Remembering Amjad Khan

( 12th November 1940 - 27th July 1992 )

'जो डर गया वो समझो मर गया ! '

It was May 1973.... Ramesh Sippy was a much a relaxed person as he had ultimately finalised the  star cast of Sholay and the photograph of his  forthcoming multistarrer Cast appeared in Screen bulletin on the background of a big lit up fire. In the photo were Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Amitabh, Hema Malini, Jaya and Danny Denzongpa... Yes,  the much talked about role of villain ' Gabbar Singh', after long deliberations and discussions has finally been zeroed down to Danny,  a young upcoming actor who has  just rose to fame by his negative role in ' Dhund '  

But the 'Destiny' had planned something different in her mind. The shooting schedule of Danny for Firozkhan's  film ' Dharmatma', which was to be shot in Afganistan, coincided with that of Sholay and as no solution appeared to be found out Danny opted for ' Dharmatma' standing by his commitment he had first made to Firozkhan.

Again the search for the Gabbar  started, but now a frantic and desperate one. Finally Amjad Khan, a theatre actor, was selected for the role of Gabbar Singh  on the recommendation of Salim- Javed, the storywriters of Sholay and shooting of Sholay ultimately started. 

But Amjad, though acted in a few films earlier was not an experienced actor. In his first scene,even after forty retakes, he could not do well the Gabbar's basic  mannerism on a horse back : taking tobacco out of the pouch, mincing  it and putting it in the mouth. The shooting of his scenes was therefore suspended.

Amjad wept,cried. His father was suffering from cancer and his son was  only of a month. His entire career depended on this film. He rehearsed and rehearsed. Ramesh Sippy stood by his side. He was advised to be in costume of Gabbar till next schedule and to live like the Gabbar in the unit. In next schedule he was prepared and after a few takes gave his first shot right. 

What happened thereafter all are aware of. Amjad Khan portrayed Gabbar  as a sadistic villain, a pure evil so completely that none of the roles of any other villain,  till date, even his own, came closure to what he has performed in Sholay. Sholay became the historic film and Gabbar Singh the  Legend...

Amjad Khan's peculiar dialogue delivery, unusual laughter ended up in  watching  Sholay by film viewers by  fifty, sixty times with fanatical devotion. His dialogues from Sholay कितने आदमी थे ,बहोत याराना लगता है रे,अरे ओ सांभा are still part of the daily life.

After Sholay, Amjad Khan's performance was once again hailed in 'Inkaar' and in Muqaddar ka Sikandar'. The Industry was looking for a fresh  villain as 'Ajit' was on the verge of retirement. Amjad's performance in Satyajit Ray's film 'Shatranj Ke Khiladi' was also critically accalimed.

Amjad Khan got injured in 1986 and passed away in 1992 due to the complications arose out of the accident. But he has remained immortal as Gabbar Singh in the hearts of the billions of people....

Happy Birthday Manoj Kumar

I was under the impression that Manoj Kumar ..... the Patriotic 'Bharat Kumar' might have been born on either 15th August or on 26th January ! But it is not so ! He was born on 24th July 1937 just like you and me as 'Harikrishna Goswami.!

After graduation, he decided to enter  the films and adopted  the name ' Manoj Kumar' for himself which he picked up  from the character name of Dilip Kumar, his idol, in the film ' Shabnam '

His initial films were not noteworthy. He rose to the fame from ' Hariyali aur Rasta ' and thereafter from ' Woh Kaun thi '.

His patriotic fervour started from  the role of  'BhagatSingh ' he played in ' Shaheed '. In 1965 the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastry has launched the slogan ' Jay Jawan Jay Kisan'. In his meeting  with Prime Minister, Shastriji  advised him to make a film based on this slogan. Manoj Kumar quickly responded by producing  and directing ' Upkar ' which became superhit and fetched a number of awards. He continued the patriotic spirit by directing Purab aur Paschim and thereafter Kranti , in which he fulfilled his dream of directing his idol ' Dilip Kumar '.

In addition to his pursuit of patriotic  films Manoj Kumar had an impressive presence in films  due to his striking  performances in Himalay Ki Godmain, Gumnam, Aadmi, Pathar Ke Sanam ,Do Badan,  Roti kapda aur Makan,  Shor ,Beiman, Sanyasi, Das Numbari etc. However in early 70s  as like Rajendra Kumar his career was affected  by the emergence of Superstar Rajesh Khanna. After Kranti his subsequent films flopped and he quit acting in 1995 after the film  ' Maidan - e- Jung.

