Here's an interesting and lesser-known anecdote from Nargis Dutt's life that is about her fight with Indian cinema's 'Jubilee Star', Rajendra Kumar, who became her 'samdhi' later in life.
Nargis Dutt is one of the few actresses in the history of Indian cinema, whose name comes to everyone's mind when anyone asks the question, 'Who is the greatest Indian actress?' Whether we talk about her acting chops, dancing skills or the kind of characters she had done in her career spanning more than two decades, Nargis was in a league of her own. One of the biggest reasons why Nargis is regarded as the 'Best Actress' in the history of Indian cinema goes to the fact that she did powerful female characters most of the time in her career.
Just like the iconic actress, Madhubala, Nargis was also extremely popular in Greece, courtesy of her beauty and timeless characters. The biggest difference between Nargis and her contemporaries was that she became a woman, who could be desired and deified. The actress was bestowed with the prestigious Padma Shri award in 1958 for her contribution to Indian cinema. Some of her most notable films include the likes of Raat Aur Din, Andaaz, Barsaat, Awaara, Chori Chori, Shri 420, Mother India, and more.
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Nargis was born on June 1, 1929, to her parents, Abdul Rashid and Jaddanbai. The doting parents chose the name Fatima Rashid for their daughter, but she opted for the name, Nargis once she entered into the film industry. Moving on to her personal life, the actress fell in love with legendary actor, Sunil Dutt, during the filming of their Oscar-nominated film, Mother India. After dating each other for some time, Nargis got married to Sunil Dutt on March 11, 1958, and took the name, Nirmala Dutt after converting into Hinduism.
When Nargis and Sunil Dutt got married, while most of the people were delighted, a certain section was offended by their courtship. However, the negativity around their inter-faith marriage did not affect the couple. While Sunil Dutt was a reserved person, Nargis was quite vocal about her feelings for him even before their wedding. Not only this, the actress even had a fight with legendary actor, Rajendra Kumar, AKA' Jubilee Star', for her husband, Sunil Dutt. Yes! You read it right. So, without further ado, let's get into the details of that infamous incident that speaks volumes about Nargis' unconditional love for Sunil Dutt.
It was the year 1963, and popular director, C.V. Sridhar was assembling a perfect cast for his film, Dil Ek Mandir. The filmmaker needed three lead actors for the film, as it was based on a love triangle. C.V. Sridhar finalised Nargis and Rajendra Kumar, but was searching for the third lead. It was when Rajendra recommended Raaj Kumar, and Nargis suggested her husband, Sunil Dutt's name. Due to Nargis and Sridhar's strong bond, the latter signed Sunil Dutt and left Rajendra Kumar absolutely furious.
Things took an intense turn when Rajendra Kumar told C.V. Sridhar that he would not start filming until Raaj Kumar was finalised for the role. As soon as, Nargis was informed about Rajendra's decision, she walked out of the film. The incident created a rift between Rajendra Kumar and Nargis, and they reportedly never worked again. After Nargis exited Sridhar's film, he signed her close friend and timeless diva, Meena Kumari. The film was released in March 1963 and turned out to be a massive hit at the box office.
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Nargis and Rajendra Kumar had not been on talking terms with each other for more than a decade. However, it was Nargis and Sunil Dutt's daughter, Namrata Dutt, who fell in love with Rajendra Kumar and Shukla Kumar's son, Kumar Gaurav. On the one hand, Namrata is a psychotherapist by profession and always prefers to keep a massive distance from showbiz. On the other side, Kumar Gaurav appeared in a series of Hindi films but couldn't make it, which was why he quit acting and started his own construction business.
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When Namrata Dutt and Kumar Gaurav informed their respective parents about their relationship, it mended the ways between Nargis and Rajendra Kumar. As per multiple reports, Rajendra and Nargis were on talking terms once again as they were about to become samdhis. Unfortunately, Nargis passed away on May 3, 1981, at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital due to pancreatic cancer.
Two years after Nargis' sudden demise, Namrata Dutt and Kumar Gaurav tied the marital knot in 1984. Their courtship brought the two families close and ended all the differences between Sunil Dutt and Rajendra Kumar once and for all. Namrata and Kumar Gaurav welcomed two daughters, Saachi Kumar and Siya Kumar.
What are your thoughts on Nargis and Rajendra Kumar's fight and how destiny resolved their decade-long feud with Namrata Dutt and Kumar Gaurav's wedding? Let us know.
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