In 1965, Rajesh Khanna received a prestigious Expertise Contest and was signed for a 12-film deal by United Producers, which included G P Sippy, Shakti Samanta and B R Chopra. A kind of movies was Aradhana—mockingly, the very mission that might flip him right into a phenomenon Hindi cinema had by no means witnessed earlier than.However Rajesh Khanna wasn’t satisfied. Believing the movie leaned closely in the direction of the feminine protagonist, he reportedly requested producer-director Shakti Samanta, “Predominant kya karunga?”
‘He was not prepared to do the movie’
Revisiting the making of Aradhana in a latest interview with Radio Nasha, Shakti Samanta’s son Ashim Samanta revealed that the movie got here collectively virtually by probability.“Dad was alleged to make a movie with Shammi Kapoor, however he had gained weight and requested for six months. At the moment, my dad determined to make a brand new movie,” Ashim recalled, including that Rajesh Khanna was already beneath contract with United Producers.He shared, “Sachin Bhowmik had narrated the story of Aradhana to my father virtually a decade earlier. The truth that he nonetheless remembered the story made him really feel it was good.”Explaining how Rajesh Khanna was finalised, Ashim mentioned, “My dad known as Nasir Husain, who was making Baharon Ke Sapne, and requested if he might present one reel. When he watched it, he appreciated Rajesh Khanna and signed him.”Nevertheless, the actor remained unconvinced. “When Rajesh Khanna heard the story, he mentioned it was heroine-oriented. ‘Predominant kya karunga?’ Dad advised him, ‘You do that, it’s going to change into successful.’ He was not prepared to do the movie. He did it solely as a result of he was sure by United Producers. In any other case, he wouldn’t have.”
From indifference to stardom—inside one screening
Ashim Samanta vividly recalled witnessing Rajesh Khanna’s in a single day transformation throughout Aradhana’s premiere in Delhi.“We went for the charity premiere in Delhi. Jagjivan Ram was the chief visitor. Rajesh Khanna was a newcomer—no one was taken with him. Individuals have been solely taken with Sharmila Tagore and the songs.”Then got here the turning level.“By interval, that they had all change into followers. And by the point the movie ended, Rajesh Khanna had already change into a star. All the crowd surrounded him, asking for autographs.”
When Sharmila Tagore pulled out on the final minute
The movie virtually bumped into hassle in the course of the capturing of Mere Sapno Ki Rani. Ashim revealed that Sharmila Tagore cancelled the shoot on the final minute.“She mentioned she had been known as by Satyajit Ray and couldn’t say no. Dad obtained actually indignant however couldn’t do something,” he mentioned, including that Shakti Samanta went forward and shot a lot of the tune with Rajesh Khanna and Sujit Kumar.“They later constructed a compartment set outside and shot Sharmila’s close-ups individually.”
‘I simply mentioned sure with out pondering’
Sharmila Tagore later addressed the incident whereas chatting with The Hollywood Reporter.“He mentioned, ‘Will you’re employed in my movie? I want you for one month in Could.’ With out pondering, I mentioned sure. Then I realised I used to be already dedicated to Shakti Samanta for Mere Sapno Ki Rani that very same month.”She defined the strain surrounding Rajesh Khanna’s dates, saying, “Rajesh Khanna had received a expertise contest and was indebted to 12 producers. His dates have been very treasured.”“I negotiated one way or the other, completed work with Satyajit Ray after which went again to the opposite movie,” she added. What started with hesitation, inventive compromises and near-misses in the end resulted in Aradhana—the movie that didn’t simply make Rajesh Khanna a star, however rewrote the very concept of stardom in Hindi cinema.