Meena Kumari Wiki, Age, Death, Husband, Children, Family, Biography & More – FilmyVoice
Meena Kumari (1933-1972) was a famend Indian actress, singer, and poet. She bought the title ‘The Tragedy Queen’ for her roles in varied Hindi movies. She wrote poetries beneath her pen title ‘Naaz.’ She is taken into account top-of-the-line actresses in Bollywood. On 31 March 1972, she took her final breath at St Elizabeth’s Nursing House in Mumbai, and the reason for her demise was decided to be liver cirrhosis.
Wiki/Biography
Meena Kumari was born as Mahjabeen Bano on Tuesday, 1 August 1933 (age 38 years; on the time of demise) in Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India (now Mumbai), India. Her zodiac signal is Leo. She didn’t have any formal schooling.
Meena Kumari’s childhood image
Meena Kumari in Orphanage
After Meena Kumari was born, her father Ali Bux felt dissatisfied as a result of he had hoped for a son. At the moment, Ali was dealing with monetary difficulties and didn’t manage to pay for to pay the hospital charges after Meena’s beginning. Feeling upset concerning the state of affairs, he left child Meena in entrance of an orphanage. Nevertheless, when Meena began crying after being bitten by ants, he had a change of coronary heart and determined to take her again house with him.
Bodily Look
Peak (approx.): 5′ 6″
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Household
Her father was a Sunni Muslim and her mom was a Christian.
Mother and father & Siblings
Her father, Grasp Ali Bux, was a Parsi theatre artist, Urdu poet, music composer, and musician. Her mom, Iqbal Begum (Prabhavati Devi earlier than marriage), was a stage actress and dancer, who was standard with the stage title Kaamini. Meena’s elder sister, Khursheed Bano, was a singer, and her youthful sister, Mahliqa (often known as Madhu), was a movie actress.
Meena Kumari along with her father and sister Madhu (standing)
Meena Kumari’s mom
Meena Kumari’s elder sister Khursheed
Husband & Kids
On the age of 6, Meena Kumari met the Indian movie director Kamal Amrohi for the primary time whereas they had been each on a movie set. As a youngster, she learn an article about Kamal in {a magazine} and began growing emotions for him. Later, on the set of one among her movies, she was launched to Kamal Amrohi by the Indian actor Ashok Kumar. At the moment, Kamal had been married twice earlier than and had three kids from his earlier marriages. Kamal provided Meena a job in one among his movies, however earlier than the challenge might start, Meena Kumari met with a automotive accident on 21 Could 1951. She was hospitalized for a very long time and went by means of melancholy. Throughout her time within the hospital, Kamal often visited her and so they exchanged letters, which supplied consolation to Meena throughout her tough time.
Meena Kumari along with her ex-husband Kamal Amrohi
After spending 4 months within the hospital, Meena was lastly discharged, and so they began having lengthy telephone calls. Kamal had signed Meena for a movie named ‘Anarkali,’ however the producer confronted a significant monetary disaster, and the movie bought shelved. On the age of 18, Menna determined to get married to Kamal Amrohi in a secret nikaah ceremony. Solely Meena’s sister, Mahliqa or Madhu, was current as Meena’s household was towards her marrying Kamal.
Meena Kumari’s first kiss along with her ex-husband after their nikaah
After just a few years of their marriage, Kamal turned possessive of Meena and began imposing strict guidelines on her. He would ask her to come back house by 6:30 within the night, nobody was allowed in her make-up room, and he or she had to make use of solely the automotive that Kamal supplied for her. There have been additionally rumours of Meena dealing with home violence. Nevertheless, Kamal denied these rumours. In response to Meena Kumari’s biography written by Vinod Mehta, Vinod interviewed Kamal Amrohi and requested him concerning the rumours of bodily violence. Within the guide, he wrote,
When her star begin rising, his went down. I requested Kamal Amrohi if certainly he had hit her as per many rumours. He fully denied it, saying that such a factor was completely towards his upbringing. However six completely different folks advised me that there was bodily violence of their relationship. These had been the times when Meena Kumari would come again Rembrandt until late at night time.”
