Celebrity gaze

Kishore Kumar's refusal to sing 'Kasme Vaade Pyar'  for Manoj Kumar’s Upkar paved way for Manna Dey  Kasme Vaade remains Manna Dey's most soulful rendition to date  By Rajesh Ahuja   Listening to the soulful melody ' Kasme Vaade Pyar Wafa ' from Manoj Kumar's classic film Upkaar ,  based on former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri's slogan of ' Jai Jawaan Jai Kisaan ' during the 1960s, leaves cinelovers teary eyed even today at the soulful rendition of the melody by iconic singer Manna Dey..  However, not many may be aware that Manna Dey was a last minute choice for the song, which was to be rendered by legendary playback singer Kishore Kumar.  According to the biography of legendary villain Pran,  written by Bunny Reuben,  Kishore Kumar was offered the song by Kalyanji Anandji, the music directors of Upkar . However,  Kishore Kumar refused to sing the song as it was to be picturised on Pran, who was popular for his villainous roles at ...

 When Pran charged just one rupee from Raj Kapoor for Bobby  By Rajesh Ahuja  He may have been one of the most dreaded villains of Hindi films but tales of Pran's magnanimity towards his friends and colleagues in the film industry form the folklore of Bollywood  One such story pertains to the casting of Pran for the classic R K Films love story Bobby , which propelled Rishi Kapoor into an overnight star in Bollywood .  After the huge debacle of his 'labour of love ' ' Mera Naam Joker , Raj Kapoor decided to make a teenage love story with Rishi Kapoor in the lead role to recoup the losses that he had incurred in Mera Naam Joker .  For the film,  Raj Kapoor wanted to cast Pran as the hero's(Rishi Kapoor) father, it has been revealed in the biography of Pran, penned by Bunny Reuben.  Since Raj Kapoor was not in a position to pay the prevailing price of Pran, the latter just charged one rupee from the former for doing the film.  Pran charged jus...

 When Manoj Kumar joined the cast of Aadmi after last minute exit of Dharmendra  Aadmi gave Manoj Kumar an opportunity to work with his idol Dilip Kumar  By Rajesh Ahuja  The 1968 emotional drama Aadmi is remembered by film lovers for the great performances by Manoj Kumar and Dilip Kumar .  However,  not many may be aware that Manoj Kumar’s was a last minute entry in the film after the sudden exit of Dharmendra,  who was to play the parallel lead in the film alongside Dilip Kumar.  Manoj Kumar joined the cast of Aadmi after last minute exit of Dharmendra  Writing about this in the biography of legendary actor Pran, Bunny Reuben said, 'the role that was played by Manoj Kumar in Aadmi ,  directed by A Bhimsingh, was to have been played by Dharmendra.  But he had backed out at the last minute. '  Talking about the turn of events that led to entry of Manoj Kumar in Aadmi in Pran's biography ' and Pran ',  Bunny Reuben said, ...

 Pran recommended Dev Anand to Prakash Mehra as hero  for Zanzeer  Dev Anand declined Zanzeer as it did not go well with his established image  By Rajesh Ahuja   Much has been said about how the action thriller Zanzeer ,  which turned Amitabh Bachchan into an overnight star in Bollywood and established him as the ' angry young man ' in Hindi films,  was first offered to the debonair star Dev Anand, among other actors.  However not many may be aware that it was the legendary Pran who recommended Dev Anand's name to Prakash Mehra as hero  for Zanzeer . Eventually,  it was Dev Anand's refusal to do the film that paved the entry of Amitabh Bachchan in the film.  The fact was revealed in the biography of legendary villain Pran, penned by Bunny Reuben.  Pran suggested to Prakash Mehra Dev Anand as hero for Zanzeer  Writing in the biography, titled ' and Pran ', Bunny Reuben said that Pran, who worked with Dev Anand in nine films...

 When Rishi Kapoor turned down offer to do a guest appearance in Koi Mil Gaya  Rishi was offered the role of Hrithik Roshan's father in Koi Mil Gaya  By Rajesh Ahuja  Much may have been said about the popular sci fi film Koi Mil Gaya , which firmly cemented Hrithi Roshan's position in the film industry after the super success of Kaho Na Pyar Hai but what is not much known is that Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor was offered a guest appearance in the movie.  Rishi Kapoor's friend Rakesh Roshan, lovingly referred by him as Guddu, offered him a guest appearance in Koi Mil Gaya (2003) ,  as Hrithik Roshan's father  However,  Rishi Kapoor turned down Guddu's offer to do the film as he felt that doing the role would be a bad career move on his part.  Rishi Kapoor was offered a guest appearance in sci fi film Koi Mil Gaya  Writing in his autobiography Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor uncensored ,  the late actor said, 'Guddu (Rakesh Roshan) wante...

 When RD Burman sought Rishi Kapoor's help to get work in his films in 90s  Pancham requested Rishi to put in a word with producers of his films for hiring  him as composer  By Rajesh Ahuja  Together,  the duo of actor Rishi Kapoor and music composer R D Burman associated with several popular musicals in the 70s and 80s , including Zehreela Insaan, Khel Khel Mein, Bade Dil Wala,  Rahi Badal Gaye,Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin and Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai , whose music remains popular to this day.  However,  not many people may know that in the evening of his life, Pancham,  as R D Burman was lovingly referred to in the film industry,  sought the help of Rishi Kapoor to get work in Hindi films.  In his autobiography Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor uncensored ,  Rishi Kapoor said that Pancham, the gifted genius with whom he had the opportunity to work quite early in his career,  had sought his help in the 90s to get work in films tha...