A nostalgic conversation on Simi Garewal’s show brings Waheeda Rehman back to her days with Guru Dutt and his unforgettable films. She recalls how his work was judged, doubted, and later celebrated despite early criticism.
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She didn’t sound like she was recalling a film set. It felt more like someone flipping through old, slightly faded photographs: smiling at some, pausing at others, and quietly admitting that a few moments were too big to fully understand even today. That’s how veteran actress Waheeda Rehman spoke about Guru Dutt when she appeared on Simi Garewal’s famous chat show ‘Rendezvous With Simi Garewal’.
The conversation drifted into cinema history, but with a very personal touch. Simi Garewal brought up a question many film lovers have debated for decades: was Guru Dutt ahead of his time?
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Waheeda Rehman didn’t jump to a dramatic answer. She paused in a way that felt thoughtful rather than uncertain. Guru Dutt, she said, made films that people often called “ahead of their time,” especially ‘Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam’ and ‘Kaagaz Ke Phool’.
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But she also reminded everyone that cinema doesn’t always follow a straight line of judgment.
Simi Garewal asked the question directly on the show, reflecting a view shared by many film historians that Guru Dutt may have arrived in cinema about four decades too early.
Waheeda Rehman responded with honesty rather than a fixed opinion. She said it was difficult to label him that way. According to her, people did feel ‘Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam’ and ‘Kaagaz Ke Phool’ were ahead of their time. But then came ‘Pyaasa’, a film that had very different expectations attached to it.
She recalled how people predicted the worst for ‘Pyaasa’. The common talk at that time was blunt and almost dismissive; some believed the film would release on a Friday and “fold by Monday.”
But reality surprised everyone. The film did not collapse; it worked and found its place with audiences.
That contrast, she suggested, makes it difficult to simply say Guru Dutt was “too early.” Sometimes, success and timing don’t follow predictions.
The discussion then moved to today’s film world. Simi Garewal remarked that Guru Dutt might not have survived in the present-day film industry.
Waheeda Rehman agreed with the sentiment. She explained that the pace of filmmaking today is very different. Everything moves quickly now, she said, and people do not have the luxury of time.
She remembered Guru Dutt not just as a director, but as someone who believed in taking time with his craft. It wasn’t only him. She also mentioned filmmakers like Bimal Roy and Asif, who would take as long as two days just to light a single shot. That kind of patience, she noted, is rare in today’s fast-moving film environment.
Waheeda Rehman also shared her connection to Guru Dutt’s world through cinema. She acted in several iconic films associated with him, including ‘Pyaasa’, ‘Kaagaz Ke Phool’, ‘Chaudhvin Ka Chand’, ‘Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam’, and ‘C.I.D.’ These films remain important chapters in her career and in Indian cinema history.
Guru Dutt, widely regarded as one of the finest filmmakers India has produced, is also believed to have been influenced by Alfred Hitchcock during his early creative journey. That influence, combined with his own visual style, helped shape films that continue to be discussed even decades later.
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