From Parveen Babi to Meena Kumari: Actors who spent last days in absolute poverty, went from riches to rags
Friendless and penniless, actors like Parveen Babi, Meena Kumari, AK Hangal, Chandra Mohan battled poverty during the last days of their lives.
'Once a star, always a star' is a saying that does not necessarily ring true for some Bollywood celebs who are, to this, date, celebrated for their iconic roles on screen, but underwent a lonely death. Friendless and penniless, actors like Parveen Babi, Meena Kumari, AK Hangal, Chandra Mohan, among others battled poverty during the last days of their lives.
Here's a list of celebs who spent their last days in poverty.
Parveen Babi was one of the most celebrated and beautiful heroines discovered in the 70s. However, things didn't remain the same for the actor, as during her final days she would often find herself to be falling short of funds for her treatment. In fact, after her death, her dead body was found lying in her house unclaimed for 2 days. Parveen was found dead on January 22, 2005, at her Mumbai apartment. At the time, she had virtually nothing to her name.
There was a time when Meena Kumari's name was synonymous with beauty. She started her acting career at the age of 4 and went on to become the 'Tragedy Queen' of Indian cinema. It is really heartbreaking to know that this gem died penniless with not even enough money to pay her hospital bills.
'Humraaz' and 'Patanga' actor Vimi was riding the success of fame in the 70s. She went into a depression soon after being divorced from her husband. Her last days were spent lonely as penniless, even her body was taken to the crematorium in a rickshaw.
Theatre king AK Hangal was part of several super hit films. However, the actor was unable to get treatment due to a lack of money during his final days. At the time, superstar Amitabh Bachchan had given twenty lakhs for his treatment. The veteran actor died at the age of 95 after battling old-age ailments.
Actor, director, and writer Bhagwan Dada was an immensely successful man in the film industry, however, after several flop films, he was forced to sell his 25-bedroom Juhu house, his fleet of 7 cars, and move to a 'chawl' with his family. Bhagwan Dada died in 2002 at the age of 89 without wealth or friends.
One of the most good-looking actors of Indian Cinema in the '50s, Bharat Bhushan, developed a gambling addiction and lost all his savings in it. Things became so difficult for him that he had to spend the last days of his life in a 'chawl'.
Chandra Mohan was a well-known face during the 1930s and 1940s. He acted in around 20 movies with his last one being 'Rambaan' in 1948. Chandra was also set to play the lead role in 'Mughal-e-Azam' and had shot about 10 reels for the film before he died aged 44. Chandra died penniless in 1949 due to his addiction to both gambling and drinking.