Mumbai: Marking a full 41 years since the passing of the Bollywood legend Nargis Dutt, it is fair to say that the actress for all her success in the film industry had a life where unfortunately for the better or worse, tragedy played a big part.
For Mother India lacked neither in quality or quantity and was a mix which the directors of the time were always keen to use, for she had all the qualities that were necessary in the making of an iconic actress, which is not a far cry away from describing Nargis's status in Bollywood today, because it is beyond question that Nargis has the status of an icon in the film scene today.
Nargis, was once known as the muse and mascot of RK Films with a blitzkrieg of blockbusters Aag, Barsaat, Awara, Aah, Shree 420, Chori Chori and Jagte Raho (between 1948-1956) with Raj Kapoor which had cemented her career early on.
Indeed, the strengths of her craft are further emboldened with the fact that Nargis was an actress unafraid to take risks in her early career, as she was bold enough to play the role of a mother in her young age of 28 to Rajendra Kumar and Sunil Dutt and that too convincingly in the 1957 Bollywood classic “Mother India”.
However, this was not the only iconic performance she gave in Bollywood and that too in a Mehboob Khan, for her collaboration with Raj Kapoor in “Andaz”(1949) is well noted for its love triangle between Nargis, Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar.
Ironically, her shift to Raj Kapoor in real life was both a curtain call to a tragic outcome and also what in funny twist of fate cast her in her most memorable role for after her breakup with Raj Kapoor, the actress strived to prove herself which she did ultimately and too great success to boot.
Immortalized in “Mother India”, Nargis never did a role in her career quite like it again though she did win a National Film Award for her role in the 1967 film “Raat Aur Din” for which she is well known.
Eventually she married Sunil Dutt in 1958 and had three children Sanjay Dutt, Namrata Dutt and Priya Dutt.
Mourning the legendary Bollywood actress Sanjay Dutt has come forward on Twitter to share his grief on social media. Posting some of her most iconic pics from her film career he wrote: “Not a single moment goes by when I don't remember you. Ma, you were the basis of my life and the strength of my soul. I wish my wife and kids would have met you for you to give them all your love and blessings. I miss you today and every day!”
His younger sister Priya Dutt also took to Instagram and in remembrance of her mother, wrote a heartfelt note while captioning her black and white picture from her movie days “Her presence in my life and through my work is everywhere. Ma passed away on this day in 1981, I was 14 years old but she never left my side. I have missed her physical presence but as you grow older you realise there is more than just the physical connect with the soul. Her soul is in my life and in the work I am able to do through The Nargis Dutt foundation, I am living their ( mom & Dad) dreams and loving every moment of it. 41 years since mom left and The Nargis Dutt Foundation was Born…… Her memories and her work will carry on Everywhere. #love.”
After a lengthy movie career and several cinematic defining roles, Nargis passed away in 1981 at the age of 51 from pancreatic cancer just three days before Sanjay Dutt made his debut with his film “Rocky”(1981). (UNI)