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Bhimsainji was a true artiste: ‘Gharaonda’ actress Zarina Wahab
By Subhash K. Jha
Mumbai, April 18 (IANS) Animation director, ad maker and feature filmmaker Bhimsain Khurana, who died aged 82 on Tuesday, was a true artiste, says actress Zarina Wahab who worked with him in the film “Gharaonda”.
“Gharaonda”, released in 1977, was the first feature film by Khurana, considered a pioneer in the field of animation fimmaking and remembered for his animation film “Ek Anek Ekta”.
His “Gharoanda” was about the housing problem in Mumbai and how one couple — essayed by Zarina and Amol Palekar — decides to solve the problem by getting the girl to marry into money.
Bold and well ahead of its times, the film was a path-breaker.
Recalling the experience of making the film, Zarina said: “Is Bhaimsain really gone? You know, it is so sad and shameful that once our film was complete, I barely met him two times in his entire life. Today I miss him and I wish I had kept in touch. Bhimsain was a true artiste.
“His background was in animation films, so he could divide shots in his head and then put it down on paper frame by frame. We shot ‘Gharoanda’ in 22-23 days. We had no idea it would turn out to be such a talked-about film.”
The beauty of shooting “Gharoanda” was that it was shot entirely on actual locations.
“My co-star Amol Palekar and I had already done a hit film ‘Chitchor’ together. That was directed by Basu Chatterjee. ‘Gharaonda’ was an equally memorable experience. We shot the film in actual locations of Mumbai. We were never mobbed. Neither Amol nor I was that kind of a star.
“A lot of the shooting was done in Bhimsainji’s own house in Mahim. Then I remember there was a chawl where my character’s home was supposed to be. We shot in a chawl. We were on the streets constantly, somehow trying to complete the film on the meagre budget that we had.”
Zarina was paid a pittance for “Gharaonda”.
Brushing away the money factor, she said: “A role and a film like ‘Gharaonda’ comes once in a blue moon. It was priceless. We all took a pay cut to ensure the film was made and released.”
While she was already comfortable with Amol, she had never worked with theatre and film legend Shriram Lagoo.
“He played my husband in the film. And it was such an honour to face the camera with a legend like him. Everything in ‘Gharaonda’ just fell into place, including Gulzar saab’s lyrics and the late Jaidevji’s compositions.”
To sing Jaidev and Gulzar’s unforgettable songs in “Gharaonda”, Runa Laila was called in from Bangladesh.
Zarina said: “The songs like ‘Tumhe ho na ho mujhko toh itna yakeen hai’ and ‘Do deewane shaher mein’ were such a craze. I feel honoured to be associated with such a film and such songs.
“Bhimsainji offered me a role in his second feature film ‘Dooriyaan’ in 1979 which had Uttam Kumarji and Sharmila Tagoreji in the lead. But I was committed elsewhere and couldn’t find the time to do it. But I will always remember ‘Gharaonda’ with much fondness. Bhimsainji turned it into a magical experience.”
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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