tajdar amrohi, meena kumari, meena kumari biopic

In the past few days, the news of Meena Kumari biopic has made the headlines almost every day. It started with the rumours of Manish Malhotra making his directorial debut with the film, featuring Kriti Sanon as the lead. Then, the late actress’ stepson Tajdar Amrohi threatened legal action if done so. Recently, he exclusively spoke to Bollywood Bubble clearing his stand. He also revealed making Meena Kumari biopic himself.

Tajdar Amrohi on parents Kamal Amrohi and Meena Kumari

Meena Kumari got married to filmmaker Kamal Amrohi while he was already married to someone else. He had 3 kids from the first marriage, including Tajdar. The couple got separated after 14 years of marriage and a lot was written about them. Some people said Kamal ji was physically violent with Meena ji and it eventually led her to alcoholism. But Tajdar denies it all, and that is why he doesn’t want anyone else to tell their story.

He shares, “My heart hurts because my dad was very dear to me. Kamal saab was such a good man because if he hadn’t been one, people wouldn’t have remembered him even after so many years of his passing. He was god-gifted. He didn’t go to Meena Kumari’s house to ask her to get married. She had come to him and she knew he was already married and a father to 3 kids. It is on record. So, there was no cheating.”

Tajdar on trouble in Meena ji-Kamal ji’s marriage

Clearing doubts about the trouble in his parents’ marriage, Tajdar says, “If their marriage was so bad, why she would have stayed with Kamal saab for 14 years? Even after separating, they never got divorced. Did anyone see them fight or just heard the stories? How much truth is there to such stories? Log bas masala laga ke baat bada dete hain. (People just add spice to rumours).”

He added, “Kabhi Kamal Amrohi ne Meena ji ki burai ki? Kabhi Meena ji ka koi statement aaya ki Kamaal ji ne mere saath ye zulm kiya, ya wo mujhe sharaab pilate the? (Did Kamal ji ever said anything bad about Meena ji? Did she ever make any statement of her beating her or he made her drink?) If it is there somewhere, please show it to me. It has been more than 50 years, but there is nothing as such. Then why do people demean him?”

On making Meena Kumari biopic

While there are news of others making Meena ji’s biopic, Tajdar confirms that he himself is making a film to tell his parents’ story. He reveals, “My film is already in development. What all we know as the family, no one else does. From how Meena ji entered Kamaal ji’s life to their entire journey. They are even buried next to each other. We never blocked the space and Kamaal ji died 20 years after Meena ji. So, it was destiny that they got space next to each other. Even God is seeing them together after their passing. So, why should we demean them? I have no problem with people making money. I don’t want anyone to disturb even my film.”

Tajdar on Meena ji’s alcoholism

He also insists that while a lot is said about Meena ji’s alcoholism, he will show the actual truth behind it through his film. Tajdar asserts, “Didn’t she have any good quality other than her drinking? Bas har samay ‘sharaab peeti thi, sharaab peeti thi’. She had all the happiness in the world, but people keep saying she was sad. Even Parveen Babi and Madhubala died at a young age. People say that she immersed in alcoholism due to depression, but it’s a lie.”

He adds, “The film that I make, it will show the truth of why she used to drink. If my father used to beat her, then why she didn’t drink when she was with him for 14 years? There is so much debate on it but Kamaal sir didn’t even drink himself. Over 100 people used to work under him. He never even screamed at anyone. No staff member ever left Kamaal ji. Did any of them say that he was like a tyrant?”

Meena ji is considered one of the greatest actresses in Indian cinema. She was just 38 when she passed away. The cause of her death was said to be cirrhosis of the liver, which happened due to her alcoholism.

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