Manoj kumar was in the news a few years back when he sued for his parody in the film ' Om Shanti Om' in which  the hero tries to sneak into the film premier by copying Manoj Kumar's  favourite style of covering the face by hand. Since then, I have hardly heard anything  about him.But I remember him without fail on  every 15th August when his song मेरे देशकी धरती सोना उगले, उगले हिरे मोती from Upkar is played at every nook and corner !

Remembering Rajesh Khanna

The Superstar… ( 29th December 1942- 18th July 2012 )

' The word ' Superstar ' was invented for him and for me it shall ever remain his and no others. His generation and the generations that follow shall never be able to describe or understand his phenomena ' - Amitabh on twitter on the demise of Rajesh Khanna

How apt are the words of the Big B ! In the early years of 1970s Rajesh Khanna literally swept Bollywood at his feet. His Superstardum was all pervasive...girls married to his photographs, sent love letters in blood and youths tried to imitate his style of winking and casual nods. The BBC also took a note of his stardom by making a film on him, titled ' Bombay Superstar' and in 70s when films were not at all considered respectable in colleges, a textbook of Bombay University contained a lesson ' The Charishma of Rajesh Khanna' !

Rajesh Khanna's film career began in 1965 when he won All India Talent Contest organised by United Producers and Filmfare out of ten thousand contestants. He made the debut in 'Aakhari Khat' and 'Razz' as a part of Prize for winning the competition. But he rose to the overnight national fame by 'Aradhana'. Starring in 15 consecutive solo hit films in the period 1969 to 1972 and having 35 films golden jubilee hits to his credit during 1967-1975, Rajesh Khanna was crowned as the First and only Superstar of Bollywood. Among the hits were Aradhana, Bandhan, Do Raaste, Safar, The Train, Kati Patang, Sachaa Jhutha, Aan Milo Sajna, Mehboob Ki Mehendi, Dushmun, Anand , Haathi Mere Saathi, Amar Prem and so on.

Keeping aside his Stardum, to me, he was the outstanding actor of the times having the elegance and the dialogue delivery touching the hearts of the film viewers. Seema Deo, who worked with him in ‘Anand' used to weep a lot on the sets watching the scenes of Rajesh Khanna ! Khanna in an interivew mentioned "My inspirations include, Dilip Kumar's dedication and intensity, Raj Kapoor's spontaneity, Dev Anand's style and Shammi Kapoor's rhythm."

Rajesh Khanna’s magic started ebbing down after 1975 when the era of action films dominated by Amitabh Bacchan began. The Superstar continued to work in films but he lacked the earlier luster. His films started failing of box office leading the egoistic Superstar in depression and alcoholism. He craved, yearned for his earlier Superstardom to return, but in his destiny returning of the Superstardum had been postponed till 18th July 2012 ! On that day when he passed away the world could watch his Superstardum as his funeral was attended by nearly 3 lakh people and his fans flowing down from places like California, Singapore and from the other corners of the world !

Remembering Rajendra Kumar

( 20th July 1929 to 12th July 1999 ) 

' The Jubilee Kumar '

It is debatable ......what was instrumental to earn him the title of ' The Jubilee Kumar ' or 'Jubilee Star' as his 6 to 7 films used to run for more than 25 weeks in the same city at the same time  in different theatres ! Whether it was his strong shrewdness in selection of films or  sheer luck or superb talent or combination of all these ? Or is the result of the superstitious Bollywood in which the producers run after an actor if they found him lucky ? Whatever it  may be.... Rajendra Kumar  definitely played  his innings well and will ever be remembered as the ' First Jubilee Star of Bollywood '

Rajendra Kumar in fact did not wish to be an actor but wanted to become the  director instead. He initially worked as an assistant director for five years. But somehow he was cast in a small role in ' Jogan ' by Kidar Sharma. Thereafter he did some bigger roles in the films Vachan and in V.Shantaram's ' Toofan or Diya'. He came to the spot light from ' Mother India' and became a ' Star' from the film ' Goonj Uthi Shahanai '.

Soon the film makers noticed in him a ' Dilipkumar, the tragedy king ' at an affordable price. He also had him within a typical romantic hero of Hindi Cinema with pleasant looks and modest attitude. He was engaged in number of films and his  hits  started coming in an uninterrupted sequence .... Kanoon, Sasural, Dil Ek Mandir , Mere Mehboob, Zindagi, Sangam, Aye Milan ki Bela, Arzoo, Suraj and so on....

Early 70s witnessed the ascent of Superstar Rajesh Khanna  and Rajendra Kumar lost his supremacy as ' Jubilee Star'. But he was wise enough to change the gears and moved to production. He co-produced the film ' The train' by engaging Rajesh Khanna himself which became superhit. He subsequently  launched the films 'Love story' and 'Naam' starring his son Kumar Gaurav.

