Mumbai:
Pakeezah was first planned in 1958. The film was to star Meena Kumari, and directed by her husband Kamal Amrohi. The shooting of the film, however, did not begin until 1964. But, the film was shelved after Meena Kumari and Kamal Amrohi separated the same year.
Five years later, Sunil Dutt and Nargis previewed the reels of this film. They were so impressed by what they saw that they coaxed the director and the actress to complete the film. Meena Kumari, who was gravely ill by then, agreed to resume work on the film. Pakeezah eventually released in February 1972. The actress died a month later. The rest, as they say, is history.
Other interesting facts about the 'tragedy queen'
Meena Kumari's real name was Mahjabeen Bano.
She made her acting career at the age of 7 in Leatherface (1939), with the screen name Baby Meena.
Although appreciated for her portrayal of the suffering woman in most of her films, the actress also did well in light-hearted roles in films like Azaad (1955), Miss Mary (1957) and Shararat (1959).
Guru Dutt's Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962), in which she plays an alcoholic wife, is regarded among the finest performances in Hindi Cinema.
In a cruel coincidence, her character in Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam mirrored Meena Kumari's personal life, as she had turned to heavy drinking. The actress eventually died of liver cirrhosis.
Apart from being a talented actress, Meena Kumari was a poetess as well. She recorded a disc of her Urdu poems titled I write, I recite. The music for the same was given by Khayyam.
Bollywood's legendary comedian Mehmood was married to the actress' sister Madhu.
Five years later, Sunil Dutt and Nargis previewed the reels of this film. They were so impressed by what they saw that they coaxed the director and the actress to complete the film. Meena Kumari, who was gravely ill by then, agreed to resume work on the film. Pakeezah eventually released in February 1972. The actress died a month later. The rest, as they say, is history.
Other interesting facts about the 'tragedy queen'
Meena Kumari's real name was Mahjabeen Bano.
She made her acting career at the age of 7 in Leatherface (1939), with the screen name Baby Meena.
Although appreciated for her portrayal of the suffering woman in most of her films, the actress also did well in light-hearted roles in films like Azaad (1955), Miss Mary (1957) and Shararat (1959).
Guru Dutt's Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962), in which she plays an alcoholic wife, is regarded among the finest performances in Hindi Cinema.
In a cruel coincidence, her character in Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam mirrored Meena Kumari's personal life, as she had turned to heavy drinking. The actress eventually died of liver cirrhosis.
Apart from being a talented actress, Meena Kumari was a poetess as well. She recorded a disc of her Urdu poems titled I write, I recite. The music for the same was given by Khayyam.
Bollywood's legendary comedian Mehmood was married to the actress' sister Madhu.
