Entertainment /
The Ugly Face Of Fame
Bollywood actress Jiah Khan’s tragic demise reminds us of the ugly side of fame and fortune that comes with showbiz. We take a walk down memory lane, remembering the celebrities we loved and lost to tragic ends.
Meena Kumari
Meena Kumari was known as the tragedy, a title that perhaps accurately represented her life itself. Briefly abandoned as an infant by her father, she grew up in a household that was not financially sound. Her 12 years of marriage to director Kamal Amrohi broke apart, leaving her heartbroken. The flop release of her film Pakeezah shortly, combined with loneliness proved deadly, as soon after she was hospitalized due to health related problems, that eventually lead to her death in 1974(caused by liver failure resulting from alcoholism).
Marilyn Monroe
Perhaps the most celebrated actress of all life, Marilyn Monroe’s famous and successful life was not without its shortcomings. Growing up in foster homes opened way for physical and mental torture. Having started off as a sex symbol, she sought serious roles later in her career. Three failed marriages, miscarriages and surgeries had Monroe succumb to alcohol and pills, and her death in 1962 at the age of 32 was ruled as a “probable suicide”. Her physician later stated she had been deeply depressed that day as she felt rejected by those close to her.
Heath Ledger
The man who gave us the iconic Joker died before the release of perhaps his best acting role. The Australian started off his career as a “pretty boy” heathrob, with popular teen movies such as 10 Things I Hate About You. His much deserved success came with Brokeback Mountain in 2005. Shortly after completing shooting of The Dark Knight, Ledger was found dead in his apartment at the very young age of 29, a death caused by overdose of prescription drugs. He received more than 30 posthumous awards for his portrayal of the psychopathic killer, including an Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe.
Sanjeev Kumar
Known as the Godfather of Indian Cinema, Sanjeev Kumar was a very versatile actor, having played roles that portrayed all ages. His most notable roles are perhaps those in Sholay and Aandhi. He passed away at very young age of 47 due to an overeating problem he developed as a child, when he used to sleep in his kitchen. Legend goes, however, that in his latter years it was the depression of losing his love Hema Malini to Dharmendra that ultimately lead to his demise.
Michael Jackson
The King of Pop was yet another victim of an accidental drug overdose. His tremendous success in music was followed by drastic changes in physical appearances and accusations of child molestation. A drug-induced cardiac arrest took his life when he was only 50, leaving behind millions of mourning fans. It is alleged that Jackson took prescription drugs at home in order to sleep. It could be that at some point he became addicted to painkillers and needed them to sleep and to wake up, or it could be that he suffered from depression-induced insomnia and needed the drugs to get to sleep. Of course it could be a combination of either of these.
Smita Patil
Yet another very young death was that of Smita Patil, who at 31 years of age died soon after giving birth to her son with actor Raj Babbar. Known for her roles in Shakti and Namak Halal, she was the youngest recipient of the National Award for her role in Bhumika. In 2010, Patil’s younger sister Manya Seth declared that she died of a broken heart, as she was unable to deal with her tumultuous personal life and relationship with Raj Babbar. Media did not take well to her marriage with an already married man.
Kurt Cobain
Nirvana’s leader singer, guitarist and songwriter Kurt Cobain did not have an easy family life growing up. His parents’ divorce scarred his personality for life, leaving him largely anti-social. Following the huge success of the album Nevermind, it became increasingly difficult for Cobain to keep up with the life of fame and fortune. Kobain was put into rehab in 1994 for a suicide attempt by his wife of two years – Courtney Love. Having run away from rehab, he was soon found having shot himself to death, with a suicide note addressed to his wife and daughter in red ink, ending with words “I love you”.
Parveen Babi
She was the tall, sexy seductress of the 80s era, and gave blockbusters such as Amar Akbar Anthony and Namak Haram. She graced the cover of the Time Magazine in 1976, as the changing face of Bollywood. Babi went through a string of relationships with married men; Mahesh Bhatt, Danny Denzongpa, Kabid Bedi etc. Rumors go that she also had an affair with Amitabh Bachchan, and later developed a fear of him conspiring to kill her, filing a petition in court against him. Babi died at the young age of 55, alone in her apartment, her body discovered 3 days later when neighbours noticed her absence. Autopsy revealed an otherwise empty stomach full of alcohol, suggesting she may have starved to death.
Images and Biographies Courtesy of IMDB
Farah Khan
Author
Farah joined ANOKHI LIFE while finishing up her degree in English Literature and Writing at the University of Toronto. Her position since then has expanded across all departments, everything from office administration and corporate affairs, to ANOKHI's online presence and events. . .
COMMENTS
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
-
Up Close & Personal with Sandhya Suri on Her Oscar-Bound Film 'Santosh'
-
Bollywood 2024 Recap: The Good, the Bad, and the 'Who Asked for This?'
-
Must-Watch or Pass? Your Definitive Guide to the Upcoming Bollywood Films This Winter
-
How PBS Series 'Renegades' Celebrates American History's Most Badass Disabled Changemakers
-
14 Bollywood Remakes Vs. Their Hollywood Originals - Who Did It Better?
-
Catch Pakistan's 1st Ever Hand-Drawn Animated Film 'The Glassworker' & Other South Asian Films At Reel Asian Festival
-
World Mental Health Day: How Bollywood Has Used Its Power Of Storytelling To Address Mental Health Stigmas
-
Highlights Of Archie Panjabi, Neeru Bajwa & Iman Vellani At iSAFF2024
-
3x Emmy-Nominated Television Host & Producer Rasha Goel Launches New Podcast "Beyond the Glam" - Premiering Today!
