Throwback: When Nargis opened up on Meena Kumari’s love for Dharmendra
Throwback: When Nargis opened up on Meena Kumari’s love
for Dharmendra 
Once the legendary actress Nargis Dutt opened up on Meena Kumari’s ‘passionate’ love for Dharmendra that eventually led to major heartbreak.
Bollywood’s legendary tragedy queen Meena Kumari captivated audiences with her soul-stirring performances, often reflecting the very heartbreak she endured in real life. Her off-screen struggles mirrored the poignant roles she portrayed on screen.
In a heartfelt open letter published in an Urdu magazine, Nargis voiced her sorrow, penning an heartrending farewell that encapsulated the pain of losing not just a legendary star, but a beloved companion.
Hindi Cinema’s celebrated tragedy queen Meena Kumari enchanted generations with her emotive performances, bringing a rare intensity to every role she played. However, away from the arc lights, her personal life bore an uncanny resemblance to the sorrowful heroines she so effortlessly embodied on screen.
The film industry was in mourning after Meena Kumari’s premature death in 1972 at the age of 38 from liver cirrhosis brought on by long-term alcoholism. Her close friend and fellow actress Nargis gave one of the most moving tributes.
In a heartfelt open letter published in an Urdu magazine, Nargis poured out her sorrow, penning a deeply touching farewell that encapsulated the pain of losing not just a legendary star, but a beloved companion.
“Maut Mubarak Ho Meena… Meena, today your Baaji congratulates you on your death and asks you to never step into this world again. This place is not meant for people like you.”
The letter, later translated and featured in Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai: Urdu Memoirs of Cinema Legends by Yasir Abbasi and excerpted by The Indian Express, also unveiled the most heartfelt chapter of Meena Kumari’s life—her deep and enduring love for Dharmendra. Nargis further wrote, “If Meena has ever loved anyone passionately, the person is Dharmendra. If Meena ever turned crazy in love for someone, it was Dharmendra.”
Despite her unmatched fame, Meena Kumari’s life took a tragic turn when she lost her battle with alcoholism, a slow and consuming illness that finally took her life.
Once seen as a union of two strong creative minds, her marriage to filmmaker Kamal Amrohi ultimately fell apart. Following an alleged incident in which Kamal allegedly slapped her, Meena left his house and started living apart, further worsening their relationship.
Sadly, Meena’s family was in such dire financial state at the time of her passing that they were unable to pay even the small hospital bill of Rs 3,500. Her loved ones were able to take her body home because her attending physician kindly offered to pay for it.
Meena Kumari’s journey was more than just a meteoric rise to fame—it was a deeply emotional story marked by personal anguish, solitude, and silent suffering. Behind the accolades and applause was a woman whose inner wounds never healed. Her legacy is a haunting yet powerful tale of extraordinary talent overshadowed by sorrow, a luminous star dimmed far too soon.
News Edit KV Raman
