Latest news with #Humraaz
India.com
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
This actress was born into a rich family, became sex worker to earn a living, was taken to cremation on a cart, her name is…
The world of cinema has heard different stories of artists about how they managed to make their way into the film industry. It is difficult for heroines to achieve a position in Bollywood, but it is even more difficult to maintain that position. In the film industry, many actresses who once dominated the hearts of people with their beauty and style disappeared overnight. Today, we will tell you about an actress who became popular after starring in Humraaz. But you will be surprised to know that her career took such a drastic turn that she ended up in prostitution. Scroll down to know which actress we are talking about. This actress saw misery in the last days of her life and died at the age of 34 while battling alcohol addiction. Even after death, bad luck did not leave her, and her body was pushed on a handcart to the crematorium. We are talking about the actress, Vimlesh Wadhawan, popularly known as Vimi. Vimlesh Wadhawan was born in a rich family Vimlesh Wadhawan, aka Vimi was born to a Punjabi family in Jalandhar in 1943. Vimi was trained to be a singer. However, she was fond of acting in plays and regularly participated in the children's programme of Akashvani Bombay. At her early age, she was married to Shiv Agarwal, a Marwari businessman from Calcutta. It was a love marriage and due to their age and caste difference, her family was against the marriage, and according to reports, she was disowned after the marriage. How did Vimlesh Wadhawan get her first film? Vimi settled in Calcutta with her husband and had two children. It was music director Ravi who introduced her to BR Chopra, who gave her the lead actress role in 'Humraaz' opposite Sunil Dutt and Rajkumar. The film was a huge box office success, and Vimi became an instant star. For a while, it seemed like she had everything: an apartment in Pali Hill, designer clothes, and a sports car. Her husband supported her unconditionally, although her parents and in-laws disowned her as they were against her entering films. Vimi's career came to an end after Humraaz; Here's how Vimlesh's film Humraaz became a huge success at the box office, despite being beautiful, Vimlesh couldn't add films to her portfolio. Within two years, Vimi was forgotten. Her husband became an alcoholic and began interfering in her career, angering several big producers over unreasonable terms. A few films with her in the lead role were released, but they flopped at the box office. Due to financial constraints, the couple moved out of their plush house in Juhu and moved to a small locality. How did Vimi end up in prostitution? After separating from her husband, Vimlesh met a small-time producer, Jolly, who promised to make a film with her in the lead role. Jolly's promised film never got made, and Vimi's dream of seeing herself as a heroine again was shattered. Soon, Jolly found herself pushed into prostitution for men. A tragic end to Vimi's career After being exploited by men, Vimi got addicted to alcohol. On 22 August 1977, Vimlesh passed away in Mumbai's Nanavati Hospital due to excessive alcohol consumption. Her body was wrapped in a dirty cloth and was carried on a cart for cremation. According to reports, only nine people were present at her funeral.
News18
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
This Shashi Kapoor Heroine Was Forced Into Prostitution By Her Alcoholic Partner, Died Alone At 34
At the age of 34, Vimi passed away in 1977, her final journey not in an ambulance or flower-draped hearse, but on a hand-pulled cart. There was no crowd of mourning stars, no sobbing fans, no grieving family. Just silence, and a story Bollywood barely remembers. (News18 Hindi) Vimi debuted in the 1967 film 'Humraaz', directed by the legendary BR Chopra, opposite stalwarts like Raj Kumar and Sunil Dutt. With her sharp features, polished diction, and regal charm, she instantly caught the industry's eye. Chopra signed her for a three-film deal, and the media whispered that a new Meena Kumari had arrived. (News18 Hindi) Before Bollywood, Vimi had already made a dramatic life choice by marrying Shiv Agarwal, the son of an influential industrialist, against her parents' wishes. The couple had two children. It was at a Calcutta party with Shiv that music director Ravi noticed her striking looks and suggested she consider films. Vimi's initial hesitation of "Who will cast a mother of two?" was dismissed when Ravi introduced her to BR Chopra. (News18 Hindi) The deal was made. But Vimi's in-laws strongly objected to her joining films. When Shiv sided with his wife, he was disinherited. Vimi now bore the burden of supporting the family. Her film career began just as her personal life started to unravel. (News18 Hindi) As the money dried up, Shiv turned violent and alcoholic. Unable to cope, Vimi separated from him and moved to Kolkata, seeking solace and perhaps a second chance at stardom. In Kolkata, Vimi entered a relationship with a film distributor known as 'Jolly'. Friends later said she saw in him a partner who might help her revive her career. But Jolly had other plans. (News18 Hindi) According to veteran actress Tabassum, who recounted Vimi's ordeal on her show 'Tabassum Talkies', Jolly introduced Vimi to alcohol and eventually pushed her into prostitution when all else failed. Her health