Celebrity designer Manish Malhotra has stated that he will be producing a biopic based on the life of legendary Bollywood star Meena Kumari after much speculation. For the first time, Manish revealed in a recent interview that he was developing the Meena Kumari biography. He also disclosed that the film’s scripting phase is underway.
When asked about the rumors that he would be directing the biography of Meena Kumari, Manish responded, “I don’t know how it got out but it is happening,” in an interview with Film Companion. The script is still being worked on. Always, the script is crucial. Her books have been read by me. Based on her books, the movie. Meena Kumari has always attracted me.
A touching narrative of how renowned actor Rekha motivated Manish to go on this production was also given by Manish. “Rekha once said to me, ‘When you turn 40, you will realize Meena Kumari’s genius. That is accurate. I was young and really occupied with my job, but as I turned 40, I not only realized the brilliance of Meena Kumari, but also of Nargis ji, Dilip Kumar, and Guru Dutt. I began to watch the movie and my understanding of it much improved. I think Meena Kumari’s facial expressions, use of her eyes, and adaa are wonderful,” he stated.
Even before Manish was officially confirmed, rumors about him helming the Meena Kumari biopic were going around. Meena Kumari’s stepson Tajdar Amrohi, who is also the son of renowned director Kamal Amrohi, reportedly expressed his displeasure and even threatened legal action against Manish Malhotra and Kriti Sanon, who is being considered to play Meena Kumari in a movie.
Tajdar Amrohi expressed his extreme dissatisfaction of these rumors and told Bollywood Bubble that after consulting with his attorney, he had opted against taking immediate legal action because the movie had not yet begun. Even large production companies enjoy being in the news, he claimed. So, my attorney informed me that it would appear that I am publicity-hungry if they were to scrap the project in the future. In vain am I creating enemies. I’m not going to do that. Although I am not publicity-hungry, some might think I am.
Meena Kumari, dubbed “The Tragedy Queen of Hindi Cinema,” developed serious illness three weeks after the release of her well-known movie Pakeezah. She was brought into St. Elizabeth’s Nursing Home in March 1972, but things quickly got worse. She died on March 31, 1972, when she was 38 years old.
