When Parveen Babi dropped out of the 1982 cult classic
“Satte Pe Satta due to health issues, a pregnant Hema Malini stepped in to save the production. Carrying her daughter Esha Deol, she wore strategically draped saris and shawls in sequences like “Pariyon Ka Mela Hain” to conceal her expanding midsection.
How her back-stage scenes cameo transformed cinematic history:
Contrary to popular rumors, it was Parveen Babi who was first signed for the female lead (Indu). When Babi had to exit due to her declining health, Amitabh Bachchan reached out to Hema Malini to salvage the film.
Hema Malini was heavily pregnant reportedly around 8 to 9 months along with Esha Deol amidst the later schedules of the movie.
The costume and direction team used clever styling, wide shawls, and loose drapes to cover her belly in close-up and wide shots. The iconic song sequence “Pariyon Ka Mela Hain” heavily relied on this wardrobe trick to mask her pregnancy.
News Edit KV Raman