A number of different folks talked about that there was certainly bodily violence of their relationship. Reportedly, Kamal divorced Meena by saying ‘talaq’ 3 times in a match of anger. Nevertheless, Meena’s stepson, Tajdar Amrohi, refuted the declare, contemplating it a false perception unfold by ill-wishers. In response to another sources, Meena is claimed to have carried out the Nikaah Halala with Amanullah Khan (Zeenat Aman’s father) earlier than finally returning to Kamal Amrohi. In 1964, Meena Kumari and Kamal Amrohi bought formally divorced. Earlier, throughout the mahurat of the movie ‘Pinjre Ke Panchhi,’ Meena was in her make-up room when Kamal Amrohi’s assistant, Baqar Ali, slapped her. Meena had insisted that the lyricist Gulzar must be allowed into her make-up room, however Kamal had completely different guidelines for his spouse, and for this, Baqar slapped her. After the incident, Meena Kumari advised Baqar that she wouldn’t be going house that night time. Meena Kumari felt burdened by many guidelines, fixed surveillance of her whereabouts, and strict rules. These elements contributed to her emotions of melancholy. She even consulted a health care provider, who prescribed a small dose of brandy to assist her sleep higher. Nevertheless, this medication quickly became an habit, and Meena began consuming closely. By 1968, her well being had deteriorated considerably, and he or she needed to search remedy at famend hospitals in London and Switzerland, the place she was identified with liver cirrhosis. The docs suggested her to not resume work instantly after recovering, however regardless of this, Meena returned to India from London and resumed performing in movies. Some sources declare that issues began arising between Meena Kumari and Kamal Amrohi because of her alleged extramarital affair with the Indian actor Dharmendra. She didn’t have her personal kids. She took care of her stepson Tajdar Amrohi, who used to name her chhoti-Ammi.
Meena Kumari along with her step-son Tajdar Amrohi
Different Family members
Her maternal grandmother, Hem Sundari, was married to a cousin of Rabindranath Tagore. Later, her grandmother bought married to the Indian journalist Pyare Lal Shakir Meeruti. Her youthful sister, Mahliqa aka Madhu, was married to the Indian actor-comedian Mehmood Ali.
Meena Kumari and her husband’s household tree
Relationships/Affairs
Dharmendra
After her separation from her husband, the rumours of her affair with the Indian actor Dharmendra began. At the moment, Dharmendra was a struggling actor, and Meena was supporting him financially.
Meena Kumari with Dharmendra
In her biography, the creator Vinod Mehta stated,
The favored view is that Meena and Dharam had been intimate for 3 years. The within view is that the intimacy lasted not more than six months”.
As soon as, Dharmendra attended a film premiere in Delhi the place he indulged in heavy consuming throughout the get together. Nevertheless, when he tried to board a flight again to Mumbai, the airport authorities refused him entry, resulting in an altercation the place he raised his voice at them and stated,
However I need to get again to Bombay. I need to. Meena is ready for me.”
Throughout a picnic outing along with her group of mates, Meena unknowingly sat within the improper automotive throughout their return from the picnic spot. This brought on Meena to grow to be extraordinarily anxious and hysterical, frantically trying to find Dharam. Whereas seated cross-legged inside her personal automotive, she repeatedly shouted out to inquire about Dharmendra’s whereabouts. She stated,
The place is my Dharam? The place is my Dharam?”
In response to a number of sources, there have been claims that in her ex-husband Kamal’s movie Razia Sultan, he solid Dharmendra and deliberately portrayed him in black from head to toe. This act was believed to be Amrohi’s manner of searching for revenge towards the person who had captured his spouse’s consideration and affection.
Gulzar
There have been additionally rumours that she dated the Indian lyricist Gulzar. Nevertheless, Gulzar denied all such rumours.
Meena Kumari with Gulzaar
Autograph
Meena Kumari’s autograph
Profession
Actor
Movie
On the age of 4, she made her Bollywood debut with the movie ‘Leather-based Face’ (1939) wherein she performed the function of Child Mahjabeen.
Leather-based Face
A few of her different movies as a toddler actor are ‘Adhuri Kahani’ (1939), ‘Pooja’ (1940), ‘Kasauti’ (1941), ‘Vijay’ (1942), ‘Pratiggya’ (1943), and ‘Lal Haveli’ (1944). In 1946, she adopted the display title Meena Kumari within the movie ‘Bachchon Ka Khel.’
