The golden age of Indian Cinema was no backstage to stranger.
And one such episode unfolded amidst the making of the 1978 blockbuster Muqaddar Ka Sikandar. Notably,
the film featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha, is remembered even today for its music, dialogues, and memorable performance. Ironically it nearly saw a major casting shake-up.
Rekha, who essayed the role of the courtesan Zohra Bai, reportedly upset director Prakash Mehra with her frequent tantrums and delays. Her absence from the shoot schedule, which coincided with a stint abroad, left the team frustrated and prompted Mehra to consider replacing her.
According to sources, Mehra approached Reena Roy to step into the role. Negotiations were reportedly finalised, and Reena was willing to portray the iconic character.
But, when Rekha came to know of the possibility of losing the role, she air-dashed to Mumbai immediately and resumed shoot smoothing over the earlier disruption. The decision restored the film’s original lineup, with Rekha completing her portrayal of Zohra Bai opposite Amitabh Bachchan.
Meanwhile, Reena Roy, who had been ready to join Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, was instead cast in the filmmaker’s Jwalamukhi, replacing Parveen Babi and featuring Shatrughan Sinha.
Muqaddar Ka Sikandar turned out to be one of the defining films of the era, with Kader Khan’s dialogues and the musical score by Kalyanji-Anandji contributing to its enduring legacy.
Fans continue to celebrate the on-screen pairing of Bachchan and Rekha, making the near-casting swap an intriguing footnote in the annals of Bollywood history.
News Edit KV Raman