Remembering the tragic tale of Vimi, the heroine of BR Chopra’s blockbuster ‘Humraaz‘. Vimi was the most unconventional Hindi heroine of her time. She was married, a mother of two who made her debut opposite two of the top stars of their time, Raaj Kumar and Sunil Dutt.
Birth and Early Life
Vimlesh Wadhwan, aka Vimi, was born in 1943 in Jalandhar into an affluent Punjabi family. Vimi had trained to be a singer. She also loved acting in plays and was a regular participant in AIR Bombay’s children’s program. She graduated from Sophia College, Mumbai, majoring in psychology.
Vimi married Calcutta-based Marwadi businessman Shiv Agrawal when she was still a teenager. Her husband’s family had a thriving hardware business. It was a love marriage, against the wishes of her family. Due to her age and caste difference, her family was against the union and, according to reports, disowned her after the marriage.
Big Break Of Vimi
She settled in Calcutta with her husband and went on to have two kids. It was music director Ravi who introduced her to BR Chopra, who offered her the role of the leading lady in “Humraaz,” opposite Sunil Dutt and Raj Kumar. The film was a huge box office success and Vimi became an instant star.
For a time, it seemed she had it all: a Pali Hill apartment, designer clothes, a mink coat, and a sports car. She loved to golf, play billiards, and go on long drives. Her husband gave her unconditional support, even though her parents and in-laws had abandoned the couple because they were against her joining films.
Vimi On Top Of the World
Riding on the success of “Hamraaz,” Vimi went on to sign films like “Aabroo (1968),” “Nanak Nam Jahaz Hai (1969),” and “Patanga (1971).” But his subsequent films, including “Aabroo (1968) and “Patanga (1971),” failed to make a mark at the box office. She was no doubt a great beauty but had very limited acting talent. And one more thing: she never gets the chance to nurture her talent or hone her skills. One of his only standout films was the National Award-winning Punjabi movie “Nanak Nam Jahaz Hai,” which also starred Prithviraj Kapoor, I. S. Johar, and Veena.
The Decline
Her husband became an alcoholic and interfered in her career, displeasing many big producers with unreasonable conditions. A clutch of movies came with her in the lead but sank at the box office. With money flowing short, the couple shifted from their swanky residence at Juhu to a more modest locality. Vimi who was on top, was totally forgotten Within two years.
With money flowing short, the couple shifted from their swanky residence at Juhu to a more modest locality. Desperate for money, her husband started to push her into the arms of dubious producers. Vimi’s protests were met with beatings and abuses by her husband. Once a loving couple becomes bitter to each other due to circumstances, they part ways. After her separation, she tried her hand at a textile business in Calcutta, but that too failed miserably.
The steep into misery
At this time, Vimi met a small-time producer named Jolly, who promised to make a film with her as the lead. Vimi saw in Jolly her last hope to resurrect her career. But it was another trap, as Jolly never had any intention to fullfill his promise. Vimi saw her dream of seeing herself again as a heroine shattered. Soon she found herself pimped out to men by Jolly.
To forget the pain, she found solace in country-made liquor, the only variety she could afford. Heavy drinking and emotional turmoil took their toll. In her last few years, Vimi was a shadow of her former self. There are reports that she would allow herself to be exploited by men to earn a livelihood.
The End
Vimi, once the most beautiful face in Hindi cinema, died on August 22, 1977, after spending a few days in the general ward of the Nanavati hospital in Mumbai, reportedly due to complications from heavy drinking. She was in her early thirties.
Her dead body was wrapped in a soiled dhoti and taken for cremation in a chanawalla’s thela (cart). The cart goes down the same road on which, many years ago, she would drive in an Impala with fans following her for a glimpse of the Humraaz heroine. Only nine people were present at her cremation. Everyone forgets her in her last time, her family, her fans, and her fraternity.
Vimi’s son Rajneesh Agrawal became the disciple of OSHO from a young age and took sanyas in 1981. He is now famous as Swami OZEN Rajneesh and has an ashram in Mexico.
Vimi on IMDB