Bachchon Ka Khel
She then appeared in varied Hindi movies like ‘Hamara Ghar’ (1950), ‘Sanam’ (1951), ‘Madhosh’ (1951), ‘Hanuman Patal Vijay’ (1951), and ‘Aladdin Aur Jadui Chirag’ (1952). Steadily, she began gaining recognition with the movies like ‘Baiju Bawra’ (1952), ‘Parineeta’ (1953), ‘Chandni Chowk’ (1954), ‘Azaad’ (1955), and ‘Mem Sahib’ (1956).
Parineeta
Meena Kumari acted in Hindi movies akin to ‘Sharada’ (1957), ‘Sahara’ (1958), ‘Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan’ (1959), ‘Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai’ (1960), and ‘Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan’ (1961) after which she turned standard as ‘The Tragedy Queen.’ Meena Kumari obtained essential approval for her Hindi movies akin to ‘Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam’ (1962), ‘Aarti’ (1962), ‘Dil Ek Mandir’ (1963), ‘Phool Aur Patthar’ (1966), ‘Majhli Didi’ (1967), and ‘Baharon Ki Manzil’ (1968).
Aarti (1962)
In 1970, she acted in just a few Hindi movies like ‘Jawab’ (1970), ‘Mere Apne’ (1971), and ‘Gomti Ke Kinare’ (1972; launched after her demise as a tribute).
Final Movie
In 1956, the manufacturing of the Hindi movie Pakeezah began. Meena Kumari was decided to complete the movie regardless of her restricted time because of well being points. She labored laborious to finish it early, though her well being was deteriorating quickly. The movie had a grand premiere on 3 February 1972, on the Maratha Mandir Theatre in Central Bombay. The prints of the movie had been carried in a superbly adorned palanquin. It was launched on 4 February 1972 and turned out to be a giant success, working for 33 weeks and celebrating its silver jubilee. Nevertheless, just a few days after the movie’s launch, Meena handed away.
Pakeezah (1972)
Playback Singer
Meena additionally labored as a singer in varied Hindi movies like ‘Bahen’ (1941), ‘Duniya Ek Sarai’ (1946), ‘Piya Ghar Aaja’ (1948), ‘Bichchade Balam’ (1948), and ‘Pinjre Ke Panchhi’ (1966). She additionally lent her voice to the Hindi movie ‘Pakeezah.’ Nevertheless, as a substitute of releasing the track within the movie it was launched within the music album ‘Pakeezah-Rang Barang’ (1977). She took solely a rupee for the movie.
Pakeezah-Rang Ba Rang
Tv
Aside from movies, she acted in just a few Hindi TV serials. She primarily used to behave in mythological TV serials. She was featured in varied TV commercials like Zaveri Jewellers and Lux cleaning soap.
Meena Kumari in Lux cleaning soap advert
Poet
Meena Kumari was a poet too and penned varied poems beneath the pen title Naaz. In 1971, her poems had been launched beneath the album ‘I write, I recite’ by the music label LP Vinyl Document, and the music was given by Mohammed Zahur Khayyam. She gave the voice to her poems within the album. On 19 September 2006, the album was re-released. In 1972, her poems had been compiled by the Indian lyricist Gulzar for the album ‘Tanha Chand.’ In 2014, ‘Meena Kumari, the Poet: A Life Past Cinema’ along with her poems and nazams was launched.
Different Work
In 1953, Meena Kumari and the Indian actor Ashok Kumar appeared in a global Dunlop UK commercial titled ‘Dream Home.’
Meena Kumari and Ashok Kumar within the Dunlop UK commercial
Meena Kumari co-produced the movie ‘Phool Aur Patthar’ (1966), which went on to grow to be a significant industrial success. In 1967, her voice was featured within the documentary ‘After The Eclipse,’ which was produced by S. Sukhdev. She offered a radio programme named ‘Jaimala,’ which was broadcasted by Radio Ceylon. In 1972, she designed the costume for the Hindi movie ‘Pakeezah.’
