Paradoxically, while Guru Dutt’s films encouraged women’s individuality, in personal life he remained conservative. The family would celebrate a common birthday for the father and sons with a bumper cake. Guru Dutt shared his birthdate – July 9 – with older son Tarun. They had three children, sons Tarun and Arun and daughter Nina. Initially, Guru and Geeta cut an idyllic picture. He would not interfere with Geeta’s earnings, nor would he ask how she spent her money.” Secondly, both were stubborn and would never yield to one another…” She further penned, “Guru Dutt never had any yearning for wealth… he never even glanced at her jewellery… He had already bought a two-seater sports car for himself. Biographer Yasser Usman In Guru Dutt: An Unfinished Story mentions what Vasanthi wrote: “Firstly, in those days, Geeta earned in thousands whereas Guru’s income was limited. Guru Dutt’s mother, Vasanthi, though delighted, had a hunch that the marriage wouldn’t be a joyful one. Guru Dutt wore a white silk kurta and dhoti in Bengali style while 21-year-old Geeta dazzled in a red Banarasi saree and gold jewellery. The Bengali godhuli ceremony was performed at Geeta’s house, Amiya Kutir, in Santacruz. He also had the responsibility of settling his other three brothers – Atmaram, Devi Dutt and Vijay and sister Lalitha Lajmi (artist).Īfter a courtship of three years, and a generous exchange of letters and promises, Guru Dutt and Geeta got married on May 26, 1953. His father Shivshankar Padukone was a clerk at Burmah Shell, while his mother was a teacher. While Geeta, already recognized, travelled in a limousine, Guru Dutt those days was struggling. In no time, Guru Dutt fell in love with the ‘fresco-like dark and beautiful’ Geeta. Soon, songstress Geeta Roy became a frequent visitor at their humble home in Dadar. It also left Guru Dutt’s mother, Vasanthi Padukone, enthralled. The way the singer smoothly transformed the ghazal, Tadbeer se bigdi hui taqdeer bana le, into a seductive ditty left him amazed. It was at the song recording of his directorial debut Baazi (1951) in Famous Studio, Mahalaxmi, that Guru Dutt was left mesmerized by the 18-year-old Geeta Roy. Both leave behind unanswered questions, unconsumed talent, and undying love… Geeta by cirrhosis of the liver at 41 in 1972.