Saida Rametova, who was kidnapped before her wedding, gave birth to her child in an elevator, and is now caring for her ill husband while battling cancer herself, is 66 years old

Saida Rametova, who was kidnapped before her wedding, gave birth to her child in an elevator, and is caring for her sick husband while battling cancer herself, is 66 years old

On September 21, People's Artist of Uzbekistan, the "mother-in-law" of Uzbek films, and talented cinema and theater actress Saida Rametova turned 69. We take a look at the life and career path of the actress, who was kidnapped on the eve of becoming a bride, entered the arts because of Erkin Komilov, was diagnosed with a serious illness in Turkey, and is living with her husband Jumadulla Rametov, who is suffering from a severe disease.

"I deeply hurt my mother's feelings"

Saida Rametova always remembers her childhood memories with longing. She was born into a family of four daughters and one son. Although her mother worked at a canning factory in Samarkand, she loved playing the doira and singing lapars.

"Even though my mother worked from early morning until sunset, the household budget was never enough. We stayed with my grandfather and grandmother. My late grandfather was a radiant man with a long beard. I used to compare him to Avicenna. Because my grandfather also practiced traditional medicine, and people came to him seeking healing. I used to help him. We would grind herbs and prepare various infusions and ointments. I will never forget, when some patients rejoiced at being cured and tried to give my grandfather more money, he would take only a portion and return the rest. When I asked, 'Why are you returning it?', he would laugh and say, 'I took my share.' After moving to the upper grades, I started going to work with my mother at the canning factory. Since I was a quick girl, I did the work properly. I would even send my mother to family gatherings and work in her place. But one day, I deeply hurt my mother's feelings. I still blame myself for this," says Saida Rametova.

"I understand how difficult it was for my mother"

The actress spoke about why she upset her mother and how all her childhood dreams came true.

— We struggled a lot with money. Sometimes we didn't even have money for groceries. My poor mother would give all her money and say, "This is all I have until payday, manage somehow." Because I was responsible for going to the shop and doing the market shopping. One day, without thinking, I blurted out, "I will be so rich, I will raise my children without letting them lack anything. Let me have two children instead of four, but they will grow up without knowing need." I didn't think about how hard these words would hit my mother. She said, "Be a mother who doesn't let her children lack anything," and looked away. A moment later, I noticed her eyes were wet. Now that I have grown up and become a mother, I understand how difficult it was for her at that time, says actress Saida Rametova.

"I became an artist because of Erkin Komilov"

Saida Rametova said that at first she did not dream of becoming an actress, but fell in love with this field after watching a play starring Gulchehra Jamilova.

— I was a girl who loved earning money. People often told my mother, "This daughter of yours knows how to work, she will become someone big." After finishing school, I started working as a salesperson in a shop. Then I entered the cooperative technical school in Tashkent. One day, my classmates and I went to see a play starring Erkin Komilov and Gulchehra Jamilova. Gulchehra opa's grace, speech, and actions touched my heart. "That's it, I will also be an actress," I said. All the students left, but I waited by the theater gates for the actors to come out. At one point, Erkin Komilov came out. "I also want to be an actress, please guide me," I said. Thanks to Erkin Komilov, I submitted my documents to the Art Institute. After interviewing me, my teachers gave me advice. In fact, I knew nothing about art, but it turned out I had a hidden talent until then. I think my interest in art was also passed down from my mother, says actress Saida Rametova.

"If it doesn't work out, I will leave acting"

Saida Rametova also spoke about how she initially did not believe she could become an actress and planned to go into trade if she could not find her place in this field.

"I must have thought that I had experience in trade. Thanks to Erkin Komilov, I got a job at the theater. In 1980, I played the role of Nargiza in Isfandiyor's play 'His Father's Daughter'. I think that was my first successful role. I was invited to this role by director Bakhtiyor Ikhtiyorov. If the first role is given without mistake and the masters give you good advice, if the first step yields a good harvest, then luck will be on your side from then on. I felt this in myself," says actress Saida Rametova.