Awards
Filmfare Award
- 1954: Gained Finest Actress Award for Baiju Bawra
- 1955: Gained Finest Actress Award for Parineeta
- 1956: Nominated for Finest Actress for Azaad
- 1959: Nominated for Finest Actress for Sahara
- 1960: Nominated for Finest Actress for Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan
- 1963: Gained Finest Actress Award for Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam
- 1963: Nominated for Finest Actress Award for Aarti
- 1963: Nominated for Finest Actress for Major Chup Rahungi
- 1964: Nominated for Finest Actress for Dil Ek Mandir
- 1966: Gained Finest Actress Award for Kaajal
- 1967: Nominated for Finest Actress for Phool Aur Patthar
- 1973: Nominated for Finest Actress for Pakeezah
Meena Kumari along with her Filmfare Award 1954
Bengal Movie Journalists’ Affiliation Award
- 1958: Gained Finest Actress Award (Hindi) for Sharada
- 1963: Finest Actress Award for Aarti
- 1965: Finest Actress Award for Dil Ek Mandir
- 1973: Particular Award for Pakeezah
Shama-Sushma Movie Awards
- 1973: Finest Actress Award for Pakeezah
Automotive Assortment
- Classic Automotive
Meena Kumari along with her automotive
Property/Properties
She owned an house on the eleventh flooring of a constructing ‘Landmark’ at Carter Street, Bandra, Mumbai.
Dying
On 31 March 1972, Meena Kumari handed away at St. Elizabeth’s Nursing House in Mumbai because of cirrhosis of the liver which was brought on because of overconsumption of alcohol. In June 1968, she obtained remedy in London and Switzerland. After recovering, she returned to India in September 1968 and resumed her work, however her restoration was solely non permanent. Three weeks after her movie ‘Pakeezah’ was launched, Meena Kumari fell critically unwell and was admitted to St. Elizabeth’s Nursing House on 28 March 1972. Two days later, she slipped right into a coma and handed away on 31 March 1972. As per her husband’s want, Meena Kumari was buried at Rehmatabad Cemetery in Narialwadi, Mazagaon, Bombay. On her tombstone, she had requested the next prose,
She ended life with a damaged fiddle, with a damaged track, with a damaged coronary heart, however not a single remorse.”
Following her husband’s demise on 11 February 1993 in Bombay, he was buried subsequent to her, as per his want.
Meena Kumari’s grave
In Well-liked Media
In October 1972, the Indian creator Vinod Mehta penned the official biography of Meena Kumari titled ‘Meena Kumari: The Traditional Biography.’ It was re-published in Could 2013.
Meena Kumari- The Traditional Biography
In 1998, an unofficial biography titled ‘Merely Scandalous’ was authored by Mohan Deep.
Merely Scandalous
In 2006, one other biography of Meena Kumari titled ‘Aakhri Adhai Din’ was written in Hindi by Madhup Sharma.
Aakhri Adhai Din
The movie ‘Meena Kumari Ki Amar Kahani,’ launched in 1979, was a tribute to the late actress. In 1980, a documentary named ‘Shaira’ was made on the lifetime of Meena Kumari. It was directed by S. Sukhdev, together with Gulzar, and produced by Kanta Sukhdev. In 2018, a play titled ‘Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Yeh’ was carried out at Jawahar Kala Kendra in Jaipur, portraying the lifetime of Meena Kumari.
Information/Trivia
- In an interview, she shared that her dad and mom used to name her Chini due to her small eyes. She was additionally lovingly referred to as Manju by her household and mates.
- Throughout her childhood, Meena Kumari didn’t have an curiosity in making a profession in movie and most popular attending college as a substitute. She wished to grow to be a lawyer or physician. Nevertheless, she pursued her performing profession at a really younger age as her household’s monetary situation was not good.
- In childhood, Meena Kumari’s father didn’t enable her to play or take pleasure in leisure actions, as he believed it was a waste of time. As a substitute, he wished her and her sisters to give attention to work and incomes cash.
