Zara si aahat hoti hai

Zara si aahat hoti hai toh dil sochta hai
Kahin yeh woh toh nahin, kahin yeh woh toh nahin

Chhup ke seene mein koi jaise sada deta hai
Shaam se pehle diya dil ka jala deta hai
Hai usi ki yeh sada, hai usi ki yeh ada
Kahin yeh woh toh nahin

Shakl firti hai nigaahon mein wahi pyaari si
Meri nas nas mein machalne lagi chingaari si
Chhoo gayi jism mera kiske daaman ki hawa
Kahin yeh woh toh nahin

Movie: Haqeeqat (1964)
Director: Chetan Anand
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Lyricist: Kaifi Azmi
Music Composer: Madan Mohan

Whenever I saw songs from Heer Raanjha, I’d think—this pale-complexioned woman looks as miscast as Raaj Kumar in this film. Both seemed odd and awkward. It is not surprising that people remember Priya Rajvansh more for her personality than her acting.

Facts about Priya are strewn all over the Internet. She was born Vera Sunder Singh; after graduation, she joined the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London; and she first appeared in Chetan Anand’s Haqeeqat (1964). She loved discussing George Bernard Shaw and attending Urdu mushairas.

After she became involved with her mentor Chetan, she stopped working in films made by others. Since then, she was involved in every aspect of Chetan’s films and starred as the central character in all of them. Although she spent most of her time with him, they didn’t marry.

After his death in 1997, she inherited a part of his seaside bungalow at Ruia Park in Juhu, along with his sons Ketan and Vivek Anand. She was found dead in it on March 27, 2000.

Although not for her acting, Priya will definitely be remembered for her association with Chetan Anand and an inglorious death. I think any woman deserves far better than that. Choosing this song is my way of compensating for that because it is beautifully picturised and features only Priya. ~ S