Azurie was born as Anna Marie Gueizelor in 1907 (some accounts put it as 1916) inBangalore, British India (now inKarnataka,India).[2] Her mother was a Hindu Brahmin[2] nurse while her father was aJewish German doctor. When her parents separated, she lived with her father who encouraged her to studyballet but not eastern dance.[1] He let his daughter study ballet and piano with a group ofRussian emigrants. Azurie and her family moved toBombay when she was in her adolescent years. Her father became a part of Three arts circle which allowed Azurie to interact with its organizer, BegumAtiya Fyzee-Rahamin. With Atiya, Azurie studied eastern arts and dance.[5] Azurie moved with Atiya when her father died.[6][7] Azurie passed away in August 1998.[8]
Azurie explored different dances of the subcontinent and studied under different masters. She soon became a part of the Bombay film industry. Her first film was Nadira. After that, She starred in many films like Pardesi Saiyaan, Qatl-e-Aam, The Bombay talkies and Naya Sansar. Azurie starred in more than 700 films and was well known for her dances. Movies were sold for Azurie's dance and she became a well-known item number dancer. She was also invited toBuckingham Palace for a dance performance.[9] Azurie also acted in Bengali films like Maya, Sonar Sansar and Lagna Bandhan.[1][10]
During this time she married aMuslim man and settled in Rawalpindi, Pakistan after independence.[11][12] There she opened the academy of classical dance where Azurie taught for many years. Azurie also acted in a few Pakistani films but retired from it soon.[13][14] She travelled with a group of artists and performed in different places.[15][16]