- The Indian director Vijay Bhatt gave her an opportunity to look within the movie ‘Leatherface.’ She bought Rs 25 for the movie which she used to pay the hire. It was throughout the filming of the movie that she bought the title ‘Child Meena.’ Earlier, one of many unit members jokingly remarked that she gave the impression of a stout Begum Sahiba. Because of this, the makers provided her a alternative of some names like Kamla, Prabha, and Meena. She selected the third choice.
- As soon as, whereas travelling by automotive from Mahabaleshwar to Mumbai, Meena Kumari had a horrible automotive crash. She was rushed to Sassoon Hospital, the place docs discovered that her left hand was badly injured. Because of the severity of her damage, Kumari needed to keep within the hospital to get better. Within the accident, the little finger of her left hand was damaged and had a crooked look. On a number of events, Meena Kumari used to make a deliberate effort to hide her left hand from the digicam’s gaze.
Meena Kumari’s crooked finger of the left hand
- Meena Kumari had a powerful desire for the color white. Regardless of not being a celebration individual, she would attend varied occasions and gatherings. Nevertheless, she usually felt bored on such events. Moreover, Meena Kumari’s home was adorned predominantly with white objects, as described in Vinod Mehta’s biography.
Meena Kumari sporting a white costume
- Her floral and conventional Banarasi silk and Kanjeevaram saris set a development which continues to be adopted by many Indian trend designers.
Meena Kumari in a floral saree
- Within the Sixties, Meena Kumari began a brand new trend development by sporting a lungi, which turned standard amongst women. She donned a lungi for the track “Mausam hai aashiqana” from the film Pakeezah.
- Earlier than going to mattress, Meena Kumari would all the time maintain mogra flowers by her bedside.
- She had a ardour for driving vehicles, and when she turned 18, she purchased a second-hand automotive, a Plymouth.
Meena Kumari in her teenage
- In her leisure time, she cherished to learn poetries & books, write a diary, and hearken to music. She used to learn novels by Agatha Christie.
Meena Kumari along with her books
- After separating from her husband, she began consuming closely and finally turned an alcoholic.
- It’s stated that in emotional scenes, she by no means relied on glycerine to shed tears, as a substitute, she all the time shed actual tears whereas performing.
- Throughout her period, Meena Kumari was the highest-paid feminine actress and the primary one to personal an Impala automotive.
- Throughout her restoration, an fascinating incident befell whereas taking pictures her final movie, Pakeezah. The director, Kamal Amrohi, and the crew confronted some challenges throughout the out of doors shoot. They ran out of petrol and had been stranded on the street in a bandit space. Late at night time, a couple of dozen bandits surrounded their vehicles and requested everybody to get down. As a substitute of complying, Kamal Amrohi boldly stayed within the automotive and invited them to come back to his car in the event that they wished to speak. He launched himself as Kamal, the filmmaker taking pictures within the space, and defined that their automotive had run out of petrol. Apparently, the bandits realized they had been coping with a movie crew and adjusted their manner. They supplied leisure, music, and meals to the crew, and even organized a spot to sleep for the night time. The subsequent morning, they helped the crew get petrol for his or her automotive. One of many bandits, Amrit Lal, requested Meena Kumari to provide her an autograph on his hand with a pointed knife.
- Varied media publications have additionally acknowledged Meena Kumari’s expertise and recognition. She was featured in Field Workplace India’s High Actresses record from 1952 to 1961, and several other publications, together with Hindustan Instances, listed her among the many topmost intercourse symbols of Bollywood. In 2011, Rediff ranked her because the fourth-greatest Indian actress of all time, praising her excellent efficiency in “Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam” for its seamless mixing of actress and character. In 2012, NDTV positioned her at No. 3 of their record of “The most well-liked Bollywood actresses of all time.”
- Pandit Lachhu Maharaj, a famend Kathak grasp, praised Kumari’s distinctive dancing abilities. He admired her sleek turns and the angles of her shoulders, noting that these pure skills couldn’t be taught and had been innate to her.
- Kumari’s profession achieved a outstanding milestone that no different actress has matched. Within the 68 editions of the Filmfare Awards, she attained a singular distinction by receiving all of the nominations within the Finest Actress class. Her report for the very best variety of wins within the Finest Actress class on the Filmfare Awards remained unbroken for a powerful 13 years, from 1966 to 1979, till it was lastly surpassed by Nutan on the twenty sixth Filmfare Awards in 1979.
