When Kishore Kumar was approached for Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s ‘Anand’ before Rajesh Khanna,
When Kishore Kumar was approached for Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s ‘Anand’ before Rajesh Khanna,
It is needless to quote that Kishore Kumar was esteemed as one of the most legendary singers in the Hindi Cinema. He wasn’t only a singer but also a dexterous actor and director.
In an interesting coincidence, the celebrated singer-actor was initially offered the role of Rajesh Khanna in the 1971 Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s directorial ‘Anand.’ Merely to avoid playing the role, he went bald.
It was Gulzar, the renowned poet-lyricist who had brought to light this engrossing
behind-the-scenes revelation in his memoir, ‘Actually… I Met Them: A Memoir.’
Gulzar, who had written the dialogues in ‘Anand,’ provided a peek into the pre-production phase of film, revealing the unexpected twists and turns characteristic of Bollywood’s golden era. ‘
Anand’ marked one of the rare instances where Bollywood legends Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan shared screen space.Their memorable collaboration was later revived in the 1973 classic Hrishikesh Mukherjee directorial ‘Namak Haraam
Gulzar recalled a dramatic episode just days before the shoot of ‘Anand’. A meeting was convened to finalize Kishore Kumar’s look for the film. However, to everyone’s surprise, Kishore Kumar arrived completely bald. This left the film’s team in shock, as Kishore Kumar merrily danced around the office, teasing director Hrishikesh Mukherjee on how he planned to proceed with a bald lead actor.
This unexpected situation prompted a swift change in plans. Rajesh Khanna was eventually cast in the lead role.
Highlighting on this incident, Gulzar speculated in his book that Kishore Kumar might never have intended to play the part seriously. His impulsive decision to shave his head was yet another manifestation of his mercurial personality.
Regardless, the initial chaos, ‘Anand’ went on to garner critical acclaim, winning numerous awards, including the prestigious Filmfare Award for Best Film in 1972. Gulzar’s writings further illustrated that Kishore Kumar’s penchant for mischief extended beyond directors to producers as well.
The legendary singer-actor was acknowledged for leaving producers in challenging situations with his unpredictable behavior, a testament to his playful and free-spirited nature.
News Edit K.V.Raman
