Leyla Badirbeyli was born on January 8, 1920, in Baku (some sources say Shamkir). Her mother, Bika khanim, was the daughter of Musa Khan of Shamkir; her father, Aghalar bey, spent many years as a military officer and even rose to the rank of colonel. Leyla Badirbeyli's grandfather, Abdi agha, and the father of Khalil agha Gadimov, Gadim agha, were brothers. In 1918, Bika khanim, then only 12–13 years old, was taken with her sisters, fleeing first to Ganja and then to Baku. Leyla spent her childhood in their home in the Old City (Icharishahar). Her mother, Bika khanim, attended the women's circle at the Ali Bayramov Club and used to take her daughter along. It was from that time that Leyla's interest in the arts began to take shape. In 1936, at the age of 16, Leyla Badirbeyli married Farac Javanshirov. In 1937 their son Javanshir was born. Javanshir Javanshirov lived with his wife Elmira Javanshirova in the house on Fountains Square where Leyla had spent her childhood, up until his death in 2017. However, Leyla and Farac's married life did not last long, and after four years they divorced. In 1942 Leyla married Kamil Aslanov. In 1947 their first daughter, Lala, was born, and in 1964 their second daughter, Bika. Kamil Aslanov was killed in a road accident in Ukraine. Less than a year after this, their elder daughter Lala was struck and killed by a car in front of the Puppet Theatre. These two losses affected Leyla Badirbeyli deeply. Leyla Badirbeyli died on November 23, 1999. By order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, all funeral expenses were covered by the state, and a State Commission was formed to organise the funeral. Leyla Badirbeyli is buried in the Alley of Honour in Baku.
