Veteran actress, Aruna Irani is one of the most versatile actresses of the '80s and '90s. Over the years, she has worked in more than 300 films, which included some of the most popular Hindi movies of all time. However, the actress's personal life was not a bed of roses, as she had to go through a lot to survive in the industry. Now, in an interview, Aruna Irani recalled her early days in Bollywood and also addressed many rumours that were rife during the ’80s and ’90s.
Recently, in an ANI podcast with Smita Prakash, Aruna Irani opened up about many personal aspects of her life. When she was asked about actor, Mehmood’s role in her career, the veteran actress heaped praise on him and revealed that when she entered the industry, nobody was ready to sign her in films, and it was Mehmood Sahab who gave her work. She said:
“I was more than a friendly person to him. ‘Woh hota aise hai ki jab main industry mein aayi thi toh mujhe koi kaam hi nahi de raha tha. Jab Mehmood Sahab ke saath maine kaam shuru kiya unhone mujhe kaam dilaana shuru kiya.”
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Further in the interview, Aruna Irani revealed that she earned money and recognition because of Mehmood and shared how the condition of her life got better. Calling Mehmood a 'God-sent angel', she shared that she didn’t realise when she started liking him despite knowing that he was a married man. Irani also mentioned that they couldn’t get married, and that’s why they couldn’t go much ahead in their relationship. In her words:
“Kya bolu…he was such a big helper. Aaj meri duniya jo badal gayi thi, mujhe kaam milne lag gaya tha, mera ghar sambhal gaya tha unki wajah se toh mujhe lagta tha ki khuda ka bhej hua aadmi hai. Toh ek emotions…hote hote…kab liking badh gayi. I know he was a married man, we couldn’t get married. That’s why hum bhaut aage nahi jaa sakte the, lekin we were more than friends…so, he made my career, even I used to like him.”
Aruna Irani also revealed how Mehmood also became the reason for her not getting work for some years and addressed the then-ongoing rumours about their marriage. Revealing how her equation with Mehmood turned sour later, Irani shared that whenever somebody would ask him about the alleged wedding, he never gave a clear answer and that spoiled her career. Reflecting on how she stopped getting roles, the veteran actress said:
“But jab meri yeh film bani, Bombay to Goa, usme bhi unhone meri help ki…sab kuch theek tha…ab jab picture release hui aur ek rumour baahar aayi ki I am married to Mehmood. Mujhse koi puchne nahi aata tha. He was a star and a married man so naturally log unko hi pehle puchte the..suna aapki shaadi ho gayi, so he just used to nudge. Matlab, na haan bolte the, na naa bolte tha…that spoiled my career. Kyunki, Mehmood Sahab se agar shaadi ho gayi hai toh Mehmood sahab toh ab isko kaam nahi karne denge. See how he made my career and how he ruined it. Unhe lagta tha ki agar ye heroine ban gayi toh he will be left alone!”
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When Aruna Irani was asked about her marriage with Kuku Kohli, she said that she never told anyone that she was married to an already-married man back then. Mentioning that it was the first time that she was talking about her husband, Kuku Kohli, Irani stated that she didn't want to hurt anybody. She added that it was only after Kuku's first wife, Rita's demise, that she could own her marriage in public eyes. She concluded:
“When you get married to a married man, it gets very difficult. Jaise aaj, I am married to a married man. I was married, but nobody knew I am married. Now, I think she (Kuku’s first wife) had some problems, she died a year back. Tab main himmat se baat bhi karti hoon, nahi toh I never used to talk…because I didn’t want to hurt anyone. My affair, my relationship with Kuku Kohli was not there to hurt anybody or snatch away somebody. This is the first time I am talking about Kuku Kohli. I could never talk about him..industry knew that I was with him, journalists ko bhi maalum hota tha…It’s not easy for a person to marry a married man, I didn’t have a child because of that.”
On the work front, Aruna Irani will be next seen in the film, Ghudchadi, alongside Sanjay Dutt and Raveena Tandon.
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