deteriorated. Work dried up. Friends disappeared. Vimi, once a starlet on magazine covers, was now a recluse lost in addiction and despair. (News18 Hindi) Adding insult to injury, a so-called friend, Krishna, later wrote in 'Anandabazar Patrika' that "her death was a relief" and called her a "girl with wandering eyes". Vimi's short career included films like 'Aabroo' with Ashok Kumar, 'Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai' with Prithviraj Kapoor and IS Johar, and a cameo in 'Guddi' alongside Jaya Bhaduri. Her final appearance came in 'Krodhi' (1981), released posthumously, where she shared the screen, perhaps for the last time, with Shashi Kapoor. (News18 Hindi) Though often compared to Meena Kumari, Vimi's tragedy lacked even the poetic dignity Bollywood afforded to its most iconic fallen stars. Her story was not romanticised, her pain barely remembered. But in the crevices of Bollywood's forgotten tales, Vimi's life remains a stark reminder of how fame can be fleeting, and how the same city that lifts can also leave behind without a trace. (News18 Hindi)
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
She became an overnight star at 24. Passed away just 10 years later, penniless
Vimi's journey through the Hindi film industry was a brief yet haunting saga, filled with glamour, heartbreak, and isolation. Though she acted in only ten films and died tragically young at just 34, her story is remembered for the devastating contrasts between her early promise and her eventual in 1943, Vimi initially trained in classical singing. However, she pivoted to acting—a decision that earned her fierce disapproval from her conservative family. Facing intense backlash, she was disowned and left to navigate the complexities of the film world alone. Despite this, she seemed poised for stardom. Vimi had an elegant lifestyle that reflected her refined tastes—she lived in a stylish bungalow in Mumbai's upscale Pali Hill, enjoyed golf during her leisure hours, and drove a sleek car. Her debut in B.R. Chopra's Humraaz in 1968 catapulted her into the limelight, sparking hope that she would soon be counted among the top actresses of her fame proved fleeting. Soon after her promising start, her life began to unravel. Vimi moved to Kolkata under distressing circumstances, and gradually found herself sinking into alcoholism. The glitter of her initial success faded, replaced by the harsh shadows of rejection and financial one episode of Tabassum Talkies, veteran host Tabassum recalled details of Vimi's personal life. She had been married to Shiv Agarwal, a businessman from Kolkata. The union led to Shiv being cut off by his own family. Vimi was already married when she entered films, and in a 1968 interview, she had revealed that her husband intended to produce a movie for her, while she had already signed three other projects—Rangeela, Sandesh, and Appointment. But fate was unkind. Eventually, Shiv abandoned her under pressure from his parents, especially as her film career began to her first director, B.R. Chopra, once remarked that Vimi was bright, educated, and quick to learn, he never cast her again after Humraaz. The films she did after her debut failed at the box office. She managed to remain somewhat visible through magazine features and public appearances, but by the early 1970s, she had completely faded from the public eye. When news broke of her death in 1977, the tragic details of her downfall were finally made her separation from Shiv, Vimi began living with a film distributor named Jolly. Believing that proximity to him could help resurrect her fading career, she placed her trust in the wrong person. To make ends meet, she launched a textiles venture, but that too collapsed, forcing her to sell it off to repay mounting debts. Tabassum later revealed that Vimi had earned a poor reputation in the industry as an ineffective performer, which only compounded her difficulties. With offers drying up, she turned to alcohol to cope with her still, her association with Jolly turned exploitative. Reports suggested that he coerced her into sex work, framing it as the only viable path back into films. This psychological and emotional toll broke her spirit. Vimi spiraled deeper into alcohol dependency, resorting to cheap liquor in her final years. In 1977, she died of liver failure at Mumbai's Nanavati Hospital. Her body was taken to the cremation ground on a handcart, pushed by Jolly. No notable film personalities attended her funeral, though some claim that Sunil Dutt may have made a quiet after her passing, Vimi's dignity was not left untouched. A man named Krishna, who presented himself as a friend, penned a demeaning obituary in Anand Bazar Patrika. He mockingly referred to her death as a relief and disparaged her attempts to find work through personal connections, painting a cruel picture of a woman desperate and her short-lived career, Vimi featured in films like Aabroo alongside Ashok Kumar, and Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai, sharing the screen with Prithviraj Kapoor and I.S. Johar. She even had a brief appearance in Guddi, starring Jaya Bhaduri. Her final film, Krodhi, directed by Subhash Ghai and starring Dharmendra and Shashi Kapoor, was released posthumously—several years after she had passed life stands as a somber reflection of the brutal realities that lurk behind the dazzling façade of show business. Her legacy endures not through awards or acclaim, but as a cautionary tale of dreams extinguished too soon.
