The actress, known as the tragic queen of Hindi cinema, did not leave Rs 3,500 in the bank after her death.
Updated March 2, 2024, 6:38 PM IST
Despite her famous status, the tragic queen of Hindi cinema faced financial difficulties towards the end, highlighting the unpredictable reality of fame. Explore the emotional journey of this iconic figure who will forever be remembered in the lore of Bollywood.
The entertainment industry can be a very strange place, especially for people who are at the peak of their career. With that in mind, the tragedy queen of Bollywood, who was once a top star in the industry, died very untimely at a young age, and to make matters worse, her family couldn’t even afford to pay her alimony. is noteworthy. After her death, her hospital expenses amounted to 3,500 rupees. The tragedy queen we are talking about is none other than Meena Kumari, one of the most talented women in the history of Bollywood.
The true queen of tragedy
Meena Kumari was undoubtedly the queen of her time, appearing frequently in tragic roles and eventually earning the title of Tragedy Queen. However, just like her character, her real life had a very tragic ending. She lost her life at the young age of 38 due to liver cirrhosis caused by alcoholism. However, the tragedy in her life did not end there. Despite her prominence in Bollywood, the actress’ family was struggling financially as she did not even have Rs 3,500 in her bank account to pay for her hospital expenses.
Celebrities pay tribute to Meena Kumari after her death
In an old interview, director Bimal Roy’s daughter Rinky Roy Bhattacharya told Rediff that at the time of his death in 1972, director Bimal Roy’s financial condition was in tatters. She said: At 3:25 pm on March 31, 1972, at St. Elizabeth’s nursing home, she did not have the 3,500 rupees needed to release her body. ” Rinki also revealed that it was the doctor who got her family out of this difficult situation so that the actor’s body could be buried respectfully. “It was a miracle that the doctors were able to save her family,” she said.
Meena Kumari (Image credit – Instagram)
Late singer Lata Mangeshkar, who was a very close friend of the actress, also shared an anecdote about the last time they met Meena on her last day. Lata, who lent her voice to many of Meena’s memorable songs, including the role of Sahivijaan in Pakeezah, paid her heartfelt condolences and shared her anecdotes in a 2021 interview with Rediff did. She fondly spoke of visiting Meena after learning about her health condition, and she emphasized her eternal bond between the two luminaries of the Indian film industry.
She said: “I found out that she was seriously ill. When I reached her place with flowers, she said, ‘Allah, aap yahan aye, main badi khush. Kismat hoon” (God, you are here, I am so lucky). we chatted. She asked me for tea, but she felt that in this condition she was in no position to offer anything other than warmth. She died a little later. Lata said she vividly remembers meeting Meena Kumari at an awards ceremony in 1968, noting that even then Meena looked noticeably “thin and pale”.
In her later years, Meena Kumari struggled with declining health, exacerbated by her battle with alcoholism. Tragically, she died of cirrhosis in 1972, shortly after the premiere of Kamal Amrohi’s masterpiece Pakeezah, leaving behind an unparalleled talent and heartache.
(Tag Translation) Meena Kumari
