Veteran Actress Asha Parekh Celebrates 83rd Birthday, Reflects on Lifelong Singlehood

Veteran Bollywood actress Asha Parekh, known for her roles in classic films like 'Kati Patang', 'Caravan', and 'Teesri Manzil', celebrated her 83rd birthday on October 2. Despite her illustrious career, Parekh has remained single throughout her life, though she did come close to marrying a professor from the US once.

In a recent interview, Parekh revealed that she was "completely put off" by the narcissism and fussiness of the men her mother tried to set her up with. She also cited the example of her contemporaries, like Rajesh Khanna and Vinod Khanna, who faced constant nagging from their girlfriends during outdoor shoots. Parekh says she was "just not cut out" for having someone dictate terms to her.

Recalling the time she almost got married, Parekh shared that she was visiting a professor in the US when he nonchalantly told her that he had a girlfriend, and that Parekh had "come in the way." This incident, she says, was the "final straw" in her decision to not get married. Parekh has also expressed that she was in love with filmmaker Nasir Hussain, but did not want to be a "home breaker."

Despite her lifelong singlehood, Parekh maintains that she has no regrets about her decision. She believes that marriage is not all "rainbows and butterflies" and that one has to constantly "give in to their partner's whims." Parekh's story offers a refreshing perspective on the societal pressures and expectations around marriage.