Looking back: Madhuri Dixit declined to share scene with Ranjeet in ‘Prem Pratigya’

Looking back: Madhuri Dixit declined to share scene with Ranjeet in ‘Prem Pratigya’

Gopal Bedi, popularly known by his screen name Ranjeet, carved a niche for himself in the film industry and became one of the most popular villains of all time.

However, he has often been misunderstood by people due to his on-screen baddie image. One such incident that came to light was when Madhuri Dixit refused to do a scene with him in ‘Prem Pratigya’.

Madhuri played poor man’s daughter in the film and Ranjeet was supposed to molest her.

Ranjeet recalled that Madhuri started to sob and pointblankly declined to do the scene. Ranjeet wasn’t aware of the situation. An art director had told him. The director of the film was Bapu from South. He (Ranjeet) used to have fun on the sets, like when he would tell his co-stars, ‘darling thoda udhar muh karo mai change kar leta hu’. He wasn’t even used to going to the makeup room. Very normal and all that and he was accepted like that; otherwise, they would say he is fake.

He further went on to reveal that he used to share a good bond with the fight masters and technicians. He was very cool with them.. Then, what happened was there was a handcart. Madhuri’s father in the movie was poor and used to pull a handcart. The molestation scene was on the handcart. Ranjeet was waiting for her but nobody told him what was happening. Ultimately, she agreed. Veeru Devgan was the fight master. He said that we will keep rolling the camera: ‘beech mein camera cut nahi hona chahiye’.” Ranjeet shared that he never made his co-actors uncomfortable.

Adding that all heroines were very fond of him and because he never used any force, but used to take his face behind their hair and encouraged them to pull his hair, scratch his face with their nails and all that.

He used to give commentary to them and never at all used his force..Molestation is a part of a villain’s job, but he is not bad. With every heroine, it was compulsory.

Ranjeet has worked in over 500 films in his filmy journey. Some of his notable performances include appearances in films such as ‘Sharmeelee’, ‘Bandhe Haath’, and ‘Namak Halal’. He continues to leave his mark, as evidenced by his roles in ‘Behen Hogi Teri’, ‘Housefull 2’, and ‘Housefull 4’.

News Edit K.V.Raman