Yesterday was Suraiya’s birth anniversary. So check out this old interview from Stardust 1972 where she talks about being in love with Dev Anand and meeting Gregory Peck and Frank Capra.
Tags: Blast from the Past Dev Anand Durga Khote Exclusive Frank Capra Gregory Peck Interviews Kamini Kaushal Retro Suraiya
Thanks a million Sputnik đ
I believe Dev- suraiya was one of the real love stories ever in BW…
One knew the story but still re reading gives pleasure unknown
And deb never forget how he would spend nights outside her house looking at light of her room and sea on other side…
I wonder no one in BW dared or thought of making a movie on them..
Nice read… Thanks for posting it…
You are welcome guys. Here is another Suraiya Interview I had posted on NG once.
“There was a time when traffic jams at Marine Drive (Mumbai) were caused not due to a long line of cars, but because of a young charismatic actress whose melodious voice had cast a spell on thousands of young Indians. Entering her home at Krishna Mahal on Marine Drive today, instantly transports you into another age and time.
âI WAS 12 AND LOOKED LIKE MUMTAZ MAHAL!â
Suraiyaâs career as an actress began as a child artiste.
âOne day, my âmamooâ (maternal uncle) Zahoor, who was a popular villian in films, took me along to watch the shooting of Prakash Picturesâ âTaj Mahalâ. There, I met the producer, Nanubhai Vakil, who felt that my face was ideally suited for the character of young Mumtaz Mahal and asked my uncle if I could do the film. My mother and grandmother agreed. So, I went off to Delhi to shoot at the Red Fort for 10 days.
âAnd that was followed by one offer after another.â And a star was born.
SINGING WAS AN ACCIDENT
âI was never trained in singing. Madan Mohan, who lived close by and Raj Kapoor once dragged me to participate in the childrenâs programme on the All India Radio. Naushad saâab, who heard my voice on the radio, got in touch with me to sing for Kardar saâabâs film, âShardaâ. And I sang âPanchi ja peeche raha hain bachpan meraâ, which was picturised on Mehtab. I was 11 years old then.â
âNARGIS ENVIED MEâ
âFrankly, I hadnât planned a career in films. I was just lucky to have got good roles. Nargis would always tell me, âSomehow you get the best rolesâ,â says Suraiya, modestly.
âMost of my roles were simple, but the audiences loved them. And I was lucky to have got simple, melodious and easy to pick up songs to sing, and work with the best composers of the day like Naushad, Husnlal-Bhagatram and Anil Biswas. We didnât even dream of promo videos, ads and all the associated technical wizardry then. But we still caught the audienceâs imagination.â
THE CROWDS WENT SURAIYA-MAD
And how! When âPyar Ki Jeetâ was released, it drew crowds outside Suraiyaâs house that had to be controlled by posting an inspector and four constables outside her house.
âWhen I went for the premiere of the movie âBadi Bahenâ, there was such a big crowd outside! As I walked into the theatre, they pulled at my clothes. There was a lathi charge and people were injured. I stopped going for premieres thereafter.â
âDEV SAVED MY LIFEâ
No Suraiya interview can be complete without a reference to the Dev Anand-Suraiya love story. While Dev Anand himself went on to marry Kalpana Kartik and, later, to romance several other women, for Suraiya, it seems that love began and ended with Dev Anand.
âWe were picturising a song in a boat right in the middle of the river, when the boat overturned and we found ourselves floundering in the water. I didnât know how to swim. Dev brought me out of the water. I thanked him, saying, âIf you hadnât saved me, my life would have ended.â He retorted, âIf your life had ended, so would mine.â We were drawn to each other.â
âMY GRANNY WAS DEAD AGAINST DEVâ
âI worked with Dev in seven films. Inevitably, people started talking about our romance and my grandmother learnt of it. She was extremely angry because Dev was a Hindu and granny was very orthodox.â
âWE DECIDED TO ELOPEâ
The highlight of this romance was the plan the lovers made to elope. While shooting for âJeetâ, the director decided to film on location instead of erecting a set. Also part of the plan was the summoning of a real âpanditjiâ to get Dev and Suraiya married during the shot. They would then get into the car and drive away â all as part of the scene, but in reality escaping.
âI BACKED OUTâ
Unfortunately, Suraiyaâs grandmother came to know of the plan.
âEventually, my grandmother succeeded in separating us. Dev was deeply hurt and offended by my lack of courage. But I was afraid for him. In retrospect, I donât think anything would have happened if Iâd been bold enough. But I was terrified of my grandmother. And was heartbroken. But time is the greatest healer.â
A practical woman, Suraiya prefers not to be a prisoner of the past. She agrees that had she chosen one of the many marriage proposals that came her way, life would have been different. But, she says, âWho can say what may have happened had I married? Iâve seen so many friendsâ marriages crumbling. Iâve been single and happy, living and doing the things I like, with a circle of close friends. But Iâll admit that after my mother expired some years ago, I felt some amount of loneliness creep in.â
âPANDIT NEHRU COMMENDED MEâ
âIâd been a fan of Mirza Ghalib since childhood. And so when Sohrab Modi sent for my grandmother and discussed the role and other terms with her, I was thrilled.
âIt was a very simple film, made in three months. Yet, what an effect the film had! It was the first feature film to be awarded the Presidentâs Gold Medal. At a function in Delhi, Pandit Nehru, after watching the movie, said to me, âLadki, tumne kya unke (Mirza Ghalib) ghazalein gaayi. Tumne Mirza Ghalib ki rooh ko zinda kar diya.â For me, that was an award better than an Oscar.â
âMY TIME HAD COMEâ
âRustom Aur Sohrabâ made in 1962 was Suraiyaâs swan song. Why?
âI hadnât been keeping well and had collapsed with weakness during the shooting of the movie. I was forced to take a break and recuperate. During that time, I really enjoyed resting and realised how tired I was with work. I completed the films I had on hand and decided to call it a day. And Iâve never looked back.â
Incidentally, this legendary actress-singer still retains a lovely schoolgirlish lilt in her voice. Time, it seems, hasnt laid its hands on it â Source: Feminaindia.com, Interview by: Sheila Vesuna
Note:- This interview was conducted in late 90s.”
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Nice post Sputnik its like gem and thanks for sharing.
Thanks aryan.
Today is Dev Anand’s birth anniversary so those who missed can check out this Suraiya Interview about Dev Anand.
Thanks for the gems from the past. Love her wherever she is. Marvellous person.
Thanks Vinay and you are welcome.