Meena Kumari (born Mahjabeen Bano; 1 August 1933 – 31 March 1972) was an Indian actress and poet, who worked in Hindi films. Popularly known as The Tragedy Queen, she was active between 1939 and 1972. Kumari is widely considered one of the greatest actresses of Indian cinema.
There are innumerable stories of her warmth and her generosity, her love for children, which is why every time she worked with kids, she got attached to them. Daisy and Honey Irani have wonderful memories associated with Ek Hi Raasta and many decades later, Sachin and Sarika were her favourite co-stars during the shooting of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Majhli Didi.
Sarika shares that Meena Kumari often took her home after shooting and played her dolls with her and when Sarika’s mother arrived next morning to fetch her, pleaded with her to stay an extra day. Those close to Meena Kumari reveal that she maintained a regular diary that featured her poems.
Unfortunately, while the world celebrated her as an actor, very few got a glimpse into the heart of a poetess.