Probashi- Cover Story
Probashi- Cover Story
The Tragedy of the Fallen Stars
Raj Kiran‐ Tum Itna Jo Muskura rahey ho , Kya gam hai jisko chupa rahe ho
suffering from acute depression and mood swings . As a consequencee his brothers and wife disowned him at a time when he acutely needed family support .
Subsequently Raj Kiran took to alcohol and things started to go downhill and he stopped getting film roles . He shifted to United States and took up work as a taxi driver in New York . Later he ended up at a mental asylum in USA , a consequencee of his clinical depression , where he presently is admitted . Raj pays for his medical bills by working within the institution .
Sulakshana Pandit a gifted playback singer and an extremely
Sulakshana Pandit‐ nipped in the bud
beautiful and talented actress played lead role in a number of movies in the seventies and early eighties . Niece of Pandit Jasraj and sister of the music composer duo Jatin‐Lalit , Sulochana enjoyed a bright career in Hindi films . Sulakshana dearly loved the actor Sanjeev Kumar whom she wanted to marry , however Sanjeev Kumar then in love with Hema Malini rebuffed Sulakshana ’ s offer for marriage . Sulakshana unable to take the heartbreak withdrew completely from movies and lived in a flat in Mumbai with her mother as a recluse shunning all contact with the outside world . With no work her financial status started to dwindle and she lived a hand to mouth existence .
When her mother died , Sulakshana lost the last emotional support and her health started to deteriorate . Presently Sulakshana stays with her sister Vijeyta , the erstwhile film actress and wife of music composer Adesh Srivastava .
Life was not kind to Rajkumari Dubey ( 1924‐2000 ) the star of the silent films and the first female playback singer in Indian film industry . Much sought after in 1940s , Rajkumari lost out to newer talent especially the Mangeshkar sisters and was soon out of work . Music composer Naushad who admired
Rajkumari ’ s style of singing was taken aback when he found her amongst the chorus singers during recording of the songs for the film Pakeezah in 1972 . Shocked and embarrassed , Naushad composed the song Najariya ki Mari entirely for Rajkumari to sing . It ' s said that she died in absolute poverty and neighbours paid for her funeral expenses .
Rajkumari , India ’ s first femalee playback singer died a pauper
There have been many others who had seen a meteoric rise and then a sudden fall in fortunes . Take the case of Bhagwan ( 1913‐2002 ) starting as an extra in stunt films ; he rose to become a film actor , producer and owner of Jagriti Studio in Chembur , Mumbai . His hit film Albela ( 1951 ) changed his fortunes and he owned seven cars ( a car for each day of the week ) and a sea facing bungalow . Soon his movies began to flop and his financial ruin started , made
Mandakini became an overnight star with Raj Kapoor ’ s Ram Teri Ganga Maili ( 1985
). However her luck deserted her and she could not repeat her success and quit films in 1996 . She was linked with the Mumbai underworld . Presently she stays in Andheri with her husband Dr . Kagyur T . Rinpoche Thakur , a former Tibetian monk and runs a Tibetian medicine centre .