- Over the past days of her life, she used to really feel very unhappy and lonely. She began putting items of stone on her mattress whereas sleeping. Meena believed that stones had been particular as a result of they understood her emotions. She as soon as stated that when she cried, the stones appeared to cry along with her, and when she laughed, they appeared to share her pleasure. The stones had been like her good mates, all the time listening when she talked to them and giving her consolation when she hugged them.
- A couple of days earlier than her demise, Meena Kumari was admitted to St. Elizabeth nursing house. In her room, she expressed her worry of demise, repeating,
Apa, Apa, I don’t wish to die.”
- In 1972, after her demise, her shut good friend Nargis Dutt wrote a letter in reminiscence of Meena Kumari, which was printed in an Urdu journal, the place she stated,
Meena, Maut Mubarak Ho!”
Nargis Dutt throughout the prayer meet of Meena Kumari
Nargis shared how their friendship started throughout the taking pictures of the movie ‘Major Chup Rahungi.’ Nargis’ husband, Sunil Dutt, invited her to the units with their youngsters, and that’s when she turned nice mates with Meena. Nargis recalled a second when she seen Meena wanting drained and panting throughout a visit to Madras. When she requested, Meena stated every part was fantastic, however Nargis suspected one thing was improper, and later, she heard disturbing sounds from Meena’s room. Nargis then confronted Kamal Amrohi’s secretary, Baqar, about their remedy of Meena. She questioned Baqar,
Why do you folks wish to kill Meena? She has labored sufficient on your sake, For the way lengthy is she going to feed you?’ He stated, when the correct time comes, we’ll relaxation her.”
After returning to Bombay, Nargis and Meena didn’t meet for a very long time. Finally, Nargis bought the information that Meena had left Kamal’s house and was staying with Mehmood. Meena had a heated confrontation with Baqar on a movie set, resulting in a tense state of affairs. Rumours of Meena’s alcoholism additionally began circulating, and it was affecting her well being. When Nargis visited her within the hospital, she expressed concern about Meena’s self-destructive behaviour. Meena revealed the incident with Kamal’s secretary and the way Kamal reacted, which made her determine not to return to him.
- Meena Kumari is the one actress to be nominated for an award posthumously. Even after her passing, she obtained a posthumous nomination for her outstanding efficiency in ‘Pakeezah’ on the twentieth Filmfare Awards in 1973. The twentieth Filmfare Awards sparked controversy when Kumari didn’t win an award for her excellent efficiency in ‘Pakeezah.’ Filmfare defended its determination by explaining that its guidelines didn’t enable for posthumous awards at the moment. They talked about that each Ghulam Mohammad, the music director of ‘Pakeezah,’ and Josef Wirsching, the cinematographer, additionally misplaced out on awards for a similar cause.
- In 1958, Meena Kumari performed the function of a blind girl within the movie ‘Sahara,’ which had a profound influence on her. This expertise impressed her to create a charitable belief in her will, with the purpose of supporting and aiding visually impaired people. Meena Kumari wished to determine a workshop to learn the blind as properly. Whereas she specified {that a} portion of her belongings must be dedicated to this trigger, her needs weren’t fulfilled by these chargeable for executing her will. Underneath the steerage and efforts of actress Nargis Dutt and filmmaker Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, the Meena Kumari Charitable Belief was finally arrange. Their aim was to boost One Lakh Rupees (100,000 rupees) for the challenge. To generate funds, the belief organized a particular premiere of Meena Kumari’s movie ‘Gomti Ke Kinare,’ which efficiently collected 50,000 rupees from the occasion. Regardless of dealing with challenges, the belief managed to donate the collected 50,000 rupees to ‘The Muncherjee Nowrojee Banajee Industrial House for the Blind’ in Jogeshwari, Mumbai. Because of the lack of assist from the movie trade, Nargis Dutt needed to make the tough determination to shut down the Meena Kumari Charitable Belief. Nonetheless, Meena Kumari’s influence on the reason for serving to visually impaired people left a long-lasting legacy. In October 1973, a memorial referred to as the Meena Kumari Memorial for the Blind was established.
