Actress Juhi Babbar recently shared an emotional tribute to her grandfather, Comrade Syed Sajjad Zaheer, on his 121st birth anniversary.
Syed Sajjad Zaheer, a notable Indian Urdu writer, Marxist thinker, revolutionary, and member of the Communist Party of India, passed away before Juhi was born, leaving her with no personal memories of him.
Through her play ‘Ek Lamhaa Zindagi,’ which is based on her grandparents’ lives, Juhi feels a profound connection to him. She expressed on Instagram that while she never had the opportunity to meet her ‘Nana,’ the play has brought her closer to understanding him. “This birthday feels different. Somehow, it no longer feels like just my grandfather’s birthday,” she wrote, highlighting how the play has allowed her to spend years, metaphorically, in his company.
Juhi explained that even though her grandfather isn’t physically present in the play, which is told from her grandmother’s perspective, his influence is central to every emotion and memory within the narrative. She feels immense pride in being the eldest grandchild of such an impactful figure, crediting her mother, Nadira Zaheer Babbar, for this connection. “Happy Birthday, Nana. You continue to live through your words, your legacy, and now, through our stories,” she concluded, emphasizing the lasting impact of his contributions.