Shakti Samanta directorial Aradhana, catapulted Rajesh Khanna to stardom and dizzy heights – made him a Super Star.
Shakti Samanta directorial Aradhana, catapulted Rajesh Khanna to stardom and dizzy heights – made him a Super Star.
The film was rated as one of the biggest hits of Rajesh Khanna’s career.
Shakti Samanta and Sachin Bhowmick rustled up the project in-between other films. Aradhana’s success changed Rajesh Khanna’s fortunes and early films used to feature the actor”s credit before his own.
As per film expert, Thakur, the story behind ‘Aradhana’ was that Sachin Bhowmick wrote a film for Hrishikesh Mukherjee but that film did not work out.
Shakti Samanta was making two films ‘Jaane Anjaane’ and ‘Pagla Kahin Ka’, which got delayed.
So, in between he wanted to make a film so he asked Sachin Bhowmick whether he had a story. Bhowmick had a story and he read it to Shakti Samanta.
It was first titled Subah Pyaar which was a line in a song from ‘An Evening in Paris’.
Before Shakti da could start the film, he got to know that Shrimaan Shrimati had the same story and so he decided to scrap the film.
However, a meeting in the midst of producer Gulshan Rai and screenwriter Madhusudan Kalelkar changed the project’s prospects. Madhusudhan Kalelkar changed the second half of Aradhana and Gulshan Rai made Rajesh Khanna play a double role of father and son.
Earlier, the film was titled ‘Vandana’. He has seen designs of the early posters and the plot of the second half was changed and the heroine was shown as a widow with a child. Thakur further reveals, “SD Burman was brought in to compose the music.
But, Sharmila Tagore was not ready to play the role earlier on, because the heroine turns a widow in the second half.
Asha Parekh also refused to play the role. Shammi Kapoor used to be a regular in Shakti Samanta’s films. But Samanta saw Rajesh Khanna’s performance in ‘Bahaaron Ke Sapne’ and cast him in ‘Aradhana’ instead.”
Although SD Burman was the music director of the film,
RD Burman also worked on the song Roop Tera Mastana because SD had fallen sick. Thakur recalls, It was a one-take song.
Aradhana ran for 44to fifty weeks at the Roxy Theatre. ‘Aradhana’ became a superhit, Rajesh Khanna moved from Girgaum to Carter Road. When Khanna signed ‘Haathi Mere Saathi’, he got a good price and was able to buy a sprawling bungalow. e was getting Rs 4.5 lakh from ‘Devar’, so he signed the film and brought
Salim-Javed wrote the story. K
hanna was cast in ‘Haathi Mere Saathi’ and subsequent films because of ‘Aradhana’ becoming a superhit. When he moved to Carter Road, Dimple bungalow became Aashirwad bungalow.”
‘Aradhana’ turned out to be a tremendous hit and one of the key contributors was the film’s music.
Film expert. Thakur elaborates on the film’s most iconic number, “When Mere Sapnon Ki Raani song was being shot in Darjeeling, Rajesh Khanna and Sujit Kumar were present for the shoot.
Sharmila Tagore was not present in Darjeeling and her portions sitting by the train window and reading a book were shot at Natraj Studio in Mumbai and added to the film amidst.
Thakur explains how the film got its title as well. According to
T Mohan was a big publicity designer at that time. He had the title Aradhana with him. At that time, titles like Mamta,
Anuradha, Bandini used to work well at the box office. So, when the film’s title was to change from ‘Vandana’, T Mohan gave up the rights to the title ‘Aradhana’.”
Another curious aspect of ‘Aradhana’ is the fact its theatrical run, S Tagore’s name was flashed on screen before the film’s hero Rajesh Khanna’s.
Thakurý explains the reason for this, adding, “Take any early film of Rajesh Khanna, the heroine’s credit used to come on screen first because Asha Parekh, Nanda and Sharmila Tagore were senior to him.”
First and last superstar Kaka is a great actor
News Edit K.V.Raman
