The melody of ‘Tujhe kya sunaoon main dilruba’ from 1958’s ‘Aakhri Daav’ immortalized Nutan’s delicate allure, enchanting audiences eternally. But on her punyatithi, February 21, it’s time to celebrate not just the star, but the girl who overcame brutal beauty judgments to dominate Bollywood for decades.
Nutan grew up shadowed by skepticism in a family steeped in films. Her mother Shobhna Samarth’s friend dismissed her looks outright, calling her unattractive next to her parent. These barbs eroded her dreams of screen glory, as Nutan later admitted feeling doomed from childhood.
Undaunted, Shobhna fueled her fire. She taught Nutan to view criticism as a challenge, vowing maturity would reveal her radiance. Hands-on support included foreign studies for elan, body transformations, and producing her breakthrough film. Early child gigs in ‘Nal Damayanti’ and ‘Nagina’ shifted tides, with kin now boasting of her.
At 14, ‘Mughal-e-Azam’s Anarkali beckoned, but self-doubt sidelined it. Nutan chose growth, mastering arts and accent overseas. ‘Seema’ in 1955 heralded dominance – ‘Sone Ki Chidiya’, ‘Milan’, ‘Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki’ – netting prestigious accolades and fan adoration across eras.
Nutan’s odyssey smashed molds, blending vulnerability with virtuosity. Maternal empowerment was the alchemy turning plain into phenomenal. Her enduring light on her remembrance day inspires all to embrace inner strength against outer scorn.