Meena Kumari grew up in the shadow of her older sister, who left the film industry after marriage. By the time Meena became an adult, she had stepped into lead roles in films. She had earned her own money for years, yet she never truly experienced personal freedom.

A Secret Marriage and a Bold Step

Meena got her first real taste of independence when she decided to marry Kamal Amrohi. She knew her father, Ali Bux, would never accept this marriage. So, she and Kamal chose to keep it a secret. Their plan was to wait until Meena could save Rs 2 lakh and present it to her father, possibly to gain his approval. However, when Ali found out about the marriage, he tried to force her to leave Kamal. Meena gave in at first but remained married.

Conflict at Home

Despite the tension, Meena continued living in her father's home for another year. He did not ask her to leave because her earnings supported the family. But things took a sharp turn when Meena accepted a film project with Kamal Amrohi and turned down another marriage proposal arranged by her father.

In anger, Ali Bux shut the doors of the house a home that Meena herself had bought and refused to let her return.

According to writer Mehta, Meena later wrote her father a heartfelt letter: “Babujee, whatever has happened I have left. Please do not talk about going to court. That would be childish. I desire nothing from your house except my clothes and books. This car I now have I will send to you tomorrow. My clothes, etc., you can send when you find it convenient.”

A Life of Sacrifice and Pain

Meena’s suffering didn’t start with adulthood. Her struggles began when she was just a child. Her father had pushed her into the film world, which eventually consumed her completely. Despite everything, Meena always fulfilled her duties as a daughter. She continued to support her family financially and emotionally until the very end—even though they rarely returned the favour.