- Kumari additionally held the report for the very best variety of nominations within the Finest Actress class, receiving a complete of 12 nominations. Nevertheless, after 35 years, this report was finally damaged by Madhuri Dixit on the 53rd Filmfare Awards in 2008.
- A postal stamp with a face worth of 500 paise was issued in her honour on 13 February 2011 by India Publish.
A postal stamp in reminiscence of Meena Kumari
- Meena Kumari’s outstanding performances in “Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam” and “Pakeezah” earned her a spot in Filmfare’s record of “80 Iconic Performances” in 2010. Her movies “Baiju Bawra” and “Do Bigha Zameen” had been acknowledged among the many best movies in a ballot carried out by the British Movie Institute. On the event of the centenary of Indian cinema, a ballot carried out by News18 featured her movies “Pakeezah,” “Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam,” and “Do Bigha Zameen” within the record of 100 greatest movies ever made.
- In 2012, a bit of the Bandstand Promenade in Bandra, Mumbai, referred to as the Stroll of the Stars, was inaugurated to honour movie artists from the Hindi movie trade. Meena Kumari’s autograph was included together with statues, handprints, and autographs of different famend artists. Nevertheless, the Stroll of the Stars was later dissolved in 2014.
- On 24 February 2016, an distinctive exhibition befell on the Womanhood Competition held in Osianama Liberty, Mumbai, India, showcasing Kumari’s authentic publicity materials and memorabilia. The exhibition featured lovely work and portraits from her movies, providing a glimpse into her cinematic journey and celebrating her important contributions to Indian cinema and womanhood.
- On 1st August 2018, Google paid tribute to Meena Kumari on her eighty fifth beginning anniversary by that includes a Google Doodle in her honour. The search engine described her as an actress who captivated audiences along with her lovely, expressive eyes and portrayed robust but weak ladies on display. Her performances had been praised for the flawless moments and sophisticated feelings she conveyed with out even saying a phrase.
Google’s doodle in reminiscence of Meena Kumari
- She learnt to play desk tennis from the Indian actor and comic Mehmood, who was her brother-in-law.
- Meena Kumari’s eyes had been thought of her greatest function, charming and expressive. Her sharp-winged eyeliner turned fairly standard.
Meena Kumari’s eyes
- She might converse a number of languages like Urdu, Hindi, English, and Bengali.
- In addition to her performing skills, Meena Kumari had a hidden expertise for portray and loved creating lovely art work throughout her free time. She was additionally expert at enjoying the Harmonium and sometimes performed it as a pastime.
- She ventured into the true property enterprise, buying varied properties in Mumbai.
- Meena Kumari held nice admiration for the legendary actor Dilip Kumar and regarded him one among her favorite co-stars.
- A detailed good friend and legendary artist from Bollywood revealed a touching side of Meena Kumari’s life, sharing how she was extremely beneficiant and helped these in want, even gifting away every part she had. Sadly, in the direction of the tip of her life, she confronted monetary struggles and fell unwell, missing funds for medical remedy. She handed away in a tough state of affairs, within the outhouse of a bungalow she had gifted to her sister and her sister’s husband, the comedian legend Mehmood. Her final days had been spent in loneliness and hardship, surviving on meals supplied by others.
- Meena Kumari stays a topic of curiosity amongst present-day filmmakers. Some movie variations had been deliberate, together with a modern-day model of her basic movie “Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam” which was initially set to star Aishwarya Rai and later Priyanka Chopra. Though the movie bought shelved. A TV sequence directed by Rituparno Ghosh was additionally made, with actress Raveena Tandon portraying Meena Kumari’s function.
- In 2023, the Pakistani media shared that the Pakistani actress Meera would play the function of Meena Kumari within the remake of the Hindi movie Pakeezah (1972).
- In the identical yr, the Indian designer Manish Malhotra introduced that he would direct the biopic of Meena Kumari wherein the Indian actress Kriti Sanon would painting Meena. Nevertheless, quickly after the announcement, Meena Kumari’s stepson Tajdar Amrohi raised objections to it. He said that he would watch for an official affirmation concerning the biopic earlier than deciding to take any authorized motion. He stated he was not even consulted by the makers of the movie earlier than saying the biopic.
