Lamhe released in 1991 was arguably Yash Chopra’s finest directorial venture. Its return to the movie theatres on March 21 would have pleased the Raja of Romance. Its still-progressive theme of a generation-challenged romantic alliance is deeply moving and romantic.
I remember meeting Yash Chopra some years after the release of Lamhe, and he was still mourning its commercial failure. “ Lamhe will always remain close to my heart. I made it out of a deep sense of conviction. The love story between the hero Anil Kapoor and the daughter of a woman whom the hero loved was tricky; I knew it. In fact, I had gone with the role to another superstar, whom I wouldn’t like to name, and he said no immediately, ‘Yash, have you gone mad? You want me to romance the daughter of the character I love?’ But I was adamant. I had to make this film. It was a subject I believed in. Luckily, Anil Kapoor was game from word go. ‘Yashji, let’s do it,’ he urged me.”
As for Sridevi, Yash Chopra believed Lamhe was her career’s biggest challenge and triumph. “There is no one like her. If she had said no to Lamhe I would have not made the film. Look at how she pulled off the mother and daughter’s parts! It was like two completely different actresses playing the two roles. After Chandni, I wanted to work with Sridevi again and again. We could only do Lamhe. Later I had offered her Veer-Zara. It was supposed to be made with Amitji and Sri. But she was completely taken up with marriage and domesticity.”
Yashji ranked Lamhe really high in his repertoire. Even higher than Deewaar! “Yes, I would say Lamhe is my most favourite film among all the films that I’ve made. It is like what Mera Naam Joker was to Raj Kapoor or Kagaz Ke Phool to Guru Dutt. When a child that you love dearly gets left behind in the race, you feel especially protective about it. Lamhe will always be my favourite.”
