A respectable professor marries a 'fallen woman'—then her past walks through the front door. Twice.
A Teacher from Siddharth College, Balraj Dutt (Sunil Dutt) from a well-known, wealthy, and reputed family falls in love with a former prostitute, Madhvi (Waheeda Rehman) and despite of opposition from his family, marries her, complications arise. The elder brother (Rehman), now married, recognizes Madhvi, as he had spent romantic nights with her. Then arrives Vinod (Ramesh Deo), a family friend, from the United States of America, with full approval for the marriage until he actually meets and then he too recognizes Madhvi, as he had spent some romantic nights with her. How will Madhvi continue to live her married life with the mirror reflecting her past?
Acting
Waheeda Rehman's silent suffering will wreck you.
Writing
Bold for 1969—dares to indict 'respectable' society.
Score
Laxmikant-Pyarelal melodies that ache with irony.
Director
Adurthi Subba Rao
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The title 'Darpan' (Mirror) refers both to society's judgment and Madhvi's self-reflection—rare 1960s Hindi cinema centering a sex worker's interiority rather than titillation.
Director Adurthi Subba Rao remade his own Telugu hit 'Kulagowravam' but cast Waheeda specifically after her 'Guide' controversy—leaning into her 'respectability' to sell radical content to middle-class audiences.
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