history repeats...

Cricketers and gentlemen

I was oblivious to what the undercurrents between Dilip saab and RK were, but I was told it all got down to dates and led to this battle of wits between the two titans. If I had to stay back late on the sets of Sangam, I would reach late for Leader, though they never started on time. It was a long wait. It was more of professional rivalry and I was caught in the crossfire, though I was giving equal dates to both the films. It was a big hero here and a big hero there. It was more of an ego tussle. Filmalaya's Leader was the trade union stuff, carrying a very strong anti-communal message. And that particular number, Apni azadi ko hum hargiz mita sakte nahin…hit it off. All that talk of my being pulled out of the 'Dilip Kumar camp' was news to me. I was blissfully unaware of all these machinations till it got blown up as a scandal. I was told the angle of RK-Vyjayanti team was gaining more importance and that the Dilip-Vyjayanti team was breaking up. Since people's imagination was running riot, I was being unnecessarily hauled up. I was not privy to any kind of manipulation. I was merely an artiste, who would work and cooperate with any director. But I was certainly heading for some more strange things happening in my cine career. Right after Leader, I had signed for Ram Aur Shyam with Dilip saab. It was being filmed in Madras. I had done shooting for about eight days and on the last day of that schedule I went all dressed to the sets, but sensed something was amiss. There was a certain unfriendliness in the air. As I wrapped up for the day to leave, the production assistant said that he wanted the forthcoming dates in writing. I told him that was not possible and as soon as I got back to Bombay, I would find out from my manager and let him know. He said, "No, you'll have to sign this paper." I found it very strange and got on to the flight without signing anything. Even going by pure logic, I was quite justified in doing that.

It so happened that Sri Venus Krishnamurthy (with whom I had done Nazrana and Suraj), who was also a great family friend and guide, he too was on the same flight. I confided in him about what had transpired on the sets. He was surprised that I was not aware of the fact that I was being replaced. "Don't you know, don't you know what has happened? Waheeda Rehman has taken over your role." I was flabbergasted and could not make head or tail of what this conspiracy was all about. How was I to know that something was going on there? Now it was evident that they had sort of made up their mind regarding the change of guard in the film. They were looking for some lame excuse to pin me down, and then ease me out. No wonder, the atmosphere on the sets was so strange.

you're talking about Karma?

I like that dilip kumar movie where he sings ilu pilu kya matlab kya? something along those lines.