Aruna Irani Exposes Mehmood's Exploitation and Broken Vows in Bollywood
Veteran actor Aruna Irani has candidly discussed her tumultuous past relationship with the late actor-comedian Mehmood, shedding light on the exploitation she faced during her early years in the Hindi film industry. In a recent interview, Irani revealed that the relationship began while Mehmood was already married, leading to professional and personal challenges that shaped her career.
Survival Tactics in a Predatory Industry
Reflecting on her initial struggles, Aruna Irani described the film industry as a place where exploitation was rampant. "There were difficulties at every step. Even stepping out to look for work was a challenge. In those days, especially in the film industry, people were ready to exploit you – you just had to be prepared for it," she stated. To protect herself, Irani adopted a clever strategy of feigning innocence. "I used to pretend that I was very innocent, as if I didn't understand anything. The person in front of me couldn't figure out whether I was foolish or what," she recalled.
This approach extended to social interactions, where she would politely decline invitations. "If someone asked me out for coffee, I would say I don't drink coffee. Tea? I don't drink that either. Cold drinks? I'd say they give me a cough and cold. They would remain confused about what to do with me, and I would quietly finish my work and leave," Irani explained. While this often cost her repeat opportunities, she managed to navigate the industry without falling victim to exploitation, relying on persistence and new chances that came her way.
Mehmood's Role: From Mentor to Exploiter
Aruna Irani credited Mehmood for providing her first significant break in films, noting that their relationship formed out of a sense of obligation. "Mehmood ji gave me work for the first time. That relationship was formed under a sense of obligation, and that's how it happened," she said. However, as their careers diverged, Irani began to feel exploited. "Later, Mehmood ji moved on to other projects and I went on to different shows. That's when I started feeling that he was openly exploiting me," she revealed.
Despite this, Irani does not place all blame on Mehmood, acknowledging her own role. "I did what I did out of compulsion and necessity, so I won't accuse him alone. I supported it too. Eventually, the relationship ended," she admitted. The actor also addressed long-standing rumors about marriage, revealing that Mehmood had promised to marry her but never followed through. "He said he would marry me, but he didn't. In hindsight, it was good for me. He was already married twice and could have married a third time as well, but I believe my destiny was kind. What happened was wrong," she said.
Career Setbacks and False Claims
Irani disclosed that Mehmood's false claims about their marriage severely impacted her career. "He used to tell people that he had married me. Because of that, filmmakers stopped offering me work. They feared that if I got pregnant, their film would get stuck. It was a huge setback for me," she explained. Her career only began to recover after the relationship ended and she started working independently, allowing people to realize there was no truth to the rumors.
In earlier conversations, Irani had expressed that she went to great lengths to please Mehmood, driven by her background of poverty and the allure of fame and money. "I did cross my limits to please him. I came from a very poor family, and that was the first time I had seen name, fame, and money," she confessed. Today, Aruna Irani is married to filmmaker and writer Kuku Kohli, having moved past this challenging chapter in her life.