He also continued to appear in films  but his charishma as a star was over and excepting the films 'Saajan Bina Suhagan ' and ' Bin Phere Hum Tere'   none of his films were noteworthy.

The appalling paradox  for Rajendra Kumar, is though  Jubilee Star, he  did not receive a single Filmfare or Screen Cine award during his entire career.......

When realised  he has been diagnosed  with cancer, he refused to take any medication and hugged death with the same calmness and restraint as he has displayed the same  in 'Sangam' while  shooting himself in the chest !

Happy birthday Neetu Singh

'छूकर मेरे मनको किया तूने क्या इशारा........'

Yes, she touched the hearts of all the collegians first time by her dance in the film  ' Yadon Ki Baarat ' for  the song ' Lekar Hum Diwana Dil ' in 1973.....

But Neetu Singh's journey in the films started much earlier, when she was barely 8 years old ,as child artist under the name ' Baby Sonia'. After her dance in ' Yadon Ki Baarat ' she started receiving offers for films. Coincidentaly,  at that time the rising star Rishi Kapoor was desperately in need of a teenage co-star, as Dimple Kapadia, his  co-star in the hit film ' Bobby ', had left the films on marrying Superstar Rajesh Khanna. Rishi  found her co-star ( and later a life partner !) in Neetu Singh and the pair rocked the Bollywood by super hit performances in ' Rafoo Chakkar ' 'Khel Khel Main', Kabhi Kabhi, Amar Akbar Anthony etc. Her notable films with other leading stars include ' Deewar, Doosra Adami, Kala Pathar, Yarana ' etc.

By her effortless acting and her cheerful attitude in the films Neetu , was always cherished by the teenagers as a fun loving ideal 'Girl Friend'. Moreover her gestures, acting style and attitude on screen closely resembled to that of Mumtaz, who was on the verge of retirement then,  and Neetu  perfectly slid into her slot.

Neetu Singh acted in about 60 films with all the leading stars.. Amitabh , Jeetendra, Rishi Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna, Shashi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor etc. She was unfortunate not to  find any  favour from Film Fare in terms of any   award. After marriage with Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh did a good bye to the films at the age of 24, the age at which normally  the one  enters the Bollywood !

Remembering Raaj Kumar

( 8th October 1926  to 3rd July  1996 )

'​चिनॉयशेठ, जिनके अपने घर शिशेंके हो, वो दुसरो पें पत्थर नही फेका करते '

Before 1970 dialogues of Hindi films were not much popular. The rehearsing of dialogues  by the film goers among themselves started on the emergence of Salim -Javed and the exchanging of dialogues of Zanjeer, Deewar and Sholay became part of daily life. But before all this happened there was only one actor who is today still remembered as ' King of Dialogue Delivery  ' and that is ' Raaj Kumar ......'

Raaj Kumar's first film was ' Rangeeli' in 1952. He did a few films thereafter but he rose to fame in 1957 by  his role in ' Mother India '. Raaj Kumar's confidence, bold dialogue delivery and stylish walk soon established him as an actor to be reckoned with.Having worked earlier as Sub Inspector in Mumbai Police for some time, Raaj Kumar used to deliver his dialogues with authoritative tone.He had his own fan base.. limited but intense. I remember some of them in my college days who used to watch ' Waqt' again and again just to listen to the above dialogue and the other famous one 'चिनॉयशेठ, छुरी बच्चों के  खेलनेकी चीज नही होती, हाथ कट जाये तो खून निकल आता है ....'

Raaj kumar was criticized that he is not suitable for emotional dialogue delivery. But he gave an apt reply to his critics in 'Pakeeza' by his famous dialogue ' आपके पांव देखे, बहोत हसीन है , इन्हे जमीनपर मत उतारीयेगा, मैले हो जायेंगे '. 

Raaj Kumar's  significant films include ' Paigham' ' Waqt ',' Dil Ek Mandir, Ujala, Kaajal, Unche Log, Humraaz, Heer Ranjha, Neel Kamal, Lal Patthar, Soudagar etc. He  received his first filmfare award as the best supporting actor for his film ' Dil ek Mandir and thereafter in the same category for his role in ' Waqt' 

 

Raaj Kumar breathed his last in 1996 and his era is over since long... but still I like to see him in the films ' Soudagar'  & ' Tiranga' which are frequently telecast on tv channels and listen to his dialogues 

'जानी, हम तुमको मारेंगे पर बंदूक भी हमारी होगी , गोली भी हमारी होगी, और वक़्त भी हमारा होगा.......'