Meena Kumari

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 16 : Richa Chadha, who is gearing up for the upcoming series 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar', revealed how she delved into the iconic performances of legendary actor Meena Kumari to craft her character.Richa Chadha, who essays the role of Lajjo, a courtesan with a captivating persona, shared that she found inspiration in Meena Kumari's portrayal of Shahibjaan in the timeless classic 'Pakeezah'."Carefully observing, learning from and taking lessons from Meena Kumariji's character in 'Pakeezah' was a truly enriching and deeply transforming experience for me ahead of shooting for Heeramandi. In the movie, Paakezah, Meena Kumari's character has a certain tragic depth and complexity that resonated with Lajjo, the character that I play in the show. I worked on the voice and diction, while studying Meenaji's work, to the point of imitation sometimes. I felt like I was walking in the footsteps of a cinematic legend, and it was an honour to pay tribute to Meena Kumariji through my portrayal of Lajjo," she said, according to a statement. Recently, the makers unveiled the trailer.Set against the backdrop of the Indian freedom struggle of the 1940s, 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' promises to be an epic saga of love, power, revenge, and freedom.Through the stories of courtesans and their patrons, the series delves deep into the cultural reality of Heeramandi.Bhansali Productions shared the trailer on their official Instagram handle. The caption reads, "In the glittering, regal halls of Shahi Mahal, romance and revolution clash in silence...Sanjay Leela Bhansali's sweeping saga of love, loss and liberation - Heeramandi: The Diamond bazaar..Trailer out now!"The intriguing trailer showcases the lives of courtesans in Heeramandi, Lahore, British India. Mallikajaan (Manisha Koirala) governs over an aristocratic courtesan house. She plans, fearing no one, until the homecoming of her late nemesis' daughter, Fareedan (Sonakshi Sinha), which raises problems in the household.Outside, the city is rolling with revolutionaries seeking India's independence from British domination, with Mallikajaan's daughter, Bibbojaan (Aditi Rao Hydari), joining the struggle for freedom.Meanwhile, Mallikajaan's youngest son, Alamzeb (Sharmin Segal), fantasises about falling in love with the son of a nobleman, Tajdar (Taha Shah Badussha), and wishes to escape Heeramandi.At one point, it gives glimpses of India's freedom struggle and on the other hand, it also shows Mallikajaan and Fareedan face off in an epic battle for the title of Heeramandi's huzoor.'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' is scheduled to be out on May 1.The series, which marks Bhansali's debut in the web world, also stars Manisha Koirala, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sanjeeda Sheikh and Sharmin Segal in pivotal roles.

While the actor to play the crazily talented singer Baiju in the love story Baiju Bawra is yet to be decided, Sanjay Leela Bhansali who is remaking  the musical classic Baiju Bawra has zeroed in on his second-favourite actress (Aishawarya Rai Bachchan being the first) to play Baiju’s love interest Gauri.The role was originally played by Meena Kumari in 1952’s Baiju Bawra directed by Vijay Bhatt. Sources say Bhansali feels Deepika comes closest to conveying the dignity and tragic grandeur of Meena Kumari.“Of course, the role of Gauri would be very different now. But the essence of the character remains unchanged,” informs the source.Also, it seems the heroine’s role in Bhansali’s Baiju Bawra would be significantly increased. Meena Kumari, in the original, didn’t have that much to do. The entire focus was on Bharat Bhushan as the commoner who usurps the legendary singer Tansen from Emperor Akbar’s durbar. Not so in Bhansali’s re-make.

