Golden Era of Bollywood: Asha Parekh-The Hit Girl

Tuesday 2 October 2018

Asha Parekh-The Hit Girl

Asha Parekh-The Hit Girl is the Title of Asha Parekh's autobiography released in 2017 in which she revealed many aspects of her life. Today on her birthday we look forward to her journey in Bollywood. In this book, she is candid about herself and her life right from her love for Nasir [Husain] sahab, the emptiness of her existence following the death of her parents, her depression that nearly drove her to end her own life
Nasir Hussain was the only man she ever loved. Asha Parekh reveals that she never got married as she never wanted to take Hussain away from his family.“I was never a home breaker. There was never any ill will between me and Nasir Saab’s family.
Asha, who began her career as a child artiste, was seen in Madhubala’s film Jwala. Later, director Bimal Roy impressed by 10- year-old Asha’s dance on stage cast her in Maa (1952) and then in Baap Beti (1954). At 16, Asha was rejected by Vijay Bhatt for his film Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959) as he believed she was ‘not star material’in her place Ameeta was chosen. In an uncanny twist, eight days later, producer Subodh Mukherjee and director Nasir Hussain cast her in Dil Deke Dekho (1959) opposite Shammi Kapoor and her fortunes changed overnight. She went on to forge a fruitful association with Nasir Hussain in six films including Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai (1961), Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963), Teesri Manzil (1966), Baharon Ke Sapne (1967), Pyar Ka Mausam (1969) and Caravan (1971).

The ‘hit girl’ says that she was never hit upon by her heroes. “I’d sit in a corner and be immersed in my book. My mother always accompanied me,” she says. Asha shared a close bond with both, the late Geeta Bali and Shammi Kapoor and addressed them as ‘Chachi’ and ‘Chacha’ respectively. “I called Shammiji ‘Chacha’. There was no way I could have any romantic leanings for him,”
After Dil Deke Dekho her next release was Hum Hindustani opposite, Sunil Dutt, The film did "above average" business at the box office. The next film was Ghunghat in 1960, The film became a hit at the box office. Musically also, it was liked by the audience. "Lage Na Mora Jiya" and "Mori Chham Chham Baje Payaliya" sung by Lata Mangeshkar were hit songs from the film.

Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai in 1961 was her next film that became another box office hit. It was written, produced, and directed by Nasir Hussain. The first film Hussain ever produced, it featured Dev Anand. By this time she became a leading heroine of Bollywood. She was giving one hit after another. some of these films were Gharana (1961), Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963), Bharosa (1963) , Ziddi (1964), Mere Sanam (1965), Teesri Manzil (1966), Love in Tokyo (1966), Do Badan (1966) , Aaye Din Bahar Ke (1966), Upkar (1967) , Shikar (1968), Kanyadaan (1968), Mahal (1969), Aan Milo Sajna (1970), Kati Patang (1971), Caravan (1971) and Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971)

After her days as a leading lady ended, Parekh took on supporting roles as bhabhi (sister-in-law) and mother, but she called this the "awkward phase" of her career. So she stopped acting in films, She stopped acting in 1995 to pursue directing and producing television serials. She formed a production company, Akruti, and produced serials like Palash ke Phool, Baaje Payal, Kora Kagaz and a comedy, Dal Mein Kaala.
She was the president of the Cine Artistes' Association from 1994 to 2000. Parekh was the first female chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (Censor Board) of India. She held the post from 1998 to 2001 for which she received no salary,