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Behold and be ready to take a deep dive into the tumultuous lives of actor Meena Kumari and her once-husband, director and screenwriter Kamal Amrohi. Maharaj helmer Siddharth P Malhotra has announced that his next venture will focus on one of the most discussed power couples in the history of Hindi cinema. Titled Kamal Aur Meena, the makers unveiled the upcoming movie’s details on Wednesday by sharing a mesmerising announcement video.
“A filmmaker, a muse. Their star-crossed love story — a dream that refused to die; a love that went beyond the grave,” the video poetically describes their relationship. Sharing the video on social media, Malhotra stressed that the film will be grounded in authenticity, backed by over 500 handwritten letters exchanged between Kumari and Amrohi, along with personal journals detailing their life together. “Their relationship was one of deep love and artistic collaboration, spanning over 20 years — from their first meeting when she was just 18 and he was 34,” he wrote.
Penned by Bhavani Iyer and Kausar Munir, along with Irshad Kamil, Kamal Aur Meena’s music will be crafted by Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman. Notably, Amrohi’s family is involved in the project, with his children Rukhsar, Tajdar and the late Shandaar being credited in the video. The veteran director-screenwriter’s grandson, actor Bilal Amrohi, is also part of the project.
“Many thanks to Siddharth Anand Kumar who introduced me to my brother for life Bilal Amrohi. Shall always remain indebted to them and the family, Tajdar uncle, Ruksaar aunty and all I’ve had the pleasure to meet and interact with. We, as a team, will do more than our best to deliver a memorable cinematic experience,” Malhotra mentioned, adding that the cast will be revealed soon. Editor Shweta Venkat and Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty are also part of this ambitious film, produced by Saregama and Lionheart Cinema. The movie is set for a 2026 release.
Watch Kamal Aur Meena announcement video here:
What makes Kamal Aur Meena even more intriguing is that, a year ago, reports had surfaced that celebrity fashion designer Manish Malhotra was planning to make his directorial debut with a Meena Kumari biopic. However, Tajdar Amrohi allegedly threatened legal action against anyone attempting such a project, despite his personal friendship with the designer.
In a chat with Bollywood Bubble, Tajdar questioned why filmmakers were so focused on Meena Kumari and Kamal Amrohi alone, but not on other popular yesteryear actors. “Is this the only couple in Bollywood left to make a film on? With all due respect to Nargis ji, Vyjayanthimala ji, Reena Rai, Madhubala, Parveen Babi, Geeta Bali, there are many names. Why aren’t they making films on them? Why are they only behind my parents?” he asked.
With Kamal Aur Meena in the making, audiences can expect an authentic portrayal of the couple’s troubled relationship. Kamal Amrohi tied the knot with Meena Kumari in 1952 while still married to his second wife Sayeda Al-Zehra Mehmoodi. However, tensions led to their separation in 1964. Kumari eventually fell prey to alcoholism and passed away due to liver cirrhosis in 1972, at the age of 38.
The two worked together in films such as Daera (1953), Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960), Zindagi aur Khwab (1961) and the widely acclaimed Pakeezah (1972), which was produced years after their separation. Kumari passed away just a month after Pakeezah’s release.
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