One of the most loved poets and lyricists of the Hindi cinema, Gulzar has woven many love stories with his words. From his poetic verses to his shayari, people have fallen in love with the man who has the talent of crafting any emotion with his writings. It was in 1963, when Gulzar began his career as a lyricist with the film Bandini, and since then, he has only captivated the hearts of people.
On the personal front, Gulzar’s personal life has also been a great topic of discussion. He fell in love with the stunning actress, Raakhee Majumdar, and the couple tied the knot on May 15, 1973. However, after a few years of their marriage, the couple separated because their life together had never been smooth. The duo never got divorced as they didn’t want it to hamper their daughter, Meghana.
However, not many people know that before meeting and falling for Raakhee, Gulzar was allegedly in love with the enigmatic Meena Kumari. Yes, you read that right. However, their affair was more about respect and admiration for each other.
Gulzar became a close aide of Meena Kumari during her rocky relationship with Kamal Amrohi
While Meena Kumari’s marriage with Kamal Amrohi was hitting the rocks, the actress found peace in Gulzar. Their shared love for poetry and shayaris brought them close to each other. Meena was known for her stellar acting, but she loved writing poetry too, and a very few people close to her knew about it.
It was during the shooting of Benazir that Meena Kumari and Gulzar became friends. He got to know about her love for poetry and encouraged her to write more. Soon, Meena’s health started to deteriorate, and she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.
Meena Kumari gave her most prized possession to Gulzar before her death
Though Meena Kumari’s health was fragile, she still signed Mere Apne, directed by Gulzar. Despite her health declining at a rapid pace, she completed the film. On March 31, 1972, Meena Kumari bid adieu to the world, but before her death, the actress handed over her most prized possession to Gulzar, the man she trusted the most. Yes, she handed all her poetry and shayaris to the man, who valued them the most.
Gulzar paid a tribute to Meena Kumari by publishing her poetries
After Meena Kumari’s death, Gulzar made sure to give Meena the due credit she deserved, as she used to express all her pain through her poetry. Gulzar compiled all the shayaris and poems of Meena and published them as a book titled, Meena Kumari Ki Shayari. He also published another book, Tanha Chand, which contained Meena Kumari’s poems.
Meena Kumari had a life full of tragedies. She craved love and attention that she never got. Despite being one of the top actresses of her time, she never got the love she desired. However, in her life full of miseries, Gulzar’s presence made all the difference. He came into her life as a ray of hope, and she felt alive all over again. Whether their relationship was romantic or purely admiration, no one knows.
Gulzar gave Meena Kumari a sense of belonging, and he made her immortal through her shayaris.
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