"Jumadulla Rametov had said he would not marry an actress"

The actress told how she met her husband and how her mother-in-law reacted to their wedding.

Photo: Instagram

— Jumadulla Rametov and I studied together; we had a friendly relationship. After graduating from the institute, we were assigned to the Uzbek State Drama Theater, and like other young actors, I stayed at the "House of Creators". My roommate and friend named Saodat worked with Jumadulla aka at the Youth Theater. Even when colleagues ate together, they talked about creativity. In the course of conversation, he said, "I will not marry an artist girl, what would my family say?". Saodat and I did not like this statement. But not long after, I noticed that Jumadulla aka's attitude towards me had completely changed. One day he asked, "What do you want your spouse to be like?". I said, "If he understands me, respects me, and allows me to create." He said, "I agree to all of it, will you marry me?". My mischievous side kicked in, and I said, "You weren't going to marry an artist girl, what would your family say?". At that time, I was not in love with him yet; I simply respected him as a person. Meanwhile, I heard from his acquaintances that they had earmarked a relative girl from his side for Jumadulla. Her name was also Saida; it seems Saidas were written on his forehead (laughs). Then I said that if his parents wanted him to marry that girl, I would not come between them and ruin their happiness, and we agreed to remain friends with Jumadulla. Later I found out that they were just considering that girl, which happens to everyone, right? Then I found out that Jumadulla aka had prepared everything. My late mother-in-law Sarvaraoy had said, "You are the one who will live with her, if you believe you can live with an actress, go ahead and marry her."

"Using ice cream as an excuse, he kidnapped me to Turkistan"

Photo: Instagram — Anyway, so one day I was sitting tired at the theater. Jumadulla said, "We are friends, come, I will buy you ice cream." Since he was an only son, he had a car gifted by his father, and I got into it. We drove for a long time, and when I looked to see why he wasn't stopping, he was driving at full speed towards Turkistan. Despite me saying "Stop, I'm getting out," he took me to his relatives' house in Turkistan. Word spread quickly: "Oh, Jumadulla kidnapped a girl." Their family were Uzbeks living in Turkistan and Kazakhstan, and kidnapping girls was common there. But in my father's homeland, Samarkand, this is not done. I spoke to him harshly, saying, "If you want to marry me, marry me with respect and dignity, not by kidnapping me like this." The next day, my parents-in-law arrived and told me, "Thank you, daughter, you are a very smart girl, bless you." They agreed, saying, "Even though she is an actress, she knows her self-respect and is a sensible girl, we like her." Our wedding took place very beautifully on October 23-24, 1981; Jumadulla was 27, and I was 25. Jumadulla aka was an only son. Since he was the only son born among five daughters, they treated him differently. "Only now do I understand how difficult it was for my mother-in-law in that situation. But we lived with them for only 10 days after the wedding and returned to Tashkent. My mother-in-law did not say, 'Let my only daughter-in-law serve me.' On the contrary, if there were long film shoots, she would come to Tashkent and look after my children," says actress Saida Rametova.

"Roles I did not like and did not want to perform"

During her career, the actress also spoke about the roles she did not like and those that were unsuccessful.

Photo: Instagram

— I played the role of a procuress in the film "Uqubat" (Torment). Honestly, I did not like this role at all. Even before the shoot, I said, "Let me not play this role." But after they said, "I want to discover you in a different image," I had no choice but to agree. Then, in the theater, they gave me one of the main roles in the play "Yetti faryod" (Seven Screams). In it, I was an understudy for actress Sayyora Yunusova. The role was good, but I couldn't find myself in it. We rehearsed for four months, and just when the premiere was about to happen, I apologized to the management and said I would not go on stage. Because this role seemed written for Sayyora Yunusova. Many years later, the play "Tun, albatta, o'tadi" (The Night Will Surely Pass) was staged. In it, Sayyora Yunusova and I were understudies again. In this situation, Sayyora opa acted bravely and said, "This role belongs to Saida, I cannot perform it like her," says actress Saida Rametova.

