Happy Birthday Gulzar: Here are a few lesser-known facts about the celebrated poet
Gulzar is one of the most celebrated poets in our country. The multifaceted personality has written and also directed films. Take a look at some of the lesser-known facts about him.
Happy birthday Gulzar
Gulzar needs no introduction—he is a poet of great finesse, a talented filmmaker, and a model father. Gulzar, who is renowned for crafting tales that are woven with sensitivities and emotions, is responsible for some of the most beloved and enduring songs and movies. Let's look at some intriguing facts about his life that you might not be aware of in honor of his birthday.
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Gulzar's early life
Sampooran Singh Kalra is his real name. Born in Dina, Jhelum District, British India (now in Pakistan) on August 18, 1936, he and his father moved to Delhi during the partition. He has always wanted to go back to where he was born but has put off the idea out of concern that he wouldn't recognize anything after all these years. But 70 years later, in 2004, he finally realized his desire when he traveled to Lahore on a last-minute visa to visit his mentor Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi Sahab, who had suffered a heart attack.
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Gulzar: A multifaceted personality
Gulzar is a poet, filmmaker, songwriter, and writer who has gained recognition from around the world and enchanted India with his skills.
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Gulzar and the start of his writing
He goes by the pen name Gulzar. His father disapproved of his writing. As a result, he published his writings under the pen name Gulzar Deenvi, which he later abbreviated to Gulzar. He received constant criticism for using his time writing. He was enrolled in Stephen's College, one of the top colleges in the capital city, where the art department existed. He stayed there for a year until his father told him to get a job and support himself.
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Gulzar and the start of his career
Following a lifetime in Delhi, he relocated to Mumbai. He had labored as a touch-up man for vehicles in a garage before becoming famous for his unrivaled talent. He began his career as a songwriter for the film "Bandini" under the direction of S. D. Burman. After the movie was a hit, Bimal Da employed him as his full-time assistant and forced him to write for a number of other well-known filmmakers.
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Gulzar's and his rise to fame
His first movie as a director was "Mere Apne," a remake of the Bengali movie "Apanjan." He wrote the words to the well-known song Mora Gora Ang Laile, written by renowned music director S.D. Burman and performed by Lata Mangeshkar, on Shailendra's advice. Gulzar's status as the new lyricist on the rise in B-town was confirmed when the Nightingale of India sang his lyrics. Along with Meena Kumari and Shatrugan Sinha in supporting roles, the movie also included Vinod Khanna, a newcomer who later rose to fame in Bollywood.
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Gulzar and his accolades
Gulzar has been awarded a Grammy. For the song "Jai Ho," he received a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture. His work has commemorated him in many ways. He has received about every significant honor in his field, including the National Film Award, the Padma Bhushan, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the Academy Award and the Grammy Award.
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His personal life
He was married to the well-known actress Raakhee. They were both at the height of their professional success when they got married in 1973, at that time. Due to competing priorities in their lives, they chose to divorce one year after the birth of their daughter Meghna. Meghna was mainly raised by her father and is now a well-known film director in Bollywood. Meghna Gulzar, his daughter, has continued in his footsteps by working as a writer, director and producer.