January 8 would have marked the 86th birthday of the legendary actress Nanda, a serene screen presence who graced numerous hits in the 1960s and 70s. In an exclusive and heartfelt conversation, her closest friend and veteran actress Asha Parekh reminisces about Nanda's life, her career, and the personal destiny that defined her.
A Destiny of Love and Loss
While Nanda's professional life was luminous, her personal journey was marked by poignant solitude. Love and marriage remained elusive for the star. She was once engaged to the celebrated filmmaker Manmohan Desai. However, in a tragic twist of fate, Desai passed away before they could marry. Reflecting on this profound loss, Asha Parekh sighs, "It is all destiny. No one can fight it."
Parekh paints a picture of Nanda as a person of exceptional character. "Nanda was a beautiful human being. Woh kissika bura nahin chahti thi (She never wished ill for anyone). Nor was she into ugly competitiveness," she shares. "She had her own place, and the roles that went to her were meant for her only."
The Paradox of Typecasting
According to Asha Parekh, Nanda's immense talent was never fully explored by the industry. The veteran actress believes her dear friend was "unnecessarily typecast in weepie roles." This was a stark contrast to her real personality. "But she was a fun person. When with her friends, me, Waheeda, and others, Nanda could be a lot of fun," Parekh recalls with affection.
She highlights a specific instance where Nanda's versatility shone brightly: her performance in a negative role in B.R. Chopra's thriller 'Ittefaq.' "She was wonderful in a negative role... But such roles were not offered to her too often," Parekh laments, pointing to the untapped potential in her friend's career.
Grace and Pride in Her Work
Despite the limitations of her filmography, Asha Parekh emphasizes that Nanda never harbored resentment. On the contrary, she carried a quiet pride in her contributions. "She had this goody-goody image, which she didn't resent at all. In fact, she was proud of it. No one has a bad thing to say about Nanda," Parekh states, underscoring the actress's dignified acceptance of her professional path.
Born in 1939, Nanda was a formidable name in both Hindi and Marathi cinema. Over a decades-long career, she shared the screen with icons like Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna, Kishore Kumar, and Shashi Kapoor. Her filmography includes acclaimed works such as 'Ahista Ahista,' 'Prem Rog,' and 'Mazdoor.' Such was the strength of her screen presence that even in supporting roles, Nanda invariably left a lasting impact on the audience.
Asha Parekh's reflections offer a tender glimpse into the life of a star whose grace off-screen matched the poise she displayed on it, a talent whose full range, perhaps, remains one of classic Bollywood's most cherished secrets.