"I gave birth in an elevator"

Saida Rametova has many memories associated with elevators. The two brightest events in her life happened precisely in an elevator.

Photo: Instagram

— Jumadulla Rametov confessed his love for the first time in an elevator. Then, years later, my son Azizbek was born in an elevator. At that time, we had moved to a new house in Chorsu. Jumadulla Rametov was at work, and my late mother-in-law was in Turkistan. While doing housework, I felt a change in my condition and immediately called Jumadulla aka. When they took me to the hospital, they said, "There are still 10-15 days until delivery," and we returned home. At home, I felt unwell again and said, "Jumadulla aka, come quickly." Our midwife, a Korean woman, said, "Take her to the third floor quickly." While I was going up to the third floor, I gave birth in the elevator. I always tell Aziz, "You were born in an elevator," says actress Saida Rametova.

Who disliked Saida Rametova?

Saida Rametova was suspended from the theater for a while. At that time, some media wrote that the actress preferred weddings over theater audiences and did not show up for the play.

Photo: Instagram — The late Fathulla Mas'udov brought me back to the theater. Before that, it was said, "Actresses who go to weddings will be dismissed from the theater." My colleagues know well what the actual situation was. Yes, maybe that was right, so I kept quiet even at the big meeting. I stood there accepting all the blame. But I was the only actress dismissed because of weddings. The issue opened with me and ended with me. I found myself in a very difficult situation then. The late Murod Rajabov was the director of the "Muqumiy" theater at that time. He invited me to work at the theater, saying, "Come, let's perform a role together." I played the role of the mother in the play "Otasining qizi" and participated in rehearsals. But I did not get to go on stage. The father theater invited me back to work because the audience wanted to see me in the play "Andishali kelinchak" (The Modest Bride), says actress Saida Rametova.

"You are seriously ill"

— While the first season of the series "Jaloliddin Manguberdi" was being filmed, my family informed me that my husband's health had worsened. At one point, I also felt unwell. Since my left side hurt, I thought I had caught a cold. One day, Tohir Saidov said, "Opa, I think I caught a cold in my arm, it hurts, I'm going to see a doctor." That day, I didn't have a shoot either, so I followed him.

Photo: Instagram

Tohir came out of the doctor's examination quickly. He had indeed caught a cold in his arm, and they prescribed just one ointment for him. As for me, that doctor sent me to this one, then to another one. Finally, I got anxious, thinking, "What's going on, why are they examining me so much?". Tohir also couldn't say anything and fell silent. The Turkish professor said, "We must tell Saidaxonim the truth." Since I knew a little Turkish, it was not difficult for me to understand his words. "You have been diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. That's why your left side was hurting. Now we will stop all filming and treat you by performing surgery," he said. Since I had seen patients waiting in line for four months to see that professor, I agreed immediately.

Because we came from Uzbekistan and with the help of the organizers, it was easy for me to get examined by that doctor. In addition, the producer of the series, Mehmet Bozdağ, said, "We will provide all conditions, just get well." Even then, not wanting to abandon the role, I said, "Let the filming finish, then I will go," but the doctor reprimanded me. "Cancer develops quickly, you must not be in the sun. If you are healthy, everything else will follow," he explained, says actress Saida Rametova.

"Let my body not be left here"

Saida Rametova explained why she did not want to be treated in Turkey and returned to Uzbekistan as follows.

