Kangana Ranaut, who has ventured into politics, recently paid homage to the legendary actress Meena Kumari by sharing a clip from the iconic film Pakeezah on her Instagram Stories. In her post, Kangana expressed deep admiration for Meena Kumari’s exceptional acting skills, stating that her performance transcended conventional boundaries. Kangana commented on a particular scene from Pakeezah, noting the profound transition from grief to hysterical laughter to sheer disillusionment, describing it as “beyond supreme.”
Kangana also reflected on Meena Kumari’s unparalleled status in the film industry of her time. She mentioned that during Meena Kumari’s era, other female leads were referred to as heroines, while Meena Kumari was uniquely acknowledged as an actress, highlighting her distinguished place in Bollywood.
Meena Kumari, often termed the “tragedy queen” of Bollywood, was renowned for her poignant portrayals of suffering and silent women. Born as Mahjabeen, she was the second daughter of harmonium player Ali Bux and singer Iqbal Banu, who were involved in Hindi films. Due to financial hardships, Meena began acting at the age of four, debuting in Vijay Bhatt’s Leatherface in 1939. Her cherubic appearance and confident screen presence led to more roles in films like Adhuri Kahani (1939), Pooja (1940), and Ek Hi Bhool (1940). She also appeared in mythological films such as Veer Ghatotkach (1949), Shri Ganesh Mahima (1950), Lakshmi Narayan (1951), Hanuman Patal Vijay (1951), and Aladdin Aur Jadui Chirag (1952).
Meena Kumari’s legacy includes cinematic classics such as Baiju Bawra (1952), Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam (1962), and Pakeezah (1972). She tragically passed away at the age of 38 in 1972 due to cirrhosis of the liver.
Kangana Ranaut, meanwhile, continues to balance her acting and political careers. She recently announced the new release date for her film Emergency, in which she portrays former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The film is set to release on September 7 this year and is backed by Zee Studios. It is produced by Renu Pitti and Kangana herself, with screenplay and dialogues by Ritesh Shah and music orchestrated by Sanchit Balhara.
