When I was in college, Snehprabha Pradhan was my favourite actress. When I entered movies, Mumtaz Shanti of Kismet was a star. Nargis was just beginning to make news with a Mehboob Khan film, Taqdeer.

I worked with Nargis in Birha Ki Raat later and with Snehprabha in a film directed by Jagirdar.

And the major male star of the day?

Ashok Kumar was the reigning star of the day. His Bandhan, Jhoola and Kismet were huge hits. By a strange coincidence, I got my first big break in films courtesy Ashok Kumar, who owned Bombay Talkies. He offered me the lead role in the Bombay talkies production, Ziddi (opposite Kamini Kaushal). When I sat opposite him for the first time, I couldn't even speak properly. He had such a lofty reputation and I was so nervous.