Amitabh Bachchan, in this special interview speaks with Subhash K Jha about Suneel Darshan’s Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love, which also featured Akshay Kumar, Juhi Chawla, and Karisma Kapoor and shares what it was like to work, once again, with Raakhee Gulzar.
Suneel Darshan was completely bowled over by your professionalism and expertise during the shooting of Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love?
The feeling is mutual. I think Suneel is extremely focussed and organized. Long before Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love went on the floors, he knew exactly what he wanted to do on screen, down to the music and songs. That, I think, is the forte of this millennial generation. Filmmakers in the past were also organized in their own way. But what they had it all in their heads. This millennials directors puts it down on paper. And there’s a whole battery of assistants to take care of the nitty gritty. That explains why Ek Rishta… was completed in such an amazingly short time. Suneel is one director who wouldn’t let you off the hook until he’s completely satisfied with your performance.
What was it like working with Raakheeji in Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love after so many years?
Well, you know we’ve done 13 films together. The last ones were Bemisal and Shakti, both wonderful films. In fact, I had the opportunity to watch Bemisal recently on television. It’s a beautiful film. What a wonderful story! It’s a pity we don’t have more filmmakers like Hrishida.
You worked together for first time in Sunil Dutt’s Reshma Aur Shera?
Raakheeji and I almost began our career together. Reshma Aur Shera was her second film as well as mine. So we go right back to 1969. I still remember how raw I was. Though she was also new, she was already playing a leading lady at that time. I was just a twig in the desert. She was always extremely playful, even then, always full of fun. She was always playing pranks, creating monsters in the desert. I remember all of us had gone to see the Taj Mahal together. We had to rough it out in somebody’s home in the bitter cold. I’m sure there are pictures of that visit somewhere. After Reshma Aur Shera, we’ve been professionally associated for years and years.
And most of your films together were major successes?
Yes, Kabhi Kabhie, Kasme Vaade, Trishul, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Kala Patthar. Gosh, I didn’t realize we have done so many films together for Yashji! I remember we shot for Kabhie Kabhie and Deewar almost simultaneously.
Wasn’t it strange when Rakheeji played your mom in Lawaaris and Shakti?
Well, she played my leading lady all over again in Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love. Isn’t that amazing? I think it says a lot about her staying power. Though she has travelled so far, we still share the same camaraderie. Her playful instinct remains intact. We had so much catching up to do. It’s always fun to relive the past. Over the years, her staff and mine hadn’t changed. So we became a family beyond the one we played in the film Ek Rishtaa…. We relived a lot of moments. We bullied our producer-director, Suneel Darshan, to let us go home early.
