when coming Smita Patilhe left a lasting impression on everyone who met him, be it his colleagues in the film fraternity or his admirers. He carved a special place in many hearts. In an older interview, his close friend and filmmaker Aruna Rajewho was privy to the actor’s private world, revealed little-known aspects of his life in an exclusive chat with ETimes.
Aruna Raj remembers the dark night when Smita Patil passed away
The filmmaker not only shared anecdotes from Smita’s career but also spoke about her personality, someone who was funny but completely no-nonsense. Aruna Raj also recalled the harrowing night when Smita breathed her last and how she saw him lying in the hospital, knowing she would never wake up. He said, “It was around 3 am on that fateful December night when Ma’s driver came to my house and told me that Smita was critical and Jaslo had taken her to hospital. My house was two minutes away on Pedder Road. I hurried and joined Maa at the hospital. I saw Smita in a state I cannot describe. I knew he had left us forever and nothing would bring him back. Maa was broken, but she had to compose herself for the sake of the newborn Prateik.’
Smita Patil’s personal letters
Raj also shared how Smita’s mother had commissioned some of the actor’s personal letters, which revealed many heart-wrenching truths. “After her death, Maa gave me Smita’s letters and notes to keep, to check what was useful and what wasn’t. Later, I handed them over to Smita’s sister Anita. Looking through them, I realized they were very personal. She was in love with Raj, almost to the point of obsession. He also observed Karwa Chauth vrat for Raj, even though she was seven months pregnant and advised against it,” recalls Raj.What’s more, the filmmakers revealed the depth of Smita’s love and the emotional turmoil she went through. “Smita fell in love with Raj. She made a choice to be with him. She didn’t force herself; she courted him relentlessly. Her undoing was losing herself in love. Love is not only blind; it can also be self-destructive, as in the case of Devdas, it runs its course. It was hard for Smita because her heart and mind were in conflict. He was also very, very alone. I was the only one who kept in touch with him as his friends and family drifted away. I became his sounding board, and he would share the bitter and difficult parts of his life with me.’
