Mark your calendars for March 8—International Women’s Day will feature riveting screenings of ‘Mehrunisa’ across South Asia. Kicking off in New Delhi at the Austrian Cultural Forum and Embassy, this Sandeep Kumar directorial pays homage to Bollywood veteran Farrukh Jafar’s extraordinary life.
The outreach is ambitious: partnering with Austrian honorary consulates in six locations across Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, events will be hosted by women’s organizations. It’s a strategic move to spread empowerment through cinema.
Directed by Indo-Austrian Sandeep Kumar, the film delves into Farrukh Jafar’s evolution from a nawabi Lucknow family to a Bollywood icon. At 85, she headlined this empowering tale of perseverance, shot amid Lucknow’s historic sites, with Tulika Banerjee and Ankit Dikshit in key roles.
Farrukh’s filmography sparkles with gems: her maternal role in ‘Umrao Jaan’ with Rekha launched her, leading to acclaimed appearances in ‘Swades’, ‘Gulabo Sitabo’ (as Amitabh Bachchan’s lively spouse scheming to preserve their home), ‘Peepli Live’, ‘Ammi Ki Boli’, and ‘Anwar Ka Ajab Kissa’. She left us on October 15, 2021, after battling illness, making ‘Mehrunisa’ her swan song.
Post its 2021 international premiere, these screenings reignite her flame, challenging conservatism and championing women’s rights in art and beyond.