Photo: "Daryo" — I came to the hotel and fell asleep for about 15-20 minutes. It felt like someone was whispering "Go, go" in my ear. I woke up startled and told Farhod Badalov, the organizer who looked after the actors in Turkey, about my decision to leave. "Opa, people come to Turkey for treatment, we will all be by your side," he said. Rayhon Ulasenova, Ra'no Shodiyeva, Feruza Normatova, and Yulduz Rajabova had agreed to take turns staying with me. I thanked everyone and said my heart was telling me to leave this place. "There are no flights, opa," they tried to explain the situation. "If I happen to die, will my body be left here? If planes are not flying, will my children not be able to come here either?" I thought to myself. I don't know if the Creator heard my pleas, but two days later, charter flights to Uzbekistan started operating. On the advice of Yodgor Sa'diyev, I went to the Tashkent Oncology Hospital and started my treatments, says actress Saida Rametova.

"I did not fall into depression"

The actress also mentioned the reasons why she did not surrender to the illness and did not stay away from serving the people even during her treatment.

— I did not lie down thinking, "Oh, I am sick." I just kept moving, going to both theaters and weddings. I believed I would recover without falling into depression. I tried to stay in a positive mood and not let my spirits drop. Two or three days after receiving chemotherapy, I would go to events. My treating doctors were also surprised and said, "We have never seen such a patient." I express my gratitude to my fans who supported me in such a difficult situation. They did not push me aside thinking, "She is sick." No matter what gathering I entered, they prayed for me and also gave financial support, says actress Saida Rametova.

After Saida Rametova's health was restored, she married off her younger son, Aziz Rametov. Only this year, it was revealed that her husband Jumadulla Rametov is battling a severe stage of Alzheimer's disease.

During the quarantine, he contracted the virus, and although he recovered, gradual memory loss began to be observed. According to Saida Rametova, Jumadulla Rametov first forgot small things, then started asking, "Am I at home now, or at the theater?". Concerned by this, family members took the actor to a doctor. Doctors diagnosed the elderly actor with memory loss, namely Alzheimer's disease, linking it to the complications of having previously contracted the coronavirus.

— Consecutive illnesses caught our family off guard. Currently, my husband receives a pension; earlier, even though he wasn't working, he was being paid a salary by the theater. He said, "No, I am not going to work at the theater, I don't need a salary, give mine to the youth as well." Even when I said, "You worked for so many years, they are honoring you," he did not agree. There were days when I couldn't go to the theater due to wedding services or film shoots. But Jumadulla Rametov is a person who never once betrayed the theater.

I have not surrendered to the illness, and God willing, my husband will also overcome this disease. Our family is fighting for this, says Honored Artist of Uzbekistan Saida Rametova.

To the question: "Saida opa, you have created art for so many years, won a place in the hearts of the people, and received many awards and titles as a result — if it were possible to exchange these titles for the realization of just one dream of yours, what would it be for?", the actress answered with tears in her eyes:

"I would exchange everything I have for my husband to fully recover."

"My wishes came true"

Actress Saida Rametova was awarded the title of "People's Artist of Uzbekistan" in 2025. According to her, her fans expected this title even more than she did.

"Because there were still our masters who should receive this title before me. I used to think that first these masters of ours should be awarded, and then our turn would come. I didn't think I would achieve this unexpectedly. When they called and told me, I thought it must be false information, that they probably put it on YouTube like that. When they showed me the decree, I was both happy, asking 'Is it real?', and tears were pouring from my eyes. That day, I was at a wedding service in Samarkand. Leaving the bride and groom aside, everyone congratulated me. So, I thought, the fans expected this moment even more than I did.

The day that thrilled me the most, which I had dreamed of and wished for, I received this title from the hands of the president. I was very happy about this. Because I used to wish that if I received the People's Artist title, let me receive the award from the hands of the president. Not only myself, but also my 90-year-old mother prayed for this every day. Now, my mother's prayers have also been answered. When I was receiving the title, there was no happier person than me," the actress had said.

However, in August 2026, Saida Rametova suffered a heavy loss. Her mother, Zahroxon ona Soliyeva, passed away at the age of 90.