The Longest Kiss: Devika Raniâs unusual story mirrors formative years of Bombay s film industry and its elite mores
Kishwar Desaiâs biography of arguably Hindi cinemaâs first female superstar registers historical moments in the nascent Bollywood of 1930s and 40s
20 Jan, 2021
In many ways, the particularity of an epoch and the place often creeps into a biographical sketch. This is the case in
The Longest Kiss: The Life and Times of Devika Rani by Kishwar Desai, an account of the unusual journey of arguably the first female superstar of Hindi cinema. The historical register of Bombay of the 1930s and 40s finds its way into the pages of the book, even if that may not have been the intention. While Desai doesnât let the leading lady slip out of the narrative frame, the book offers some slices of evolving elite and middle-class mores in Indiaâs western metropolis in the first half of the twentieth century.
Devika Rani | Photo courtesy Rashid Ashraf
Devika was now the acknowledged boss of Bombay Talkies. The years of suffering and abuse were behind her. At last she was being valued for her own hard work as the head of the studio – not because she was Himansu’s wife. Along with her acting skills, her management skills also came to the fore.
When questions were raised by shareholders of Bombay Talkies as to why the resignations of so many of their leading artistes (including Ashok Kumar) and technicians had been promptly accepted by HIT, a carefully drafted note was submitted on 27 January 1943 addressed to the chairman of Bombay Talkies, by HIT, the managing agents.