Legendary actress Nargis lost her life to cancer before on May 3, 1981 - just 3 days before son Sanjay Dutt's debut Rocky released. On her death anniversary today, in heart-touching note, the actress's elder daughter and second-born Namrata Dutt opened up about how Nargis Dutt and father Sunil Dutt had a marital life full of laughter and tears, and always had each other’s back even. In an essay on a Bollywood website, Namrata recalled the time when her family had to temporarily move to the US during Nargis’ treatment. “Dad was with her every single day from morning to night. He would feed her, clean her. We sisters too would take turns in looking after her. I’m sure he cried secretly but Dad never let us know what he was going through,” Namrata said.

According to Namrata, Nargis was content with her marital life after quitting acting. She had three kids, including son Sanjay Dutt and her second daughter Priya Dutt. But, things turned upside down when Nargis contracted cancer. Namrata said her father would “watch her with binoculars (from their rented apartment), Mom’s (hospital) room being on the opposite side.” “I was around 16. Priya was 10. We didn’t know how to cook. So, we’d call Mom on the landline in her room and ask her how to prepare simple dishes for my father. That’s how Priya and I picked up Indian cooking,” she added.

Recommended Read: Sanjay Dutt says his twins Shahraan-Iqra like to watch 'Sanju' as they never met their grandparents Sunil Dutt & Nargis, says 'seeing that film, they felt close and connected to them'

Post the removal of her pancreas, Nargis slipped into coma. “Coma patients can’t react but they apparently register everything. So, we would read out the news to her, talk to her about what’s happening in Bombay, as though she was very much there,” Namrata said. Recalling Nargis’ strong will the day she stood with a walker after waking up from the coma, Namrata said that people at the hospital clapped for her and called her “Miracle Lady”. “It was truly a touching moment.”

Namrata also recalled the day when Nargis broke down after seeing herself in the mirror. It was a day when the family had planned to take Nargis out for shopping. “While getting ready, she happened to see her reflection in the mirror after months. Her skin had turned dark with chemotherapy. She had lost hair. She couldn’t believe what she saw and broke down.” Namrata Dutt shared that upon her return to India after being declared cancer free, Nargis once told her daughter how she wishes to see one of her kids getting married. “I want to see you getting married Anju! I should see at least one child of mine getting settled.”

Priya Dutt on Tuesday, remembered Nargis with a heartfelt post on Instagram. Stating how she remains connected with her mother through her soul, Priya wrote, “Her presence in my life and through my work is everywhere. Ma passed away on this day in 1981, I was 14 years old but she never left my side. I have missed her physical presence but as you grow older you realise there is more than just the physical and learn to connect with the soul. Her soul is in my life and in the work I am able to do through The Nargis Dutt foundation, I am living their ( mom & Dad) dreams and loving every moment of it. 41 years since mom left and The Nargis Dutt Foundation was Born…… Her memories and her work will carry on Everywhere. #love.”