Nargis And Padmini Were The Lifelines Of Raj Kapoor…Part 3

For a very long time, 16 years to be precise, Raj Kapoor was completely besotted by Nargis and did multiple movies casting her in the lead. Their most notable work includes Awara, Shree 420, Ashiana and Barsaat. It was in 1957 when Nargis got a fantastic opportunity to star in Mehboob Khan’s Mother India that would give her the most iconic role of her career. Nargis expressed deep interest in doing Mother India and informed Raj Kapoor about the same.

The Anari actor was not at all happy with his favourite heroine leaving the RK banner to work with other production houses. However, Nargis stuck to her decision and exited RK camp. On hearing of this Raj Kapoor was so traumatised that his health started deteriorating. He was so upset that he refused to direct another movie. During a brief visit to Moscow to attend Karlovy Vary International Film award function, Raj Kapoor witnessed the Moscow youth festival where a girl called Padmini won the best classical dancer prize. She caught his attention with her charm and grace. Coincidentally staying in the same hotel gave them a chance to get to know each other better. During his illness too, Padmini was by his side to cheer him up and take care of him which overwhelmed the Sangam actor beyond words. Padmini, the superstar of south was cast in Raj Kapoor’s Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai to honour their friendship. He captured the beauty of her face and body perfectly in the song Ho Maine Pyaar Kiya swimming and under the waterfall. This began his obsession with the drenched saree. He cast her once again in his magnum opus Mera Naam Joker (1970), where the saree clad actress dowses in water.