UNKEY CHHERE PE JO MUSKURAHAT THI VO EK MASK THA. USKE MUSHKILON KO CHHUPANE KE LIYE. KUCCH YAADEIN VINOD MEHRA KI..... BY ALI PETER JOHN

In all my years I have tried to find good human beings,but I am sorry to say that I have hardly found 7 good human beings in my life, and the 7 good human beings, I have just found is a beautiful young woman who lives somewhere in the sky, I think with the angels, her name is Kishwar Jaipuri and she becomes more precious for me because she is the daughter of Dr Hasrat Jaipuri Saab, one of the all time great lyricist of Hindi cinema - Ali Peter John

I will not reveal the name of the others, but I will be committing a sin if I don't mention Vinod Mehra. I remember him whenever I see goodness being humiliated and hurt, but I remember him most on his birthdays and today is one of his birthdays..... Vinod was one of my first* star friend and he was the first star who opened his heart out to me and told me all his secrets which were not too many.

He was never given the kind of recognition he deserved but, he had no regrets and was still one of the most wanted actors, so what he was not cast in the leading roles in most of his films.. The leading film makers Raj Kumar Kohli once called him, "the pickle of my film without which my film will mean nothing".

The only time he was casting the romantic lead in important films, it was when he was teamed with Rekha in "Nindiya chamkegi" and "Ghar" which is to this day remembered as one of the best films and performances of Rekha.

Vinod always knew that he had a hole in his heart from his college days at St. Xavier 's, but he never let anyone know not even his mother, his first wife Meena, Rekha, Bindiya, and even Kiran.

He always wanted to direct a film, but he was always very busy with his acting career. And when the time came for him to take that big step, he decided to make "Gurudev" which was based on a script y KK Singh who had written the script for Raj Kapoor's, Ram Teri Ganga Maili and had Rishi Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, and Sridevi in key roles. All was well till he took his unit on a long shooting trip abroad.

And all that was well turned out to be a hellish experience when all the 3 stars played nasty with him and his film kept getting delayed and naturally he incurred heavy financial losses.

He came back with his unit and called me to his Bungalow which he had brought from Hrishikesh Mukherjee and told me very rosy story about how his stars Co - operated with him and tried their best to help him.

I knew he was lying because I knew him as a friend and could read his eyes and his face and he even used to tell me "Ali tu hi hai jo mujhe jaata Hai"
He was profusely sweating that night and said he would continue to talk the next day......

The next morning I received a call from his Bungalow and there was very bad news.
My friend Vinod Mehra had died that night after a massive attack.

He had asked his wife Kiran for a Digene because he felt uneasy and before she could bring the Digene for him he folded his hands and said "sorry" to Kiran and that was the end of a very good life which could have done a lot good to many other lives if he had stayed a little more long.

His goodness was proved when his first wedding reception at Sun and Sand was attended by the entire industry. And the same crowd was there at his funeral.
KABHI KABHI SOCHTA HOON KE ZINDAGI ITNI BERANGI AUR BE REHEM HAI. AUR JAWAAB YE MILTA HAI KE ACCHEY LOGON KI KA I HONE SE ZINDAGI DHEERE DHEERE JAHANNUM BANTI JA RAHI HAI.