Village that witnessed Nargis-Sunil romance, will not celebrate festivals

Two villages in Gujarat where Bollywood actors, Sunil Dutt and Nargis, romanced each other during the filming of Mother India have decided not to celebrate festivals for the next two months.

By Gayatri Vyas

Sarar (Gujarat), Aug 5 : Two villages in Gujarat where Bollywood actors, Sunil Dutt and Nargis, romanced each other during the filming of 'Mother India' have decided not to celebrate festivals for the next two months.

The villages--Sarar and Kashipura in Vadodara District of the State-have taken this step in protest over the sentencing of actor Sanjay Dutt, son of Sunil and Nargis, in an Arms Act violation case.

"People are sad. Some are not even eating," the headman of Sarar village, H Patel, said.

It was in 1950's when Sanjay's parents-veteran actors Nargis and Sunil Dutt- were shooting for 'Mother India' here that they fell in love, and later tied the nuptial knot.

Citing the twin villages' long relationship with Sunil and Nargis, veterans of the village narrate stories about their visits after the completion of their film.

The couple remained in touch with them,after their marriage, and even visited the place with a young Sanjay Dutt, the villagers said.

"Since they fell in love here and later got married, they used to come here and become nostalgic about it," another villager said.

The grieving villages have decided to postpone celebrations of all festivals for the next two months as an act of solidarity with Sanjay.

"We just want him to be released, and if possible, his term should be minimized," said Ganshyam Bhai, a village elder.

ANI