One of Indias most iconic films that took 14 years to hit the silver screen, Kamal Amrohis classic Pakeezah starring his former wife Meena Kumari is currently facing legal issues. After Amrohis children sold their production house Mahal Pictures along with the famous Kamalistan studio, located in suburban Mumbai, to Pune based builder Avinash Bhosale, DB Realty and the Luthrias, DB Realty has now moved the High Court as a legal feud ensued between them over ownership of the 1972 classic. Talking about the suit filed by DB Realty, the company decided to move the High Court after the announcement of Amrohis selling rights of Pakeezah to Shemaroo Entertainment in 2015. Amrohis children namely Tajdar, Shandar and Rukshar, have come out in support of Shemaroo claiming that Pakeezah was solely their fathers legacy. According to Tajdar, the contract he signed clearly states that the rights of the film will be pledged back to him after selling Mahal Pictures. He also further stated that the films credits claim that the film was written, directed and produced by Kamal Amrohi and that nowhere has it been mentioned that it is a Mahal Pictures Production. Hence, DB Realty has no rights over the same. On the other hand, Avinash Bhosale continues to retain that they were indeed handed over the rights of Pakeezah and that now the Amrohis illegally sold the rights of the film to Shemaroo. However, denying the same, it is being said that in 2008, the board of directors of Mahal Pictures had passed a resolution indicating that in the event of sale of the company, the rights of Pakeezah would be solely transferred to the Amrohi family, the details of which will be submitted in the court by Tajdar. Terming it as a false case, Vinod Karani of Shemaroo Entertainment too has reportedly supported the Amrohis maintaining that the details of the 2008 meetings were not included in the suit filed by DB Realty deliberately. On the other hand, the current representative of Mahal Pictures, Jatin Rajguru continues to firmly assert that the film certified by the censor board in 1971 clearly stated Kamal Amrohi as the owner of the film, who was then also the owner of Mahal Pictures. He also maintained that the details of the board of directors meeting held in 2008 were hidden from them during the purchase of the production house and studio. Pakeezah featuring Meena Kumari in the lead role of a courtesan was announced in 1956, four years post the marriage of Amrohi and Meena Kumari. But their separation and the ill health of Meena Kumari majorly delayed the release of the film which eventually hit the big screen in 1972. However, the film turned out to be one of the most iconic films in the history of Indian cinema.

She lived a tumultuous life, filled with passion, romance and a tragic grandeur. And now Meena Kumari's life would be chronicled in cinema by none other than Tigmanshu Dhulia whose Sahib Bibi Aur Gangster was inspired by Meena Kumari's best-known work Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam. For the first time Tigmanshu Dhulia talks about why he has chosen National Award winner Kangna Ranaut to play Meena Kumari.

Dhulia, who is currently wrapping up a film called Yaara , says he chose Kangna because she was the only actress who could convey the tragic pathos of Meena Kumari's personality. "There is a profound sadness in Kangna's eyes, the same quality that we saw in Meena Kumari's eyes. And that voice! When I heard Kangna Ranaut in her debut film Gangster I was reminded of Meena Kumari. The same haunted and haunting quality, a voice that suggests pain grief, wisdom and seduction! I knew then and there that if I ever make a film on Meena Kumari it would have to be Kangna who plays the legendary actress." Dhulia's biopic would be adapted from the late journalist Vinod Mehta's biography on Meena Kumari.

Says the filmmaker, "I've bought the rights of the book long ago. It is a fascinating tale of a life lived on the edge. As I read the account, I was more and more convinced that Kangna Ranaut was the right person for the part." Dhulia is now looking at the chapters from Meenaji's very colourful life that he will put on screen. Besides her husband filmmaker Kamal Amrohi, the legendary actress was said to be close to several men including writer-director Gulzar, and the actors Raj Kumar and Dharmendra.

Says Dhulia, "I don't know which aspects of her life I'll go into. At the moment I don't have a script or a studio to back the project. But I am making the film for sure, though not right away." In 1981, the mighty Sohrab Modi had made an appalling Meena Kumari film entitled Meena Kumari Ki Amar Kahani starring starlet Dolly in the title role while another actress called Sona had played Madhubala in the same film.

Surely Tigmanshu Dhulia would do a better job of the legendary actress' life story.

Remaking yesteryear films seems to be the 'in' thing these days. And the latest to hop onto the bandwagon is producer Sunil Bohra who has acquired the rights for Gulzar's 1971 film Mere Apne. Apparently, Bohra has bought the film's remake rights from its original producers Romu and Raj Sippy for a whopping Rs. 1 crore.

The 1971 film which starred Vinod Khanna, Meena Kumari and Shatrughan Sinha was a box office hit. However, the original story about warring gangsters who come together for their affection for a lonely, abandoned old woman, played by Meena Kumari, will be modified to suit the current times.

Details about the cast and crew are yet to be revealed.