Veteran actress Saira Banu took to social media to share a heartfelt birthday message for her dear friend and legendary actress Vyjayanthimala, who turned 91 today
It’s said that Dilip Kumar was deeply infatuated with her, selecting the colors of sarees she
would don for every scene in their 1961 movie Gunga Jumna. Vyjayanthimala, known for
her iconic pearl necklace gifted by Lord Vishnu, is a celebrated actress who, at the age of 91,
continues to captivate audiences with her remarkable dance abilities.
Throughout her illustrious career, she has garnered widespread acclaim for her acting and
dancing talents, yet has also faced criticism for her personal life choices. Some have labeled
her as a woman who broke societal norms by falling in love with a married man, while
others have speculated about her relationship with the legendary Dilip Kumar, suggesting
that his intense love for her influenced his choice of saree color for every scene in Gunga
Jumna (1961). She was also rumored to have been involved with Raj Kapoor, but she
dismissed these claims as mere publicity stunts, leading to a public dispute with the son of
Raj Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor.
legendary actress (Image source: Indian Express)
From her debut in the film industry at the tender age of 16 during her Bharatnatyam debut
to her foray into politics and challenging societal norms, Vyjayanthimala has consistently
pushed boundaries. After her initial success in the Tamil film Vaazhkai in 1949, she went on
to star in numerous Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi films, notably playing the role of
Chandramukhi in Bimal Roy’s Devdas (1955). However, she was not initially chosen for the
role, with Nargis, Suraiya, and Bina Rai being the preferred options.
The decision to cast her was made with little confidence in her abilities and against the
wishes of the film’s scriptwriter, Nabendu Ghosh, who believed she was too young for the
part. Her outstanding performance not only silenced her critics but also earned her a
Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Despite her mature age, Vyjayanthimala
declined the award, arguing that she was just as deserving as Suchitra Sen (who played
Paro) in the role.
She was the first South Indian actress to wear a swimsuit on screen, a daring move
considering her background as an orthodox Tamil Brahmin from Chennai. At a time when
actresses were expected to adhere to a traditional sanskari image and deviations were
looked down upon, she made a bold statement by wearing a swimsuit in Raj Kapoor’s
Sangam. Vyjayanthimala is widely recognized as the first female superstar of India,
dominating three different industries and being among the pioneers of pan-India cinema.
Vyjayanthimala was a prominent face in Bollywood in the 50s and 60s. Some of her noteworthy films are Sangam, Madhumati, Naya Daur, Devdas and Amrapali. After Vyjayanthimala was conferred with the Padma Vibhushan earlier this year, India’s second-highest civilian honour, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met her in Chennai. He shared some pictures from the meeting on X (formerly Twitter). “Glad to have met Vyjayanthimala Ji in Chennai. She has just been conferred the Padma Vibhushan and is admired across India for her exemplary contribution to the world of Indian cinema,” he wrote. In 1989, she once again emerged victorious. In 1993, the actress was nominated to Rajya Sabha for a six-year term. In 1999, she resigned from INC. In her letter to Sonia Gandhi, the actress wrote, “Painfully watching the party drifting from its avowed principles after the death of Rajiv Gandhi, the party has lost touch with its grassroots and one can see day in and day out that sincere party workers are being steadily ignored.” In 1999, she joined Bharatiya Janata Party.
Her memoir, Bonding, recounts, “Being a member of Parliament also meant confronting
people’s preconceived notions about her. “How would she do?” they would ask with
skepticism. A beautiful diva from the world of fine arts, what was her role in the tough,
competitive world of politics? Would she succeed? She did, proving her detractors wrong.”
In 1968, she received the Padma Shri from the Indian government and was later honored
with the Padma Vibhushan — India’s second-highest civilian award. The actress continues
to actively engage in dance and recently surprised the internet with her graceful
performance on her 90th birthday.
