Meena Kumari was an Indian actress, singer, and poetess. She was born on 1 August 1932 in Dadar East, Bombay, British India. She died on 31 March 1972 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. 

Her father, Ali Baksh was a singer and theatre artist. Her mother, Prabhavati Devi was a stage performer. She had two sisters, Khurshid Bano and Madhu. 

She was married to Kamal Amrohi, an Indian film director and screenwriter. 

Meena Kumari’s favourites

Her hobbies were dancing and singing. 

She admired the works by famous writer Gulzar.

Her favourite film actor was Dharmendra. 

Interesting facts about Meena Kumari

Meena Kumari was born and raised in a multicultural family. Her father was a Muslim, and her mother was a Christian. 

Meena Kumari's maternal grandmother was the daughter of Rabindranath Tagore's younger brother.

Her real name was Mahjabeen Bano. During her childhood, her family members lovingly called her Baby Mahjabeen. 

She started working in the films as a child artist as her family’s financial conditions were not good.  

Meena Kumari's acting debut

Vijay Bhatt, the director of Farzand-e-Watan, gave her the nickname Baby Meena. 

Meena Kumari made her acting debut with Vijay Bhatt’s film in the year 1939. 

In the year 1946, Meena Kumari played her first lead role in the film ‘Bachchon Ka Khel.’ She was 14 at the time. 

Meena Kumari’s legacy

She became a famous Bollywood star with the release of 1952 film ‘Baiju Bawara.’

She sang her first song as a playback singer in the 1945 film ‘Behen.’

Meena Kumari did eight consecutive films with the actor Pradeep Kumar. Their on-screen pairing was loved by the audience. 

She worked with famous Bollywood actors like Dilip Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Raj Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Dev Anand, Dharmendra, Bharat Bhushan etc. 

Meena Kumari’s portrayals of melancholic and miserable characters in her films and her real-life tragic events, earned her the nickname ‘Tragedy Queen.’

Meena Kumari’s marriage and love life

Meena Kumari married the film director Kamal Amrohi on 14 February 1952. The relationship between the couple grew unpleasant as after marriage, Meena Kumari found out that that was Kamal Amrohi’s third marriage. 

Meena Kumari dated the actor Dharmendra which was seen as an extramarital affair. She helped him build his career in Bollywood as those were the struggling days for the actor whereas Meena Kumari was already an established actress. 

Meena Kumari was left heartbroken when Dharmendra misbehaved with her in an event. 

This tragic event led to her downfall, as Meena Kumari began consuming alcohol.

Meena Kumari’s last film

Meena Kumari was last seen in Kamal Amrohi’s 1972 film ‘Pakeezah.’ The film was a success but also an end to her legendary acting career. 

Just three weeks after the release of the film, Meena Kumari suffered from liver cirrhosis and passed away on 31 March 1972. She was only 39 years old at the time. 

Awards

In the year 1966, Meena Kumari won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for the film ‘Kajal.’

Meena Kumari was honoured with the Bengal Film Journalists Association Award (BFJA).

She was the only actress who won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for 13 consecutive years. 

Meena Kumari’s filmography

Meena Kumari’s popular films are Naya Andaz (1956), Main Bhi Ladki Hoon (1964), Bandish (1955), Shararat (1959), Daaera (1953), Sanjh Aur Savera (1964), Gomti Ke Kinare (1972), Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan (1959), Mem Sahib (1956), Chand (1959), Akeli Mat Jaiyo (1963), Baharon Ki Manzil (1968), Tamasha (1952), Ardhangini (1959), Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962), Phool aur Patthar (1966).