The Tragic End of Guru Dutt: Art, Pain and Early Death

Guru Dutt’s life was marked by artistic brilliance and profound personal turmoil. Despite his cinematic successes, he faced continuous struggles in his private sphere, including strained relationships, growing isolation and a battle with alcoholism. The habit of drinking escalated, affecting his health and culminating in his untimely death on 10 October 1964 at the age of 39, attributed to a combination of alcohol and sleeping pills. His wife, celebrated playback singer Geeta Dutt, was left devastated; she later succumbed to liver cirrhosis in 1972. Dutt’s posthumous reputation has only grown, with many of his once‑under‑appreciated works now regarded as classics.