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In the 1950s, when she played the role of Dev Anand’s younger sister in her first film ‘Dilruba’, perhaps no one would have thought that one day this little girl would set out on such a long and struggling journey. Achala Sachdev, born in Peshawar in 1920, saw a turbulent life after partition. While working from Lahore to Delhi and then in Air, he gradually entered the world of films. His career started as a child artiste, but soon he made his place with his hard work and acting. Got a chance to work with legends like Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna, Yash Chopra. That memorable song ‘Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen’ from the film ‘Waqt’ was filmed on him. The audience grew up watching her in the roles of mother and grandmother. She also made a place in the hearts of the new generation by playing Kajol’s grandmother in the film ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’. He also worked in big films like ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham’. His most popular song is ‘Ae Meri Johra Jabeen’ from the movie ‘Waqt’.

He worked in hundreds of films, films like ‘Mera Naam Joker’, ‘Julie’, ‘Haqeeqat’, ‘Himalaya Ki God Mein’, ‘Azad’, ‘Miss Mary’, ‘Footpath’ became a part of his filmography. He also acted in English films, such as ‘Nine Hours to Rama’ and ‘The Householder’. His last film was ‘Na Tum Jaano Na Hum’ in which Hrithik Roshan and Esha Deol were in the lead roles. But the real story is about the last chapter of his life… In the 1970s, through Yash Chopra, he met a British man named Clifford Douglas Peters. The first marriage of both of them had already ended. They got married and set up a small house in Pune. There were some moments of happiness, but after the death of Clifford, Achala Sachdev became alone again.

Both his children, son Jyotin and daughter, went away from him. The son went to America and liked to talk only on the phone. The daughter had almost broken the relationship. For more than a decade, Achala ji lived completely alone in her small two-room flat in Pune. He was looked after by only one nurse, who was sent by Janseva Foundation. He had grown old and his body had become weak. The film industry, to which he had given his youth, his energy and his best years, gradually forgot him. No phone call, no meeting, no enquiry. Only a few people like Amitabh Bachchan and Ekta Kapoor were seen remembering his death. In his last days, Achala ji took a big decision. He donated his house and all his property to Janseva Foundation. He said that this money should be used for ‘Achala Sachdev Education Institute’ which provides training in basic health care to poor people of tribal areas. Before his death, he handed over everything to those people who probably never got a chance to watch his films.

He died in a hospital in Pune in 2012 at the age of 91. His son Jyotin came from America with some relatives to attend the funeral. But very few people from the film world were there. An actress, who entertained the audience for decades, became a mother-grandmother and a part of millions of families, ultimately left this world suffering the brunt of loneliness and neglect. His story is not just the story of Achala Sachdev. This is the story of hundreds of artists who, after giving their all to the film industry, are ultimately left alone by the same industry. When we watch old movies and hear ‘Aye Meri Zohra Jabeen…’, perhaps we should remember the real story behind that face, which very few people know.