On 10 October 1964 one of Indian cinema’s most gifted filmmakers ended his life. Guru Dutt was only 39. Some say he died of an accidental overdose. But most of us believe, Guru Dutt died of a broken heart. Hopelessly and tragically in love with the beauteous Waheeda Rehman, Guru Dutt ended his life because, without love, there was no life.
And Guru Dutt loved his muse and his raison d’etre more than he loved life. He discovered her in Hyderabad and encouraged her to come to Mumbai to become a leading lady, which she did. In no time at all he was completely in love with his new leading lady. The only problem was with Guru Dutt’s marital status.
He was married to singer Geeta Dutt who was not willing to let him go. Her husband’s extra-marital relationship turned the very gifted Geeta Dutt into an alcoholic wreck. Waheeda, on the other hand, was not willing to be the other woman. She made it very clear to Guru Dutt that she would continue working with him,but there would be no relationship beyond the set.
The realization that he would never find the happiness that love brings to an individual, killed Guru Dutt.
Strangely, Waheedaji continues to deny any relationship, ever, with Guru Dutt, When asked about it she dismissed it as mere gossip.
What could be a greater insult to man who gave up his life for love?
Kaifi Azmi immortal lyrics for Guru Dutt’s Kaagaz Ke Phool, “Waqt ne kiya kya haseen situm,tum rahen na tum hum rahen na hum” pretty much sums up this doomed relationship.
Incidentally many incidents shown in Guru Dutt’s Kaagaz Ke Phool including the way the director ‘Suresh’(Guru Dutt) discovers his heroine shivering in the rain, was taken from their real-life relationship.
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