The Heirs of the Love for Which She Sacrificed Everything Took Away Her Life | priya Rajvansh

Описание: Priya Rajvansh had few films to her credit in a 22-year career — seven to be precise — but the actor still managed to carve out a niche for herself, and it had little to do with her unfortunate end.
In a limited career, Rajvansh, born Vera Sunder Singh, worked with some of Hindi film industry’s stalwarts, but most prominently her partner and filmmaker Chetan Anand — from the war film Haqeeqat (1964) to reincarnation drama Kudrat (1981).
However, after a much-publicised and long-standing relationship with Anand, which came to define her, she was murdered on 27 March 2000.

On her 19th death anniversary, ThePrint looks back at the journey of the actor.

Exposure to London
In the public domain, little has been reported about Rajvansh’s early days, but this much is known: She graduated from the premier institute Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London right before she landed her first offer in the film industry.

One of her brothers, Kanwar Singh, once recalled that his sister had always wanted to be an actor and excelled at her school, Auckland House, in Shimla — the city where she was born and grew up.

She moved to London after her father was transferred to the city as a forest conservator by the United Nations.

It was while she was in London that a photograph of hers made its way to Bombay (now Mumbai), only to be spotted by acclaimed filmmaker Chetan Anand (brother of famed star Dev Anand and director Vijay Anand).

Also read: Remembering Sridevi, the outsider who ruled Bollywood

Film career
Subsequently, Rajvansh got her first role in Anand’s war film Haqeeqat, in 1964, which is often considered by many as one of the best war films to have been made in India.

Interestingly, the other six films that Priya acted in were all directed by Chetan Anand. Rajvansh’s brother said Anand never let her be a part of films directed by others.

Kanwar said, “Chetan Anand was the man who made Priya and also the man who marred her. In fact, he was the biggest tragedy that could ever happen to her.”

For her second film Heer Ranjha (1970), which was based on the popular Punjabi folk tale and written entirely in verse, Rajvansh received much recognition.

Her next film Hindustan Ki Kasam (1973), centred on the 1971 India-Pakistan war, didn’t do well at the box office but was yet another reminder of Anand’s pursuit of cinematic excellence.

Rajvansh here had a double-role — one of her characters was a spy who was deliberately positioned in Pakistan by the Indian forces to retrieve sensitive information, quite akin to Alia Bhatt’s character in Meghna Gulzar’s Raazi from last year.

Her next four films were Hanste Zakhm (1973), Saheb Bahadur (1977), Kudrat (1981) and Haathon Ki Lakeeren (1986).

Source - The Print

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