The Jewel in the Crown

I’ve seen her during Prithviraj Kapoor’s performances at Opera House and also when she toured with him though the country. In Delhi, she worked with us on a couple of plays where she was the choreographer. She was an inspiration to others in the group. It’s unfortunate that the government nor the industry did not do much for her. A Padma Bhushan doesn’t do much for an old person but I’m glad she lived a full life.

Ketan Anand  Filmmaker

I met her as a child due to my father’s (Chetan Anand) association with her. She worked with him in Neecha Nagar. We were living in Pali Hill on the fourth floor while Zohraji lived with her dancer husband on the ground floor. I still remember her animated conversations with my father and uncle. I met her a few years ago at her fourth floor residence in Delhi when I was making a documentary on my father. I wish the government had given her the ground floor house she requested for. She wouldn’t have asked for it if she didn’t absolutely need it. That was the only thing she ever asked of anyone. She was a true inspiration. I would like to remember her with warmth and happiness.

Kunal Kapoor  Trustee, Prithvi theatre

Dad [Shashi Kapoor] organised for me to go to Zohraji’s house in London when I was living there in my late teens, to work on my Hindustani. We used to read Ghalib together and Zohraji made it so easy and wonderful. Ghalib has never been the same to me since. She made me see the wickedness, the love and passion for life in his poetry and most of all how beautiful it sounded when read aloud. Those few months of going to her house in London remain very special.

Arshiya Sethi  Arts Scholar

Every minute spent with Zohra Sehgal made me aware that she was a master of abhinaya and this came out of her earlier training in the field of dance. She was a part of Uday Shankar’s troupe, has performed the world over and participated in a dance laboratory in Almora at a time girls from good families were hesitant to take up dance professionally. I feel that the solidness of her daughter Kiran’s dance is a tribute to her mother.

Mahesh Bhatt Director Tamanna (1997)

I’ve never seen someone age as gracefully. In a world that is so frightened of old age, her snowy white hair and face lined with wrinkles, made her truly beautiful. I had the privilege of working with this iconic lady in Tamanna, where she plays an evil figurehead of a family. From the moment the camera was on her, Zohraji held every frame so brilliantly that she would suck
out the energy from the room and direct it towards herself. A thorough professional, she was a lady of  real dignity.

Roysten Abel Theatre director

I went to meet her to ask if she would act in my play The spirit of Anne Frank, 12 years ago. I reached at 11 am and was asked to wait since she was in the middle of her voice exercises. When she came down, she asked me what the play was about. She said, “Ok, now that you like my face and I like yours you can leave, I will see you at rehearsals.” On the first day of rehearsals she wore a white Mundum-Neriyathum with a kasavu border knowing I was from Kerala. She always made sure that she was the centre of attraction in a star-studded cast. Always punctual and with a wicked comment if anyone came late. After our run of the shows in the country, she organised a lunch at India International Centre in my honour. They seldom make people like her I am sure she has everyone in splits above. What a life Zohra Sehgal! Salutations!

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