Meena Kumari’s rich career and tragic personal life made her one of Hindi cinema’s enigmas. So, it’s not surprising that two filmmakers have found their muse in the late actor. While Kriti Sanon is set to play her in a biopic helmed by Manish Malhotra (My months with Meena Kumari, Aug 19), mid-day had reported in February that Kamal Amrohi’s grandson Bilal was developing a project that would trace Kumari’s love story with her filmmaker-husband as they set out to make Pakeezah (The heartbreak behind the magnum opus, Feb 10).  

Bilal is unfazed that Malhotra is making a film on the celebrated actor. The couturier-turned-director’s biopic is reportedly referenced from many books written on Kumari. Bilal says, “I’m sure Manish will be a brilliant director. But I am not sure about the validity of that project, in terms of its reference point. I have Meena-ji and Kamal saab’s words to tell their story; they are going by someone’s else’s words.”