Since her untimely death in 1986, Smita Patil has not been forgotten for a single day.
Shyam Benegal, who discovered her, always maintained that both Smita and Shabana were brilliant in their own right, refusing to compare them.
This reminds one of Rahul Dev Burman, who when asked to compare Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, said they were like Don Bradman and Gary Sobers in cricket.
“It was like Neil Armstrong and his colleague who landed on the moon. Armstrong stepped out of the spaceship.”
Gulzar made a similar analogy, highlighting the unique talents of each individual.
Author's summary: Smita Patil remembered on birth anniversary.