Guru Dutt, who was a celebrated Indian filmmaker known for his unique use of camera close-ups, lighting techniques, and heartfelt portrayal of emotions, directed 8 Hindi films, including Pyaasa (1957), listed in Time magazine's 100 Greatest Movies.  

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Today, we will discuss Guru Dutt's journey of becoming one of India's great filmmakers and the tragic circumstances that led to his lonely death.

Early life:

Vasanth Kumar Shivashankar Padukone was born on 9 July 1925 in Padukone, a town in present-day Karnataka, India, into a Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin family. His name was later changed to Gurudatta Padukone following a childhood accident, believed to be an auspicious choice.

His father, Shivashanker Rao Padukone, served as a headmaster and banker, while his mother, Vasanthi, was a teacher and writer. Originally from Karwar, they moved during Dutt's early years to Bhowanipore, Kolkata, where he grew up and became fluent in Bengali.

Career

In 1942, Guru Dutt began his studies at Uday Shankar's School of Dancing and Choreography in Almora. However, he left in 1944 due to an involvement with the company's leading lady. He then found job as a telephone operator at a Lever Brothers factory in Kolkata, but soon left.

After briefly returning to Bombay, Guru Dutt's uncle secured him a job with the Prabhat Film Company in Pune under a three-year contract. It was here that he became friends with actors Rehman and Dev Anand.

In 1945, Guru Dutt made his acting debut in Vishram Bedekar's film Lakhrani and worked as an assistant director and choreographer for P. L. Santoshi's Hum Ek Hain in 1946, which marked Dev Anand's acting debut. Later, he became one of the greatest filmmakers inthe country. Hi notable films like Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) are considered classics in Indian cinema.

Guru Dutt was recognized as one of CNN's Top 25 Asian Actors in 2012.

Personal life:

In 1953, Guru Dutt married Geeta Roy Chowdhuri, a noted playback singer he met during the making of Baazi (1951). Despite facing significant family opposition, they had been engaged for three years before marrying.

They settled in a bungalow in Pali Hill, Mumbai, and had three children: Tarun, Arun, and Nina. However, their marriage was troubled; Guru Dutt's heavy smoking, drinking, and erratic lifestyle strained their relationship.

His close association with actress Waheeda Rehman further complicated matters, leading to their separation. Geeta Dutt passed away in 1972 at the age of 41 due to liver damage from excessive drinking. After Guru and Geeta's deaths, their children were raised by Guru's brother Atma Ram and Geeta's brother Mukul Roy.

Death:

On October 10, 1964, Guru Dutt was discovered deceased in his bed at his rented apartment on Pedder Road in Bombay. Reports indicated he had mixed alcohol with sleeping pills, suggesting his death could have been accidental due to an overdose or possibly a deliberate act, which would have been his third suicide attempt.

His son, Arun, believed the death to be accidental, attributing it to Guru Dutt's ongoing struggle with sleeping disorders.  At the time, Guru Dutt was also involved in two other projects: Picnic with actress Sadhana and director K. Asif's epic Love and God, the latter of which was eventually released much later with significant reshoots and a different lead actor.

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