt" films.

[8] In 1939, Sardar Akhtar was cast because of her natural earthy looks in Sohrab Modi's Pukar as the washer-woman Rami Dhoban.

A relationship started between Mehboob and Akhtar during the making of Ali Baba, with the two marrying in 1942.

Aurat (1940), directed by Mehboob Khan for National Studios, is referred to as "one of the best classics of Hindi cinema".

The story, inspired by The Old Maid (1939) by Warner Pictures, was about sisters played by Akhtar and Sitara Devi.

[citation needed] Akhtar met Mehboob Khan during the making of Alibaba and the two entered into a relationship, which culminated in their marriage in 1942.

[13] Though Akhtar stopped working after 1945, she was, as stated by Mehboob, his inspiration for making films like Aan (1952), Andaz, and the remake of Aurat: Mother India (1957).

[14] Fond of watching films, her favourite actors were Bette Davis, Norma Shearer, Vivien Leigh, and Charles Boyer.