Economic Times
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
She became an overnight star at 24. Passed away just 10 years later, penniless
Synopsis Vimi's story is a sad one. She was a promising actress in the Hindi film industry. Her debut in 'Humraaz' brought her fame. However, her career declined. Personal problems and alcoholism took a toll. She died young and in poverty. Her life serves as a cautionary tale about the dark side of Bollywood. No one attended her funeral. Agencies The Rise and Fall of Vimi: A Life That Burned Too Bright, Too Fast Vimi's journey through the Hindi film industry was a brief yet haunting saga, filled with glamour, heartbreak, and isolation. Though she acted in only ten films and died tragically young at just 34, her story is remembered for the devastating contrasts between her early promise and her eventual in 1943, Vimi initially trained in classical singing. However, she pivoted to acting—a decision that earned her fierce disapproval from her conservative family. Facing intense backlash, she was disowned and left to navigate the complexities of the film world alone. Despite this, she seemed poised for stardom. Vimi had an elegant lifestyle that reflected her refined tastes—she lived in a stylish bungalow in Mumbai's upscale Pali Hill, enjoyed golf during her leisure hours, and drove a sleek car. Her debut in B.R. Chopra's Humraaz in 1968 catapulted her into the limelight, sparking hope that she would soon be counted among the top actresses of her fame proved fleeting. Soon after her promising start, her life began to unravel. Vimi moved to Kolkata under distressing circumstances, and gradually found herself sinking into alcoholism. The glitter of her initial success faded, replaced by the harsh shadows of rejection and financial one episode of Tabassum Talkies, veteran host Tabassum recalled details of Vimi's personal life. She had been married to Shiv Agarwal, a businessman from Kolkata. The union led to Shiv being cut off by his own family. Vimi was already married when she entered films, and in a 1968 interview, she had revealed that her husband intended to produce a movie for her, while she had already signed three other projects—Rangeela, Sandesh, and Appointment. But fate was unkind. Eventually, Shiv abandoned her under pressure from his parents, especially as her film career began to her first director, B.R. Chopra, once remarked that Vimi was bright, educated, and quick to learn, he never cast her again after Humraaz. The films she did after her debut failed at the box office. She managed to remain somewhat visible through magazine features and public appearances, but by the early 1970s, she had completely faded from the public eye. When news broke of her death in 1977, the tragic details of her downfall were finally made her separation from Shiv, Vimi began living with a film distributor named Jolly. Believing that proximity to him could help resurrect her fading career, she placed her trust in the wrong person. To make ends meet, she launched a textiles venture, but that too collapsed, forcing her to sell it off to repay mounting debts. Tabassum later revealed that Vimi had earned a poor reputation in the industry as an ineffective performer, which only compounded her difficulties. With offers drying up, she turned to alcohol to cope with her still, her association with Jolly turned exploitative. Reports suggested that he coerced her into sex work, framing it as the only viable path back into films. This psychological and emotional toll broke her spirit. Vimi spiraled deeper into alcohol dependency, resorting to cheap liquor in her final years. In 1977, she died of liver failure at Mumbai's Nanavati Hospital. Her body was taken to the cremation ground on a handcart, pushed by Jolly. No notable film personalities attended her funeral, though some claim that Sunil Dutt may have made a quiet after her passing, Vimi's dignity was not left untouched. A man named Krishna, who presented himself as a friend, penned a demeaning obituary in Anand Bazar Patrika. He mockingly referred to her death as a relief and disparaged her attempts to find work through personal connections, painting a cruel picture of a woman desperate and her short-lived career, Vimi featured in films like Aabroo alongside Ashok Kumar, and Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai, sharing the screen with Prithviraj Kapoor and I.S. Johar. She even had a brief appearance in Guddi, starring Jaya Bhaduri. Her final film, Krodhi, directed by Subhash Ghai and starring Dharmendra and Shashi Kapoor, was released posthumously—several years after she had passed life stands as a somber reflection of the brutal realities that lurk behind the dazzling façade of show business. Her legacy endures not through awards or acclaim, but as a cautionary tale of dreams extinguished too soon.
