Let me take you back to 1955—Amrita Pritam, at 45, was in the middle of a personal whirlwind. Her birthday that year was no ordinary birthday. It’s a stage set for an emotional confrontation between two of the most important men in her life—Sahir Ludhianvi and Imroz. Can you even picture the tension? Amrita’s birthday party was supposed to be joyous, but beneath the surface, emotions were running high. Both men, so deeply in love with Amrita, were there, yet offering her two entirely different things.
We, as readers or viewers, have always seen great success in triangular love stories, where two male characters fall in love with the same woman. Movies like Sangam (1964), featuring Raj Kapoor, Vyjayanthimala, and Rajendra Kumar in a love triangle, or the unforgettable classic example Saajan (1991), starring Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, and Madhuri Dixit, have perfectly portrayed this theme. These kinds of stories have captured and released the hearts of audiences.
Witnessing these stories can tear up your eyes, where one person’s love triumphs while the other sacrifices, redefining love in an entirely different way. But the one who lives through such situations can truly describe its depth. The real-life love triangle of Amrita, Sahir, and Imroz was similar—a life that is hard to comprehend because all three found fulfillment by losing something, uniquely defining their journey of love.
One of the great trailblazing lyricists of the Indian film industry, Sahir Ludhianvi sang about 700 songs in about 100 films. Generations are enchanted by his lyrics for their emotional depth and poetic brilliance. However, many folks think that Sahir’s muse was none other than Amrita Pritam. Many from the industry, including writer Uma Trilok, who authored “Amrita-Imroz: A Love Story,” mentioned that Amrita Pritam believed Sahir had dedicated many of his timeless songs to her, reflecting their profound, unspoken bond.
Just imagine Sahir Ludhianvi, a lover like no other, who was always the burning passion in Amrita’s life. The contact of Amrita Pritam and Sahir Ludhianvi first happened in 1944 when they met at a mushaira in Preet Nagar, Lahore. Amrita was married then but this meeting of Punjabi and Urdu poets like Sahir made something change deep inside her.
As soon as Amrita heard Sahir’s poetry, she heard his presence. She’d later look back on that first meeting, wondering if she was mesmerized by his words or by the fury of his stare. It was undeniable the connection she felt. And they fell in love, and that started a love affair that lasted forever and never had an end.
After India Pakistan partition Amrita took a divorce and moved to India, and we don’t know how her unspoken story with Sahir weaved itself through many beautiful twists. While there was a never ending thread of pain between them, Sahir and Amrita shared an undeniable connection of love that was deep but fraught with inner demons. But their relationship had always been intense, creative, and emotionally draining and you can imagine Sahir at that party trying to hold back his emotions as he readied himself to bare his soul.
Exactly 10 years after their first meeting, Sahir had decided to tell the whole world that he loves Amrita at her birthday party. His presence there stirred a flood of past memories—of a love that was fiery yet tumultuous.
But Sahir’s heart held fear—not the fear of what Amrita might say, nor of what people would think, nor of what would happen next. By that time, Sahir had become such a towering figure that he could win over anyone he desired. He was one of the most renowned lyricists in the film industry.
So, what was he afraid of?
He feared Inderjeet Imroz.
Inderjeet Imroz, born in 1929 in Punjab and raised in a modest, middle-class family, developed a deep passion for art early in life. His talent for painting and illustration allowed him to carve out a space for himself in artistic circles. Imroz worked as a main illustrator for the popular Urdu magazine Shama and was ironically loved by Amrita Pritam. Imroz also deeply loves Amrita’s poetry. Later, in 1950, Imroz joined All India Radio in Delhi as a cover designer.
Here, Imroz first met Amrita Pritam. This encounter sparked the beginning of a lifelong bond marked by deep companionship and mutual respect. His quiet, introspective personality sharply contrasted with Sahir.
At that time, Sahir Ludhianvi had already moved to Mumbai, where he established himself as a successful lyricist in Bollywood. But Amrita had made the firm decision not to leave Delhi. It was during this pivotal moment that Amrita and Imroz met. At first, it was respectful mutuality of each other’s work, but then it became a deep friendship, and then it became a quiet, one sided love.
