Pakeezah: The 15-Year Epic, Lata Mangeshkar's Immortal Song, and 1972 Box Office Triumph

• The classic film 'Pakeezah' took 15 years to make, driven by director Kamal Amrohi's relentless pursuit of perfection in Mughal-era aesthetics.
• Starring Meena Kumari and Raaj Kumar, the film was envisioned in 1956 and faced delays due to meticulous detailing and personal tensions between Amrohi and Kumari.
• Lata Mangeshkar's iconic song 'Chalte Chalte Yun Hi Koi Mil Gaya Tha' became the heart of the film, remaining popular with over 27 million YouTube views today.
• Released in 1972, 'Pakeezah' earned approximately 6 crore rupees against a 1.25-1.5 crore budget, becoming the highest-grossing Hindi film of the year.
• Meena Kumari, battling liver cirrhosis, passed away just three weeks after the film's release at age 38, making 'Pakeezah' her final cinematic legacy.