Indian Express
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Bollywood starlet was pushed into prostitution, died penniless and alone at 34; her body was transported on ‘thela' for funeral
She appeared in only 10 films and died at the age of 34, but Vimi's career had more tragedy than a Bollywood potboiler. Born in 1943, Vimi trained to be a singer, but her decision to become an actor was met with staunch protest by her family. She was disowned, and left to navigate the film industry by herself. But she was a woman of taste; she lived in a Pali Hill bungalow, played golf in her spare time, and drove a fast car. In 1968, after the success of her debut film Humraaz, it seemed like Vimi was going to become one of the biggest stars of her generation. But her life took a nosedive not long afterwards, sending her to Kolkata, forcing her to rely on alcohol, and resulting in her untimely death at the age of 34. In an episode of Tabassum Talkies, the venerable host said that Vimi was married to a Kolkata-based businessman named Shiv Agarwal, who was disinherited by his family because of Vimi. In fact, she was already married when she joined the films. In a 1968 interview with Star and Style, Vimi had said that her husband was going to produce a film for her to star in, and that she had signed three movies — Rangeela, Sandesh and Appointment — after the success of Humraaz. Little did she know that Shiv would eventually leave her. Also read – Bollywood director lost entire life's savings after one flop; daughter was forced to dance, son performed for money at beach to repay debts Even though her first director, BR Chopra, said in a 1967 interview with Picture Post that she was 'intelligent, educated and grasps things quickly,' he didn't cast her in any future films. None of her movies after Humraaz worked. She got by on magazine photoshoots and public appearances. By 1971, she had disappeared into oblivion. It was only when she died in 1977 that the truth about her downfall came to light. It was revealed that her marriage with Shiv broke down because his parents convinced him to leave her when her career started to spiral, and that she had started living with a film distributor named Jolly, in the hope that it would help her professionally. Read more – Bollywood's biggest star of the 1950s became destitute, Amitabh Bachchan spotted him 'alone, unnoticed' at a bus stop: 'I drove on…' She started a textiles business, which was sold off in order to pay her debts. Tabassum said that Vimi developed a reputation for being a poor actor, which resulted in her not getting work. 'Because of this, she took to alcohol,' Tabassum said. She added that the distributor that Vimi had holed up with forced her into sex work, making it seem like this was the only way that she could revive her career. 'Vimi became a broken woman; she started drinking more heavily, and that, too, the cheap liquor,' Tabassum said. Vimi died in 1977 of liver disease at the Nanavati Hospital, and was taken by Jolly to the crematorium on a 'thela'. Nobody from the film industry showed up for her funeral, although, it was said that Sunil Dutt was there. Read more – National Award-winning actor became an auto rickshaw driver after film industry dreams shattered, was first spotted living on streets of Mumbai Even in death, Vimi wasn't spared the humiliation. A person named Krishna, claiming to be a 'friend', wrote a hurtful obituary in the Anand Bazar Patrika. Krishna described Vimi's death as 'a great pain-reliever to her.' He called her the girl 'with the roving eye who went out without her husband in the fond hope that some producer or actor will make her an offer.' In her short career, Vimi appeared in films such as Aabroo, with Ashok Kumar, and Nanak Nam Jahaz Hai, starring Prithviraj Kapoor and IS Johar. She also appeared in a cameo in Jaya Bhaduri's Guddi. Her final film was Subhash Ghai's Krodhi, starring Dharmendra and Shashi Kapoor. It was released several years after her death.
