Actress met the woman, a rescued commercial sex worker, at an NGO she used to work with; when the maid fled with her valuables, Jiah did not file a complaint and instead helped her out financially

While most will remember Jiah Khan as the nimble, sultry actress who romanced Amitabh Bachchan in the 2007 movie Nishabd, there are some who will remember her for her warmth and generosity. Two days after the actress committed suicide, her maid Shabana recalled how Jiah provided her shelter, and even though the maid stole from her, the actress arranged her marriage to the one she loved.

Jiah used to attend to victims who were rescued by an NGO called Rescue Foundation in Kandivli. She even visited the victims every month. Around three years ago, when Jiah had visited the NGO, she came across Shabana, a girl rescued from prostitution. A bond was formed between the two. Jiah brought Shabana home, who within no time became close to her family while helping the family with daily household chores.


After working for almost one-and-a-half years at Jiah's place, Shabana stole some of her valuables and fled with her boyfriend whom she wished to marry. When Jiah came to know of what she had done, instead of lodging a complaint, she found her, brought her home and asked her to explain her actions. When Shabana told her of her wish to marry, the actress immediately forgave her and set about the task of arranging Shabana's wedding.

`Jiah would come every month to the NGO and help out. She would personally sit with each of the victims and try to solve their problems,` said Triveni Acharya, president of Rescue Foundation, adding, `She helped Shabana get married even though she had stolen from her.` `When we came to know that Jiah had passed away, we organised a mourning session at the NGO,` Acharya said.

Jiah Khan helped animals in distress: PETA India
Actress Jiah Khan, who was laid to rest in Mumbai Wednesday, lived with her rescued cats, and was compassionate towards animals, according to an animal rights organisation.

She was an active supporter of PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) India, and even featured in an advertisement urging the Indian government to cut out glass-coated manja and not birds' wings. She also got into a tiny cage, all cramped up to show the plight of animals in zoos.

"Jiah was always there to help animals in distress and speak for them," Sachin Bangera, manager, Media and Celebrity Projects, PETA India, said in a statement.


"In Mumbai, she lived with her cats whom she had rescued, She would always be on the lookout for animals in distress and would work to provide them relief. Jiah was a compassionate person," added Bangera.

Twenty-five-year-old Jiah, whose real name was Nafisa, committed suicide by hanging herself Monday night, leaving her family, friends and associates shocked. She was seen in films like "Nishabd", "Ghajini" and "Housefull".