Meena Kumari's Lifelong Tragedy: From Child Star to Tragedy Queen

Meena Kumari, the legendary "tragedy queen" of Indian cinema, had a lifelong struggle with her acting career. Born as Mahjabeen, she was forced into the spotlight by her parents, Ali Bux and Iqbal Begum, at the tender age of 4. Despite her on-screen charisma, Meena Kumari despised being in front of the camera, as she longed for books and education.

Meena Kumari's family lived in the chawls of Dadar, Mumbai, and she and her sister Khursheed were dragged from studio to studio by their father in search of work. By the time Meena Kumari was 15, the family had earned enough to move to Bandra, but her father deemed sending the girls to school unnecessary. Meena Kumari became the breadwinner of the family, but her independence was limited as her father controlled the household.

Meena Kumari's desire for independence grew, and she eventually decided to marry Kamal Amrohi in secret. However, her father opposed the marriage, and she was forced to separate from her husband. Despite this, Meena Kumari continued to support her family until the end, never able to fully realize her own dreams and aspirations.