Mumbai, March 30: “The melody that emerged from the instrument has been heard by all, but the heart that endured it knows its true essence.” This quote perfectly encapsulates the life of Meena Kumari, often referred to as Bollywood’s Tragedy Queen. The actress passed away on March 31, 1972. Whenever the topic of unfulfilled love and impeccable acting arises, the film ‘Pakeezah’ is always mentioned first. It was not just a movie; it was a grand dream of Kamal Amrohi intertwined with Meena Kumari’s poignant story.
The film took over a decade to complete and became iconic. Meena Kumari’s performance, the sparkle in her eyes, and her classical dance brought her character to life. The film’s dialogues remain timeless, but did you know that some crucial dance sequences were not performed by Meena Kumari herself?
The iconic line, “Your feet are beautiful, please don’t let them touch the ground, they will get dirty,” became a tale of love, showcasing Meena Kumari’s beautiful feet. However, those feet were not hers; they belonged to Padma Khanna. Not only her feet, but Padma Khanna also performed classical dance in the iconic songs “Thade Rahiyo,” “Teer-e-Nazar,” and “Chalo Dildar Chalo.”
At the time of ‘Pakeezah’s’ filming, Meena Kumari’s health had severely deteriorated due to liver cirrhosis. Her abdomen began to swell, making it difficult to shoot even normal scenes. To continue the film, Kamal Amrohi sought an artist who resembled Meena Kumari and could perform classical dance like her, leading to Padma Khanna’s involvement in the shooting.
In “Thade Rahiyo,” Padma Khanna filmed the long shots and fast-paced dance sequences. Close-up shots and expressions of Meena Kumari were used in the song. In another song, “Teer-e-Nazar,” Meena Kumari performed a stunning classical dance with her dupatta covering her face, but it was actually Padma Khanna who danced. To bring the song to life, excellent classical dance was required, but Meena Kumari’s condition was poor. She fainted during the song “Chalte-Chalte,” and the remainder was completed with Padma Khanna’s assistance.
It is also believed that during the making of ‘Pakeezah,’ Meena Kumari was unwell both mentally and physically. Due to ongoing disputes with Kamal Amrohi, she rarely attended the set for shooting. A significant portion of the film was shot using a body double. Moreover, due to her illness, her abdomen had swollen, which was concealed by dressing her in a dhoti and kurta towards the film’s end. After its release, this outfit became a fashion trend.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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