Who can play Meena Kumari in 'Kamal Aur Meena'?

Bollywood actress Meena Kumari may have died in 1972, but filmmakers continue to be fascinated by her tragic story. The Pakeezah actress was just 38 years old when she passed away due to liver cirrhosis, but a broken heart had much to do with her demise. Now that she is finally getting an official biopic, one that has the blessing of her husband Kamal Amrohi's family, the true nature of her doomed love story might see the light of day.

Who would play the title character in Kamal Aur Meena, remains a mystery. However, we can discuss the possibilities for the benefit of the producers. After all, it is hard to find an actress who is fluent in Urdu, able to deliver poetic lines, and also resembles the Pakeezah actress.

We do know which actresses wouldn't be fit for the title role because of not checking all the boxes. Alia Bhatt isn't as tall as Meena Kumari, Triptii Dimri isn't that fluent in Urdu, Jahnvi Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor would be miscast because of their accents and mannerisms, whereas Sharmeen Saigol should be kept away from the set, because of her Heeramandi performance alone.

As for those who might fit the profile, let's take a look at actresses who might do justice to Meena Kumari.

Mahira Khan:

Mahira KhanGoogle

There is a reason why Mahira Khan is the perfect fit for Meena Kumari's biopic - she resembles the late actress, is fluent in Urdu, and has a fan following across the world. Even her initials are similar to the Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam actress - MK.

The Humsafar actress knows how to dance and that could help her in portraying the Pakeezah character, her resemblance would help her ace the Parineeta role, while her dramatic flair would add value to the tragic love story of the biopic.

Anushka Sharma:

Anushka SharmaIMDB

Time and again, Anushka Sharma has proved her mettle in Bollywood, and playing Meena Kumari would help her cement a place among the greats. The fair-skinned actress would need to improve her Urdu which is a prerequisite for the character. Apart from that, she is perfect for the character as she resembles the actress, and has made a place for herself in the industry where Meena Kumari ruled.

Deepika Padukone:

If you have watched Bajirao Mastani, and Padmaavat, the first name that comes to mind to play Meena Kumari's character is Deepika Padukone whose only drawback is her accent. Thankfully, it is something that can be rectified and if she does that, nothing can stop her from playing the title character in Kamal Aur Meena.

Kriti Sanon:

Kriti SanonIMDB

Kriti Sanon had been shortlisted as Meena Kumari for a biopic that was shelved because of objections raised by her husband Kamal Amrohi's family. Now that the family is at the helm, she must be in the running because she could fit the character's profile. Her outstanding performances in Bareilly Ki Barfi and Mimi are enough to convince the makers that she is the right candidate for the job.

Sara Ali Khan:

Sara Ali KhanIMDB

If Mahira Khan had a clone, it would be none other than Sara Ali Khan who speaks fluent Urdu (because of her family background), has the perfect genes to succeed in Bollywood (Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh), and has the looks of a Disney princess. If she can't find a place on this shortlist, then no one can.

Ileana D'Cruz:

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Everyone who saw her in Barfi was mesmerized by her good looks, her acting prowess, and the way she carried herself. If Illeana D'Cruz is shortlisted to play Meena Kumari, all she will need to do is fine-tune herself to make the character her own.

Aditi Rao Hydari:

Aditi Rao HydariIMDB

She can act, she can dance and she can look regal all at the same time, qualities that should be on the checklist of Kamal Aur Meena producers. Had it not been for Aditi Rao Hydari, Heeramandi wouldn't have received the approval of the audience, since she was the best thing about the Netflix series.

Kiara Advani:

Don't be surprised, Kiara Advani has the ability to make any character her own. She may not be among the frontrunners to play Meena Kumari but she is one of those actresses who can play any character if they set their mind to it. Meena Kumari's role might be the character that would elevate her from A-list actresses to the greatest ones.

Rakul Preet Singh:

Rakul Preet Singh is more known for her million-dollar smile than her acting chops, however a role like Meena Kumari can change that. For an actress who has stood her ground in front of senior actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, and Ajay Devgn, upgrading herself to play Meena Kumari would be a piece of cake.

Ananya Panday:

Ananya PandayIMDB

Don't get me wrong, but the dedication with which Ananya Panday has acted in Call Me Bae is exactly what makes her qualify for the Meena Kumari biopic. Yes, she hasn't proved her mettle as an actress who can carry a film on her shoulders, but one has to start somewhere. Kamal Aur Meena can be that project for Chunky Panday's daughter who has the looks to kill any character she desires.