Off Screen
The film industry is a rarefied space; a whirl of talent, greasepaint and lights; a dream factory that is often more surreal than the magic it creates on celluloid. For actors, the most visible denizens of this world, retirement just doesn't mean the same thing as it does for the rest of us - it's not just the end of a chapter but closure on an entire way of life. As is their wont, people handle this in different ways, do different things. For every Dharmendra or Waheeda Rehman who continue to occupy screen space, there is a Leela Naidu who bid adieu to the camera with nary a second glance. And while Asha Parekh assumed a new avatar as philanthropist with the opening of her charity hospital in Mumbai this year, Shyama chose to disappear from the public eye after her last film almost 20 years ago. What drives these decisions - circumstances, time, or simply the heart? Nitika Bajpayee set out to discover what six silver stars of the golden era of Hindi films are doing today.
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BISWAJIT CHATTERJEE, 74
Debut: Natun Fasal(1960; Bengali), Bees Saal Baad (1962; Hindi)
Screen highs: Bees Saal Baad (1962), April Fool(1964), Ye Raat Phir Na Aayegi(1966)
Last turn: Inth Ka Jawab Patthar(2002)
Battling stiff opposition from his family, he pursued his dream of stardom with grit, and chocolate-faced charm. Following his debut in a Bengali film, he made a grand entry in Hindi cinema opposite reigning queen Waheeda Rehman - a star was instantly born. After a four-decade-long career in both Hindi and Bengali films, he wiped off the greasepaint but his life - and that of his family - remains enmeshed with the world of entertainment. In 2006, he produced a Bengali film, Adurini, to launch his daughter Shambhavi. Her Hindi debut is expected in December 2009 in Sorry Madam Maaf Karo, a comedy; again produced by the doting father. His son Prosenjit is a huge star in Bengali cinema while elder daughter Pallabi is a successful Bangla TV actor. Further, Chatterjee, who has made documentaries on diverse subjects such as the teachings of Subhash Chandra Bose, river Padma in Bangladesh and healthcare for poor children, is planning a Bengali remake of his friend Hrishikesh Mukherjee's comedy classic Gol Maal(1979). "Films are still my love and I keep myself updated on the new techniques used in Indian cinema," he says. "There are no regrets about the past; I have accepted age gracefully."
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NIMMI, 76
Debut: Barsaat(1949)
Screen highs: Barsaat (1949), Aan(1952), Mere Mehboob(1963)
Last turn: Akashdeep(1965)
Considered Madhubala's equal in beauty and talent, Nawab Banoo, rechristened Nimmi, was introduced to Indian cinema by Raj Kapoor in Barsaat. After her marriage to screenwriter S Ali Raza in 1964, she made the decision to retire. Today, she lives alone in Mumbai following her husband's death in 2007 - the couple had no children. However, she remains socially active, regularly interacting with friends like Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu. "We must respect life and count our blessings," she says. "The film industry is one family and I am happy to be part of it. Whenever I meet my friends from the industry, we reminisce about the good old days!"
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