Legendary filmmaker Subhash Ghai recalls pairing Dilip Kumar and Raj Kumar in Saudagar

Legendary filmmaker Subhash Ghai recalls pairing Dilip Kumar and Raj Kumar in Saudagar

In 1991, filmmaker Subhash Ghai brought together two of Indian cinema’s most formidable actors, Dilip Kumar and Raj Kumar, in the epic drama Saudagar. On screen, their towering presence and seamless chemistry captivated audiences. Off screen, however, the atmosphere was far from cordial. The two veterans had not been on speaking terms for decades, a tension that action director Ravi Dewan says was palpable throughout the shoot.
Saudagar was Manisha Koirala’s debut, instantly establishing her as a leading lady in Hindi cinema. The film turned out to be the third highest-grossing movie of the year, with its songs and dialogues achieving iconic status.

However, behind the grandeur was a cold war dating back to 1959, when during the filming of Paigam, Raj Kumar reportedly slapped Dilip Kumar in a scene so forcefully that it left a lasting grudge. Industry lore suggests Dilip Kumar had vowed never to work with him again.

Still destiny intervened. More than three decades later, they found themselves on the same set. Dewan recalls moments of quiet hostility, amidst the filming of the song “Imli Ka Boota”. Crew members struggled to position the two actors together.

On one occasion, Dilip Kumar was preparing for an emotional death scene while Raj Kumar, who had no scenes that day, sat just eight feet away with his back turned, refusing to look up. There were lighter, if still telling, moments.
In the midst of the shoot at an hill station, crowds gathered around Dilip Kumar for photographs, while Raj Kumar was placed in a chair in the icy waters near a waterfall. When director Ghai asked why, Raj Kumar quipped, “No one will come here to click photos.et a photo clicked.

Even co-stars weren’t spared. Amrish Puri, who played the antagonist, endured Raj Kumar’s exacting demands. In a tug-of-war scene, Raj Kumar insisted on multiple retakes despite the shot being fine. In a fight sequence, he delivered a punch so hard that Puri felt the impact for real.

Notwithstanding their personal animosity, the two legends delivered performances that have since become part of Bollywood history. Saudagar 
remains a reminder that sometimes the fiercest rivalries can produce the most unforgettable art.

News Edit KV Raman