When Mumtaz revealed the real reason behind actress Meena Kumari selling her Bandra bungalow to her: "She was not bankrupt"

Meena Kumari began her career as a child artist in the early 1940s and rose to fame with films like Baiju Bawra (1952), which paved the way for her to play lead roles.

One of the most renowned and significant actresses in Indian film history was Meena Kumari. She was praised for her incredibly moving performances and unparalleled on-screen presence, earning her the title of "Tragedy Queen" of Bollywood. However, during later years of her life, she fell ill due to her alcoholism and her health drastically detoriated. During the last few days of her she decided to sold her Bungalow to her co-star Mumtaz. Although there were lots of speculations about her reasons to sell her house, Meena Kumari recently revealed the real reason behind it.

At Meena Kumari's insistence, producer Saawan Kumar Tak made his directorial debut in 1972 with the release of Gomti Ke Kinare. Meena was dealing with severe health problems at the time as a result of her alcoholism, which caused production to be delayed and ultimately put a strain on the budget.

Meena Kumari made the decision to sell her Bandra bungalow as a sincere way to help the project and her friend. Her co-star Mumtaz bought the property, which caused a lot of rumours. There were rumours that Meena was going bankrupt, and there were also rumours that Mumtaz had saved her in a time of need. Mumtaz recently addressed these enduring tales, providing her own interpretation of what actually transpired.

During an interview with Radio Nasha, Mumtaz said, “There are lot of misconceptions about this incident. Saawan Kumar Tak was her good friend. While making the film, the project faced some financial issues. There was shortage of funds.”

She further mentioned that she was yet to be paid her fees due to financial constraints.

“During those days, I used to charge Rs 7.5 lakh per film. I was the highest paid actress. They were yet to pay me about Rs 5 lakh. It was during this time, when an extremely sick Meena Kumari asked, ‘Mumtaz, would you mind if I give you my bungalow instead of your due payment?’ At first I hesitated, because it was a home she had built for herself, but she kept saying that she wouldn’t be around for much longer due to her illness. I eventually took it," she added.

Further clarifying her stance, Mumtaz continued saying, “All the news which claims she went bankrupt and that is why she sold her bungalow are false. She just knew she doesn’t have any family, so she thought she better give away that bungalow to me than leaving it abandoned. I guess that house was quite lucky for me. I did well in my career after moving in.”

Also read: Shah Rukh Khan's latest look flaunting tattoos and biceps in viral pics sparks buzz: Watch video

Meena Kumari began her career as a child artist in the early 1940s and rose to fame with films like Baiju Bawra (1952), which paved the way for her to play lead roles. In films like Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962), Pakeezah (1972), Phool Aur Patthar (1966), and Mere Apne (1971), she gained recognition for her potent depictions of nuanced, melancholy characters over the course of the following 20 years.

Unfortunately, she passed away at the age of 38 on March 31, 1972. Despite her personal struggles and a life marked by melancholy, Meena Kumari's legacy lives on through her timeless performances, which continue to move generations of audiences.