Waheeda Rehman Remembers Her Co-star, Friend, Neighbour Shyama

Former actress  Shyama who played the lead and the second lead in a  slew of sonorous musicals  in  the 1950s and 60s including Guru Dutt’s Aar Paar , Barsaat Ki Ek Raat and Sharda(where she  won a Filmfare award)quietly passed away on Tuesday.

The beauteous  Waheeda Rehman recalls Shyama with much affection. “After Nanda and Sadhana I’ve lost another co-star and friend. Shyama was  very goodlooking and a  good human being.She was warm and affectionate.Shyama and I worked  in  only one film together. This was the  ill-fated Dil Diya Dard Liya in 1966 where she played my friend. Though the  film didn’t do well  it is remembered  to this day for its powerful theme . Shyama was  an entertaining  friend during the shooting.And we continued our friendship even after the  film was over.  During those days we formed working relationships that lasted beyond the work place.

So even after Dil Diya Dard Liya Shyama and I would meet often.Our friendship  became  easier to maintain  for two reasons. One, we lived on the same road Napean Sea  in buildings  opposite to one another. She  lived in a building called  Gulmarg.I lived  in a  building called Poonam.And we’d run into one  another quite often Secondly, Shyama was  married to the legendary cinematographer  Fali Mistry.He shot some of my most well-known works including the  film that I’m most closely associated with: Guide.  Later Fali Saab also shot me in Neel Kamal and Prem Pujari. So there was  a bond with Shyama  that went beyond the one film that we did  together.Of late she had not been keeping well. And now God has  chosen to take  her away. May her soul rest in peace.”