“I think all the directors were in love with me”, quipped
Waheeda Rehman with an impish smile at the launch of her biography ‘Conversations
with Waheeda Rehman’ penned
by author cum film maker Nasreen Munni Kabir. We have no two opinions about that.
Cause the 76 year old veteran actress, who won the audience with her splendid
performance in films like ‘Guide’, 'Pyaasa', 'Kagaz Ke Phool', 'Sahib Biwi Aur
Ghulam', 'Chaudhvin Ka Chand', 'Teesri Kasam', ‘Reshma Aur Shera’, 'Khamoshi' and
‘Trishul’, epitomizes grace, elegance
and class.
Nasreen Munni
Kabir’s latest offering, like her previous books on Bollywood personalities, is
a set of candid and clear conversations with Waheedaji about her illustrious
life, her journey to stardom, her movies, her friends and contemporaries in the
tinsel world, her family and her perception about Bollywood. The author has
managed to bring out the best in these conversations that spanned over two
years in Waheeda Rehman’s residence at Bandra. Right at the outset Waheedaji
maintains that the idea of an autobiography didn’t appeal to her and her
private life is nobody’s business. Instead she prefers to call the book a long
interview.
Born in Chengalpattu, Madras Province (Tamil Nadu)
Waheeda aspired to become a doctor but due to her father’s untimely demise and
mother’s illness she had to squash her dream and join films in order to support
the family. A few Tamil and Telugu films happened before ace filmmaker Guru
Dutt spotted her and signed a three year contract. With CID, Pyaasa and Kagaz Ke
Phool, Waheeda not only found a firm foothold in the film firmament but
also caught the attention of others filmmakers like Dev Anand, Basu
Bhattacharya, Asit Sen, Biren Nag, Sunil Dutt, Satyajit Ray and Yash Chopra.
From mid fifties till early seventies Waheeda’s career graph zoomed with
several noteworthy performances.
The 256 page book deals with many interesting anecdotes spanning from
her refusal to change her name to incorporating a clause in her maiden contract
to S D Burman’s fascination for pan to Amitabh Bachchan’s professionalism. However
the actress is tightlipped on the much anticipated topic of her
alleged involvement with mentor Guru Dutt and the two drifting apart. She is
all praise for Guru Dutt’s filmmaking techniques, craftsmanship and spotting
the spark in her. Talking about Dutt’s demise the actress says “nobody knows why he committed suicide. I dont think he
was in depression, as commonly believed, after the debacle of 'Kagaz Ke Phool' because soon after that
he made 'Chaudhvin Ka Chand', which
was a huge commercial success". Waheeda is extremely proud of Guide directed by Vijay Anand and her
portrayal of Rosie. She informs the reader that long before Dev Anand
approached her with the role it was Satyajit Ray, who was contemplating of
making the R K Narayan classic into a film and offered her the character of
Rosie. However she was destined to do the Vijay Anand’s version which went on
to become a cult classic.
The book lives
up to its title. With its easy conversational style it makes for delightful
reading and the interesting aspects surrounding Waheedaji’s eventful life is
bound to grip the reader. If you are an ardent cinema buff then you cant afford
to miss this.
Author : Nasreen Munni Kabir
Publisher: Penguin Viking
Pages : 256
Price :
Rs 499 / -
ISBN : 9780670086924
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