Gulzar shares profound memory of late actress Meena Kumari.
Gulzar shares profound memory of late actress Meena Kumari.
Lyricist-Poet-writer of eminence, Gulzar shared a profound memory of late actress Meena Kumari. He recalled how she agreed to work in his directorial debut ‘Mere Apne’ regardless being severely unwell.
Over a conversation with a section of media, he revealed that she was in the final stages of her illness when the film was released
Mere Apne’, was a remake of the National Award-winning Bengali film ‘Apanjan’, a Tapan Sinha directorial.The film holds a special place in Indian cinema, being one of Meena Kumari’s final performances prior to her untimely passing away due to liver cirrhosis at the age of 38.
Gulzar further shared that while Chhaya Devi, who played the elderly woman in Apanjan, was fluent in Hindi and could have reprised her role, producer Sippy Saab was keen on casting actress Nimmi instead.
For Gulzar, however, felt Chhaya Devi was a more suitable choice. Adding that with due respects, he disagreed and insisted that Chhaya Devi would be more suitable.When asked to consider someone else for the role, Gulzar suggested Meena Kumari. The producer was instrumental in persuading Meenaji to be in the project though she was grievously ill those days.
News Edit KV Raman
