Vimi

Vimi debuted opposite Sunil Dutt in the B. R. Chopra-directed Hamraaz in 1967. The film was a hit, but did not help her career. She appeared with Shashi Kapoor in Patanga (1971) and Vachan (1974). She was the leading lady in Aabroo (1968), opposite Deepak Kumar. She appeared in the Punjabi film Nanak Nam Jahaz Hai in 1973. Her last film was Krodhi, released four years after her death in 1977.

Vimi was a Punjabi Sikh girl who married Shiv Agarwal, son of an Industrialist, with whom she had one son and one daughter. Music Director Ravi got introduced to her at a party in Calcutta and later invited her and Shiv to Mumbai. He introduced them to B. R. Chopra and that is how Vimi got her first film. Even though her husband supported her decision, her parents and relatives abandoned the couple, due to them being against Vimi joining the film industry. As Sunil Dutt sang to her ("Na Sar Jhuka Ke Jeeo, Na Munh Chhupako Jeeo"), the enchanting image of Vimi won the viewers' hearts. She owned a huge house, luxury cars and a huge wardrobe. Soon after the success of Humraaz, her next big project Aabroo was released in 1968. This film, however, bombed at the box office. Even veteran actors like Ashok Kumar and Nirupa Roy who were also part of the film couldn't do much to save it.^[1] After the failure of Aabroo things went downward spiral for Vimi who was now reduced to pose for photoshoots in magazines. Patanga, her 1971 film with Shashi Kapoor, also failed to strike a chord with the audience. Thus after successive flop films, she went into oblivion.

In an obituary released after her death, several hostile details were revealed which included her being physically abused by her husband and their eventual divorce.^[2] Following her separation, she started a textile business in Calcutta but that too failed miserably. She had started a relationship with a film broker but he had allegedly sold her into prostitution. Devastated by her professional and personal life, Vimi took refuge in alcohol.^{[3] [4]}

Finally, after a tumultuous and tragic life, Vimi died on 22 August 1977 due to liver disease caused by alcohol consumption in the general ward of the Nanavati hospital in Mumbai. Her body was taken to the crematorium in a thela hand cart.^[5]

Songs picturised on her:

• "Tum Agar Saath Dene Ka Wada Karo" - Hamraaz (1967)
• "Na Muh Chupaake Jiyo" - Hamraaz (1967)
• "Neele Gagan Ke Tale" - Hamraaz (1967)
• "Kisi Pathar Ki Moorat Se" - Hamraaz (1967)
• "Aap Se Pyar Hua" - Aabroo (1968)
• "Jinhe Hum Bhulna Chahe" - Aabroo (1968)
• "Thoda Ruk Jayegi To Tera Kya Jayega" - Patanga (1971)

• Vimi at IMDb
• The untold, tragic tale of 'Humraaz' actress Vimi