IN MEMORY OF INDIA’S FIRST TALK SHOW HOST
Admirers, co-stars and directors remember the ‘pioneer of hosting’ Tabassum
Trishabh.suri@htlive.com he death of actor Tabassum on Friday has brought an era to an end. Born in 1944 in then Bombay, her acting career started at the age of three, with the film Nargis, followed by noteworthy roles such as that of a young Meena Kumari in Baiju Bawra (1952), a courtesan in Mughal-e-Azam (1960) and many more. She went on to do projects such as Gambler (1971) and Chameli Ki Shaadi (1986). But, what immortalised her on the small screen, for which an entire generation still recalls her fondly, was India’s first television talk show, Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan. It premiered on Doordarshan in 1972, within a week of the channel going live, and continued to be aired for the next 21 years.
Celebs from all walks of life wanted to be on the show, which was unique, also because it was interspersed with film scenes of the interviewee. Her jolly nature, combined with her fluency in English, Hindi and Urdu won hearts. In 2016, she had said in an interview to HT, “Initially, some artistes would act snobbish about coming on the show. But, once it became popular, the biggest names would queue up for a slot.”
PIONEER OF HOSTING
Actor Anil Kapoor, who worked with the late actor in Chameli Ki Shaadi and also appeared on her show, remembers her positive aura. “Tabassum ji was a lovely lady, always smiling and full of energy. She was one of the pioneers of hosting shows. And not a small one at that; it remains one of the most successful shows in
India,” says the 65-year-old, adding that the show’s popularity is what made his late father, producer Surinder Kapoor, title their film after it.
‘TABASSUM JI BAHUT ZINDA DIL AURAT THI’
Filmmaker Anees Bazmee, who wrote the script of her last film, Swarg (1990), recalls: “When you met her, if you were tensed, your worries would disappear! You tend to not form a judgement about someone on the first meeting, but with her, you could deduce easily that she was a very good human being. She lived a whole life, the void her death has left will not be fulfilled. Whatever she did, only she could do.”
ANIL KAPOOR, ACTOR
We titled our film, starring Rishi Kapoor and Moushumi Chatterjee, Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan. Her show was iconic, and she was a terrific host. She was one of the most celebrated anchors. Everyone wanted to be a part of her show, it was a big thing if you got the chance.