“The way in which she would turn, the angles of her shoulders, come naturally to her and cannot be taught.”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Figure timeline
Meena Kumari
Meena Kumari was an Indian actress and poet, who worked in Hindi films. Known as "The Tragedy Queen", she is regarded among the finest and greatest actresses in the history of Indian cinema. In a career spanning 33 years, from child actress to adult, Kumari starred in over 90 films.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
entertainment · Indian actress and poet (1933–1972) · actor · poet · costume designer · singer · also Meena Kumari, Mahjabeen Baro, Kumari
Born 1 August 1933 · Died 31 March 1972 · Q465848
52 published statements · 0 followers
See & hear
Photos & media
8 photos
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
In the news
Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds
Checking the wires…
Feed scan
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Live pulse
Recent highlights
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
- Quote
- Quote
2026· 20 entries
“She has the most unique voice. No other heroine has it.”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Patna Press: Bihar Teachers Shine Nationally: Pushpa Prasad and Khushbu Kumari to Receive National Teachers’ Award 2026
- #news
- #headline
IWMBuzz: Kamal Amrohi's Son Tajdar Opens Up About Stepmother Meena Kumari's Fights With His Father
- #news
- #headline
Moneycontrol.com: Kamal Amrohi's wife gave her bangles to Meena Kumari after learning about husband's affair with the...
- #news
- #headline
The Times of India: Madhubala asked Kamal Amrohi to divorce his wife and be with her, unlike Meena Kumari, recalls Tajdar Amr
- #news
- #headline
The Times of India: Meena Kumari’s stepson Tajdar Amrohi reveals the sad truth behind her ugly fights with husband Kamal Amro
- #news
- #headline
The Indian Express: Kamal Amrohi’s wife learnt from magazine he’d married Meena Kumari: ‘She took off bangles’
- #news
- #headline
Legacy obituary: Kusum Kumari Sinha Obituary (2026) - Suwanee, GA - Byrd & Flanigan Crematory and Funeral Service - Lawrenceville
- #news
- #headline
DD News: “Rajasthan has everything a tourist needs”: DyCM Diya Kumari after inaugurating Great Indian Travel Bazaar in Jaipur
- #news
- #headline
Press Trust of India: Paper Boats, Empty Courtyards, and Two Sisters: Vee Kumari’s Ankanam Unfolds The Momentum of A Survival Narrative
- #news
- #headline
Loktej English: Geeta Kumari won the title of Warrior At VG Miss & Mrs India Season 8, 2026
- #news
- #headline
Cricketnmore: Shilpa kumari: Latest News, Schedules, and Results
- #news
- #headline
India Today: Ranjana Kumari, Director, Centre for Social Research, News, Photos and Videos
- #news
- #headline
Outlook India: Column | India@80: How Free are Our Women, Asks Ranjana Kumari
- #news
- #headline
The Times of India: Bigg Boss Kannada 13: 72-year-old Ratna and 20-year-old Kumari selected in ‘Agnipariksha’
- #news
- #headline
ThePrint: Country got freedom from British in 1947, but has to fight against looters: SFI leader Kranti Kumari
- #news
- #headline
The New Indian Express: The role of coach and former NR holder Sahana Kumari behind Basant's World U20 silver
- #news
- #headline
Hindustan Metro: Sakshi Kumari’s Confidence Takes Her to the Finale of Alee Club Miss & Mr Teen India 2026
- #news
- #headline
Press Trust of India: Crime, lawlessness gripping Haryana; govt failed to maintain law and order: Kumari Selja
- #news
- #headline
2025· 1 entry
Chalte Chalte, a play based on Kumari and her love for poetry was staged at Delhi's LTG Auditorium
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2023· 3 entries
Rajeev Masand listed her in a similar list
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
An exhibition at Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, named "Sitaare Zameen Par", had portraits of Kumari that were captured by JH Thakkar
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
A Pakistani remake of the film Pakeezah was also announced in which actress Meera Jee was confirmed to play the central character, which was portrayed by Kumari in the original
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2022· 1 entry
Was placed in Outlook India's "75 Best Bollywood Actresses" list
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2021· 1 entry
Time Out placed her 3rd in its "The ten best Bollywood actresses" list
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2020· 1 entry
Almighty Motion Pictures announced a web series on Kumari's life which is to be based on the book Starring
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2019· 1 entry
Sanjay Leela Bhansali announced the remake of Kumari's 1952 classic Baiju Bawra with Alia Bhatt reprising Gauri's character, a role which was originally played by Kumari
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2018· 1 entry
Producer and former child artist Kutty Padmini announced a biopic on Kumari in the form of a web series along with singer Mohammed Rafi and actor-director J
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2017· 1 entry
Director Karan Razdan also decided to direct an official biopic on Kumari
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2015· 1 entry
It was reported that Tigmanshu Dhulia was to make a film on her, which was to be a screen adaptation of Vinod Mehta's book, "Meena Kumari – The Classic Biography"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2012· 1 entry
Walk of the Stars, a section of the Bandstand Promenade in Bandra, Mumbai was opened to honour film artists from Hindi film industry
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2011· 1 entry
Rediff listed her as the fourth-greatest Indian actress of all time, noting, "Her performance Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, is one of the finest by any leading lady in any motion picture, one where the craft is so perfect that
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2010· 1 entry
Filmfare included Kumari's performances in Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam and Pakeezah in its list of Bollywood's "80 Iconic Performances"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2007· 1 entry
Priyanka Chopra parodied Kumari, Nargis and Madhubala in the film Salaam-e-Ishq
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2004· 1 entry
A modern-day adaption of her film Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam was to be made by Pritish Nandy Communications in which Aishwarya Rai and later Priyanka Chopra were to portray her role of Chhoti Bahu
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1979· 1 entry
Meena Kumari Ki Amar Kahani (English: The immortal story of Meena Kumari), a film dedicated to the late actress was released
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1972· 2 entries
Died 1972-03-31.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #death
Nargis wrote a candid tribute in the Urdu magazine Shama
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1971· 1 entry
For which Mohammed Zahur Khayyam gave music
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1969· 1 entry
The first song shot was "Mausam Hai Ashiqaana"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1968· 1 entry
Kumari was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and received treatments in London and Switzerland in June 1968
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1962· 1 entry
Kumari explained that the fact that she had supported her parents from the age of four gave her immense satisfaction
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1959· 1 entry
Were Ardhangini, Satta Bazaar, Madhu and Jagir
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1958· 1 entry
Awarded Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards for Sharada (1958).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
1954· 3 entries
Awarded Filmfare Award for Best Actress for Baiju Bawra (1954).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
A classic Muslim social drama film, was a success at the box office
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
And had a consecutive win in the second Filmfare Awards (1955) for Parineeta
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1953· 2 entries
And decided to cast Kumari, now his wife
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Soon after the success of Baiju Bawra, Kumari appeared in Dream House, an advertisement by Dunlopillo UK along with Ashok Kumar
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1938· 1 entry
While searching for a child actor for the film Jailor
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1933· 1 entry
Born 1933-08-01.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #birth