Meena Kumari

Meena Kumari was an Indian movie actress and poetess. She is regarded as one of the most prominent actresses to have appeared on the screens of Hindi Cinema. Meena Kumari was the third daughter of Ali Baksh who was a veteran of Parsi theater played harmonium, taught music and Iqbal Begum. Bollywood actress Meena Kumari gained a reputation for playing grief-stricken and tragic roles, and her performances have been praised and reminisced throughout the years.

During a career from her childhood to her death, she starred in more than ninety films, many of which have achieved classic and cult status today.Bollywood heroine Meena started her acting career at the age of 7 in 1939 with Leatherface, directed by Vijay Bhatt. Meena Kumari gained fame with her role as a heroine in Vijay Bhatt's Baijju Banwara in1952. She became the first actress to win the Filmfare best actress Award in 1953 for this performance. Pareeenita, Daera, Ek Hi Raasta Sharda, and Dil Apna Aur Preet Paraya are some big hits of bollywood legend Meena Kumari.

Though she cultivated the image of a tragedienne, she also performed commendably in a few light-hearted movies like Azzad, Miss Mary, Shararat, and Kohinoor.Meena Kumari fell in love with and married film director Kamal Amrohi. After divorcing her husband in 1964, heraddiction to alcohol became stronger and three weeks after the release of Pakeezah, actress Meena Kumari became seriously ill, and died on 31 March 1972 of liver cirrhosis.

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