One of the greatest actresses in the history of Hindi cinema Nargis dutt’s Birth anniversary

New Delhi ( Vivek Ojha ) : The Padma Shri Nargis Dutt is widely regarded as one of the greatest actresses in the history of Hindi cinema. During a career that spanned from the 1940s to the 60s, Nargis appeared in numerous commercially successful as well as critically appreciated films, many of which featured her alongside actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor. Legendary actress of Indian cinema Nargis was born as Fatima Rashid on June 1, 1929. She made her screen debut as a child artiste in Talash-E-Haq in 1935. This was when she was christened as Baby Nargis in the film’s credits. The screen name stuck and Fatima was known as Nargis, henceforth.

Between 1940-1960, she made a superhit pair with Raj Kapoor in films like Barsaat, Awara and Aag and has been immortalised in the RK emblem. She was only 28 years old when she played Radha in the Academy Award-nominated Mother India (1957).

She has won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for Mother India. However, immediately after, Nargis married her Mother India co-star, actor Sunil Dutt and almost quit acting, only appearing sporadically in a few movies. Her three children – Priya, Namrata and Sanjay Dutt were reportedly very close to her.

Nargis was also involved in her husband’s production venture. Along with Sunil Dutt, Nargis formed the Ajanta Arts Cultural Troupe, which involved several leading actors and singers of the time and held stage shows at border areas.

Nargis was also involved with a lot of charity work. In early 1970s, she became the first patron of Spastics Society of India, and her subsequent work with the organisation brought her recognition as a social worker, and later a Rajya Sabha nomination in 1980.

In 1982, the Nargis Dutt Memorial Cancer Foundation was established in her memory. The award for best feature film on national integration in the annual National Film Awards ceremony is called the Nargis Dutt Award in her honour.

Nargis was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and underwent treatment for the disease at Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Upon her return to India, her condition deteriorated, and she was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. She went into a coma on May 2, 1981 and died the next day. At the premiere of her son’s debut film, Rocky, on May 7, 1981, one seat was kept vacant for her. Sanjay Dutt was shattered at having lost his mother just before the release of the film. However, he was not the only one to be as heartbroken with her demise. Sunil Dutt, too, suffered from depression for days after her death.