New Delhi is gearing up for a poignant celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8. The Austrian Cultural Forum and Austrian Embassy will host a special screening of ‘Mehrunisa’, directed by Indo-Austrian filmmaker Sandeep Kumar. This event promises to inspire audiences with the story of a trailblazing woman from Lucknow’s nawabi heritage who carved her path in Bollywood.
The screening extends beyond Delhi, reaching honorary Austrian consulates in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Local women’s organizations are facilitating these showings at their venues, amplifying the film’s message across South Asia.
At the heart of ‘Mehrunisa’ is 85-year-old Farrukh Jafar, whose life journey from a Lucknow haveli to the silver screen embodies resilience and defiance of tradition. The film captures her struggles and triumphs, serving as a beacon for women everywhere. Shot entirely in Lucknow, it features Farrukh alongside Tulika Banerjee and Ankit Dikshit.
Farrukh Jafar’s legacy in Hindi cinema is legendary. She debuted alongside Rekha in ‘Umrao Jaan’ as her mother, then shone in films like ‘Swades’, ‘Gulabo Sitabo’, ‘Ammi Ki Boli’, ‘Anwar Ka Ajab Kissa’, and ‘Peepli Live’. In ‘Gulabo Sitabo’, her vivacious role as Amitabh Bachchan’s wife, eloping to save their haveli, remains unforgettable.
Tragically, this was Farrukh’s final film; she passed away on October 15, 2021, after a prolonged illness. Previously premiered at international festivals in 2021, ‘Mehrunisa’ now returns to honor her spirit on Women’s Day, reminding us of the enduring power of women’s voices in cinema and society.