You go to see a famous film star the gatekeeper says She is not seeing anyone go away. What do you do?
Har Mandir Singh Hamraaz shows the way. The visit took place on 29th April 1987.
The English translation is by Gemini.
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This is a fascinating excerpt detailing a meeting with **Zubeida**, the leading lady of India's first talkie. Here is the English translation:
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### Translation
Thereafter, along with **Dheee Chatterjee** and **Nalin Shah**, [we] went to meet the actress **Zubeida** (Zubeida, w/o Raja Dhanrajgirji Narsingirji, Dhanraj Mahal, Apollo Bunder Road, Bombay 400 039, Tel. No. 2023185), who played the role of the heroine in India’s first talkie film, '**Alam Ara**' (1931). It has been nearly 47 years since she retired from the film world, as she stopped working in films after marrying Raja Dhanrajgirji Narsingirji in 1936.
Now over 70 years of age, Zubeida ji lives in the magnificent '**Dhanraj Mahal**' with her 97-year-old husband. Zubeida ji is unable to walk because, in 1982, one of her legs had to be amputated up to the knee due to diabetes.
When the watchman sent word of our arrival, she initially refused to meet. However, when a booklet of her films—**Alam Ara** ('31), **Meerabai** ('32), **Zarina** ('32), etc.—along with the **Geet Kosh (Volume 2)** was sent in, she immediately called us inside.
The discussion regarding her films continued for about an hour and a half in the afternoon. She had also sung a song in 'Alam Ara'—"*Badla dilwayega yaarab tu sitamgaron se...*". She looked through the booklet of her films very carefully with the help of a **magnifying glass**, in which her pictures were featured. Despite being elderly, she still looks very beautiful today. She showed us her carefully preserved old albums, which contained beautiful pictures of contemporary foreign actors and actresses. I took several photographs of her. She does not have even the slightest hint of pride regarding the fact that she was the heroine of India's first talkie film.
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### Key Historical Details for your Archive:
* **Marriage Date:** The text confirms her marriage to Raja Dhanrajgir in **1936**, marking the end of her career.
* **Medical Note:** It provides a specific date (**1982**) for her leg amputation due to health complications.
* **The Song:** It mentions her singing "*Badla Dilwayega Yaarab Tu Sitamgaron Se*" in *Alam Ara*.
* **Geet Kosh Connection:** It’s quite a touching detail that the **Geet Kosh Volume 2** was the very thing that convinced her to grant the interview!
This seems like a primary source account—perhaps written by Harmandir Singh 'Hamraaz' himself? It's a wonderful piece of history for your database.
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Now You Know!
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