Feature:
The Broken Marriages of Vinod Mehra
 Vinod Mehra, the sober looking fine actor of the 70s and 80s, who maintained his career steadily and made his place in the Hindi cinema with the dexterous skills he was swathed with. Not a super star, Mehra did not touch the heights of success in his entire phase of films, but always gave his best shot and kept a good status in the industry. Which was why, he was never out of the film abode. An average hero with marvelous dexterity of acting draped with the soft style of dialogue delivery, Vinod made his presence felt with his acting prowess amongst the mega stars of his time from Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Mithun Chakraborty, Jateendra and others.
The polite actor did not find himself happy in his married life. He went through broken marriages till death. Mehra got married four times. And out of them, three marriages broke and only the last could survive.
 The first woman to enter his life was none other than the epitome of beauty-the dusky Rekha, who became his life partner. It was a love marriage. Both had worked together in many films prior to their wedding. The marriage could not survive since Rekha gave her heart to Lambo Jee (the dashing man with rocket solid voice, the super star Amitabh Bachchan). But they both remained good friends till Mehra’s death.
The next lady to hit his home as his bride was Meena Broca, the girl his mother had chosen for him. Since it was an arrange marriage, Vinod was not happy at all. Thus the relationship could not develop between the two. After some days of his marriage, a journalist went to interview the newly-wed couple and found that the certain natural fragrance (which is normally attached to a happy occasion) was missing in the ambiance of his residence. Vinod was awkward and Meena nervous. Their answers to the questions of journalist were appearing rehearsed. And it was obvious that they were not comfortable in each other’s presence. Mehra suffered his first heart attack soon after his wedding to Meena. He could not take much time to compromise with the gal, his mother had selected for him. And three months later, one fine afternoon, he eloped with the co-star Bindya Goswami (the ravishing actress with innocent looks) while still being married to Meena Broca. It was Mehra’s third marriage and appeared in the media as a major scandal, which took an ugly turn when Meena’s brothers threatened him with dire consequences. Torn between his love for Goswami and his mother, Mehra was overridden with guilt. On the other hand, Bindya’s parents were pretty much upset with her for spoiling a promising career to settle down with an already married man. For a while, the two stayed in hotel rooms.
 About his marriage with Meena, Vinod Mehra said to the media, “I don’t want to explain, but my marriage with her is not a marriage”. Certainly, it was a very sad break-up. The blushing bride, who had come to his home with abundant of dreams, had to pack her baggage a few weeks later.
The Goswami family was much sure that the marriage between Vinod and Bindya wouldn’t last since they knew that their daughter was irresponsible. Mrs. Mehra, Vinod’s mother was also not happy with his son’s marriage with the actress. She said to the journalists, “Ek bar jis larki ko madam bulvane ki aadat par jayee vo bahu ya bhabhi nahin ban sakti. Vo madam hi rahte hai”.
Call it destiny, but a few years later history repeated itself when Bindya left Vinod’s home to tie the knot with the noted filmmaker J.P Dutta, whilst still being married to Mehra. The lover (Vinod) went to plead to bring Bindya back, but she had made up her mind. A few years later, Mehra made up his mind too when he got married to Kiran. Again it was a love marriage. Vinod tied the nuptial knot for the fourth time and she (Kiran) for the second. The excited Mehra told to the reporters at the wedding ceremony, “This is the right one. You wait and watch, this will last forever”. And surely it did, only Vinod Mehra died too young due to the severe heart attack he suffered.
His death was as dramatic as his marriage. Covered in mystery till the very end, nobody was able to resolve why his body turned black during the last hours. He felt severe pain in his chest and asked his wife Kiran who rubbled balm. “Call the doctor. I think I am dying”, he said to better half. The frightened wife rushed to summon the doctor. He’d begun to turn pale by then. “I don’t want to die. I want to see our baby”. These were the last words he uttered to his wife again and again. The death did not let him see his baby and took him along. He died on 30th October 1990.
 The numerous marriages the actor (who acted in a long list of films) turned filmmaker went through his life, Rekha was his regular confidante. They continued to remain friends till the end day of Vinod’s life. Rekha was the first person to meet Meena to give her the customary saree and jewellery. And many years later, she did the same with Kiran. Today, Kiran wears the same locket Rekha had gifted her at the wedding.
Kiran gave birth to two kids – Soniya Mehra and Rohan Mehra. Soniya was two years old when Vinod died. Rohan took birth after his father’s death (whom he wanted to see). Soniya Mehra has recently made her debut in Bollywood with the flick, ‘Victora No. 203’, which is a remake of the 1972 classic of the same name. Such a fine-polite actor, Vinod Mehra will always be remembered in good words by his fans and the movie buffs of Hindi cinema.
- Written By: Goher Iqbal Punn
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- The writer is a popular and experienced Bollywood and Indian TV Analyst and laced with a good rapport with both of these fraternities and the people associated with these entertainment worlds. He also shares a good rapport with the celebs of these swanky industries. You may contact him at the e-mails: goheriqbal@yahoo.co.uk, goher.punn@yahoo.com and goher.punn@gmail.com
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very well written. All the information is there. One does not need to look somewhere else to look for more information about his life. Thank you.