At this time, Sahir had met Amrita in Delhi several times. Also, Amrita had gone to Mumbai several times, staying at Sahir’s home. Their bond stayed alive and Sahir and Imroz knew exactly what the other ones felt for Amrita.
So, now imagine such complex personalities, with such complex relations, when they encounter each other at a party.
At Amrita’s birthday party, emotions ran high. Sahir, the man she secretly loved, showed up, and so did Imroz, her devoted partner. Tension filled the air as Sahir, feeling awkward and distant, quickly left the gathering. Imroz, fully aware of Amrita’s love for Sahir, watched silently, calm and accepting. There was no shouting or direct confrontation—just a powerful silence, heavy with unspoken feelings and the complex love between the three. It was a moment of quiet, accepting the love, the longing, the acceptance.
At that birthday party, Amrita didn’t give any verbal answer but her eyes spoke everything. But what they could not say was unspoken and would remain so forever in Sahir and Imroz’s hearts.
Sahir’s poems, many of them addressed to Amrita, were expressions of a very deep feeling for her. In one of his famous verses, he wrote:
“Chandni raaton ko bhi dekhne ka junoon hai mujhe,
Aaj bhi woh pal yaad hai, jab tumhare saath tha mein.”
(Translation: “I’m still obsessed with the moonlit nights;
I still remember those moments when I was with you.”)
Even years after their romance, Sahir’s love for Amrita lingered in his poetry. But that love was never peaceful. It was always wrapped in emotional conflict, which made their relationship so difficult to sustain.
A love triangle between Sahir, Amrita and Imroz is exciting because it’s not about jealousy or rivalry. Sahir was never in competition with Imroz. He didn’t need to. His love for Amrita was unbreakable, he knew that bond was unbreakable. But it was Imroz’s steady companionship that gave Amrita peace, as much as Sahir’s poetry and passion attracted Amrita.
In the end, Amrita chooses a life with Imroz but remains unmarried. However, her love for Sahir never truly disappears. She continued to be inspired by him, and his poetry was always a reminder of the emotional intensity they once shared. But with Imroz, she found something different—a love that was enduring and uncomplicated.
In her final days, Amrita Pritam lived with Imroz in Delhi. The answer to all the sharp questions posed by society and critics was their love. During her last moments, Amrita wrote a poem dedicated to Imroz.
Mai Tenu Fir Milaangi
Mai tenu fir milaangi
Kithey? Kis tarah? Pata nahi
Shayad teri tasveeran di mitti ban ke
Tere kaanvanga te raggan wich rawaan ban ke
Mai tenu fir milaangi…
Translation: I Will Meet You Again
I will meet you again
Where? How? I don’t know
Perhaps I will become a part of your canvas
Flowing through your veins as the blood within you
I will meet you again…
Their story isn’t just a love triangle. It’s a portrait of love in all its forms—passionate, steady, and unwavering. Amrita’s life was shaped by both Sahir and Imroz and together, they formed a love story that’s as unforgettable as it is unique.
Few Trivia About Sahir, Amrita, and Imroz’s Love Story
- Amrita Pritam and Sahir Ludhianvi’s relationship was marked by silence. They would often sit together for hours without speaking a word, just smoking cigarettes. Amrita once said that every time Sahir left, she would light one of his cigarettes and feel his presence in the smoke.
- Amrita Pritam wrote several unsent letters and poems to Sahir after their relationship failed to materialize. In her autobiography, she spoke about her intense love for him, even though their bond remained unspoken and unfulfilled.
- It’s believed that Sahir’s song “Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein Khayal Aata Hai” from the film Kabhi Kabhie was inspired by his love for Amrita, reflecting his longing for a love that could have been.
- Imroz used to sketch Amrita’s face every day. Even after her death, he continued to paint her, believing that she was still present in his life. His art was an expression of his eternal devotion to her.
- After Amrita’s death, Imroz kept a chair next to her bed, symbolizing that Sahir’s presence was always there. The trio’s relationship was an emotional mix of intense love, unspoken feelings, and quiet companionship.
