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For the most part, Bollywood is a world few ever leave willingly. Many who enter continue working until their last breath or until they slip to the bottom of the call sheet. Yet, there are rare exceptions, and one of the most striking is actor Vyjayanthimala. Born into a traditional family in Chennai, she stepped into films, matched the best in the business at their own game, and then chose to walk away long before anyone could catch up. In a recent interview, Vyjayanthimala discussed the events leading up to her exit from the film industry and how she wasn’t planning to wait for anyone’s permission to leave.
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In an interview with ETimes, Vyjayanthimala was asked how she feels when she looks back at her time in films. She replied that God has been very kind to her throughout her life and that she feels fortunate to still enjoy good health. The actor added that she has no regrets about her career, and believes her early exit was shaped by several factors, one being that she began working at a very young age. Vyjayanthimala made her debut at just 16 with the Tamil film Vaazhkai in 1949. The actor said that by the time she was 35, she was ready to move on and start a family.
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Director Naresh Kumar’s Ganwaar boasted a stellar cast, featuring Rajendra Kumar, Pran, and Jeevan. It was also Vyjayanthimala’s final film. The actor admitted that few in the industry were willing to believe or accept her decision to step away. Yet, despite the disbelief, she was determined to leave, having already made up her mind to marry Dr. Chamanlal Bali, the Kapoor family’s physician. Vyjayanthimala revealed that their bond grew stronger through a shared passion for golf, which ultimately brought them closer together.
Vyjayanthimala also listed some films that she feels were the highlight of her career, such as B. R. Chopra’s Sadhana, Raj Kapoor’s Sangam, Bimal Roy’s Madhumati, Lekh Tandon’s Amrapali, Vijay Anand’s Jewel Thief, and of course, Dilip Kumar and Nitin Bose’s Ganga Jumna. The classical dancer-turned-actor admitted that while she cherished every moment of her acting career, she has no regrets about leaving when she did and never dwells on what might have been.
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