-
Does Bollywood Accurately Portray Financial Struggles of India's Working Class?
-
Canada’s International South Asian Film Festival (iSAFF) Triumphantly Unveils Its Thrilling 2024 Lineup!
-
TIFF 2024: Our Chat With Writer-Director-Star Srinivas Krishna On The 4K Restoration Of His Hidden Canadian Classic ‘Masala’
-
TIFF 2024: First-Time Filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi Dishes On ‘Boong,’ Her Funny & Profound Modern-Day Folk Tale Told From A Child's Point Of View
-
Nepotism Or Repetitive Content - What's Causing Bollywood's Slump Versus Punjabi & South Indian Cinema's Surge
-
Must-Watch Patriotic Films From India & Pakistan For Your Independence Day Celebrations
-
Villainous Vixens: How Bollywood's Leading Ladies Are Redefining Cinema's Most Memorable Antagonists
-
'Girls Will Be Girls' Wins Big At The 2024 Indian Film Festival Of Los Angeles (IFFLA)
-
OTT Revolution: How Streaming Platforms Are Transforming Indian Cinema
-
A Train Bloodbath With A 90% On Rotten Tomatoes - Why You Should Watch TIFF-Acclaimed Indian Action Flick 'Kill'
-
The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) Celebrates Its 22nd Edition June 27-30 With An Incredible Lineup Of 21 Films
-
Pride Month & Beyond: LGBTQIA+ Representation in South Asian Cinema
-
From Stoic Protectors to Emotional Anchors: A Father’s Day Tribute Through Hindi Cinema
-
Exploring South Asian Intergenerational Sacrifice With 'The Wrong Bashir', Now Playing In Toronto
-
Bollywood & Beyond: Must-Watch Films for Vibrant Insight Into Muslim Cultures
-
Over 50 Films From 9 Countries At The Eclectic South Asian Film Festival Montreal (May 24 - June 3)
-
Mother's Day Special: How Bollywood & Hollywood Super Moms Show Us Women Can Have It All!
-
Emerging Talents and Established Icons: Celebrate South Asian Heritage Month with Us!
-
Revealing Truths: South Asian Cinema's Contribution to Earth Day Awareness
-
Review: Monkey Man - Dev Patel Sets the Screen Ablaze with Electrifying Action
-
Exclusive Q&A With Diljit Dosanjh on the Dil-Luminati Tour and the Exciting Simplii Collaboration!
-
12 South Asian Female Artists Who Are Changing Hollywood's Landscape
-
Transitional Representation of South Asian Women in The World of Entertainment
-
Hot February 2024 Films From Bollywood And Beyond!
-
How Jesse "Punjabi Timbit" Singh Explores Emotional Healing Through His Comedy
-
Rukus Avenue Radio, The World's #1 South Asian Radio Station, Joins The iHeartRadio App
-
From Silent Frames To Global Fame: Key Moments That Shaped Bollywood
-
Hot January 2024 Films From Bollywood And Beyond!
-
Kerala Actor Santhy Balachandran Celebrates Her Three Incredible Releases In 2023
-
Hot December 2023 Films From Bollywood And Beyond!
-
The Real Reason Why Bollywood Directors Love English In Their Titles
-
Diwali Dance Fest Makes History at Walt Disney World® Resort!
-
TIFF 2023: Deepa Mehta and Sirat Taneja Share Why 'I Am Sirat’ Is The Transgender Story To Be Told
-
The International South Asian Film Festival 2023 (iSAFF) Wraps With A Celebration Of Outstanding Global South Asian Pathbreakers
-
TIFF 2023: 'We Grown Now' Director Minhal Baig Shares With Us Why Neighbourhood Stories Should Be Told
-
Event Alert: BMO International Film Festival Of South Asia Toronto (IFFSA) Is Every Filmi Lover's Dream
-
TIFF 2023: ‘The Queen of My Dreams’ Reigns Over TIFF With Style, Wit And Heart
-
The 21st Indian Film Festival Of Los Angeles (IFFLA) Returns With A Bang!
-
Brendan D'Souza Will Never Cheat On Their One True Love (Stand Up!)
-
Event Alert: South Asian Global Cinema Takes Centre Stage At The International South Asian Film Festival
-
Diwali Comes Alive At Walt Disney World With The First Ever Diwali Dance Fest
-
TIFF 2023: 11 South Asian Films Coming To The Toronto International Film Festival
-
Hot September 2023 Films From Bollywood And Beyond!
-
Singers Karan Aujla & Jonita Gandhi Sign On To Warner Music Canada/India's Label '91 North Records'
-
4 Ways Alia Bhatt Steals The Show In The Hot Netflix Film "Heart Of Stone"
-
Priyanka And Nick Jonas Get Ready For The Jonas Brothers' Tour At Yankee Stadium!
-
Hot August 2023 Films From Bollywood And Beyond!
