Stories
Meena Kumari: Bollywood's Tragedy Queen Died Penniless, No Money for Cremation
N
News18•01-10-2026, 15:09
Meena Kumari: Bollywood's Tragedy Queen Died Penniless, No Money for Cremation
- •Meena Kumari, Bollywood's 'Tragedy Queen,' was a top actress but faced severe financial hardship in her final years.
- •She passed away on March 31, 1972, at St. Elizabeth Nursing Home in Mumbai, at the age of 38.
- •After her death, her family lacked the 3,500 rupees needed to release her body from the hospital.
- •Director Bimal Roy's daughter, Rinki Roy Bhattacharya, revealed this poignant detail in a 2014 interview.
- •Her life was marked by an unhappy marriage, loneliness, and alcoholism, leading to liver cirrhosis; a doctor ultimately covered her cremation costs.
Key Questions Answered
Meena Kumari died from liver cirrhosis on March 31, 1972, at St. Elizabeth Nursing Home in Mumbai. Her heavy alcohol consumption, which began as a small dose of brandy prescribed for insomnia after her marriage broke down, ultimately led to the severe liver condition.
Rs 3,500 was required to settle the hospital bill and release Meena Kumari's body. Because her family lacked the funds, her doctor stepped in and paid the amount so they could proceed with her final rites.
The poignant detail about Meena Kumari's family lacking the money to pay her hospital bill was revealed in a 2014 interview by Rinki Roy Bhattacharya, the daughter of filmmaker Bimal Roy.
