MULTIPLE ROLES IN BOLLYWOOD

#oneactormanyroles 

It's quite some time back that I took up this topic during the release anniversary of Mahaan.

Since then ( end of April) it was on a Back burner.

Recently again saw Bairaag a few days back on Zee Classic and it brought me back to this topic.

While going about collecting more Trivia I stumbled upon 25 actors whobhas done Triple roles or more in Movie's.

Of these 9 are more than a Triple role.

TRIVIA

In One film 3 actors had Triple Roles

(Saif Ali Khan, Reitesh Deshmukh and Ram Kapoor in One Film Hamshakals.

Three  Actors

Kamal Hassan,Rajnikant and Kadar Khan have done this twice.( Triple or more Roles)

Kamal Hassan did his first in Appu Raja (1989) and DASHAVATAR ( Ten Roles ) ( 2010)

Kadar Khan did a Triple role in

 The Don (1995) and a Year before that Five Roles in Pehla Pehla Pyaar.

Rajnikant did a Triple Role in John Jaani Janardan (1984) and the Photorealistic motion capture film Kochadaiyaan (2014)

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PART 1:

Coming First now to the FOUR Roles and More :

WHATS YOUR RASHI (2009)

Priyanka Chopra plays 12 characters, depicting the signs of the zodiac; each character has traits related to her astrological sign.

Directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar

This had Harman Baweja (Priyanka's then close confidant) playing Yogesh Patel, a Gujarati NRI, who must marry in ten days to save his brother from harm; Yogesh agrees to meet twelve potential brides (all played by Chopra), one from each zodiac sign).

The film Bombed but Priyanka Chopra broke Kamal Hassans record of 10 roles.

DASHAVATAR ( 2010)

Kamal Haasan, who also wrote the screenplay and story of the film, plays TEN distinct roles. Asin appears in two roles and Mallika Sherawat plays a subsidiary role. 

Some critics felt that the plot was confusing and that Kamal Haasan's ten roles were forced, with only three relevant to the plot.

This movie broke the record of 9 roles.Kamal Haasan was keen to break the record for an actor appearing in the most roles, so he came up with an original storyline incorporating Indian religion and mythology.

NAYA DIN NAYI RAAT (1974)

 Sanjeev Kumar (9 roles)

The film is famous as Sanjeev Kumar reprised the nine-role epic performance by Sivaji Ganesan in Navarathri (1964).

Sushma, ( Jaya Bhaduri) a young girl, runs away from home to escape an arranged marriage. On her way, she meets many people, each representing a distinct facet of human nature, who help her in her difficulties.

Sanjeev Kumar's nine roles here represents 'NavRas', the different moods of man as per the Indian art ethos. This is his film all the way. He play lover, a brave hunter, an epileptic, a coward, a transvestite, a drunkard, a poetic heart and a Dacoit.

PRITHVI ( 1997)

Shakti Kapoor played 7 roles

as Sunil Shetty's friend / BellBoy) Embassy Staff/ Mental Patient/ Sikh bypasser / Transgender.

Starring Sunil and Shilpa Shetty 

This had Shilpa Shetty in a Double Role.

HADH KAR DI AAPNE (2000)

Govinda [6 roles]

Govinda enacted 6 roles in the movie. He plays  his grandparents,uncle, mother & sister in the movie.

These roles are situational. See the Video

https://youtu.be/f2Fbb-2vN-c

BADHTI KA NAAM DADHI (1974)

Kishore Kumar [5 roles]

Kishore Kumar as Hero/Theatre Owner / Police Commissioner / Director / Constable in the movie.

It was a comedy with the Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi Trio plus Amit Kumar and Bappi Lahiri ( as an actor)

PEHLA PEHLA PYAAR (1994)

Kader Khan (5 roles)

Kader Khan plays 5 roles in this film, which is a copy of the Hollywood classic, Roman Holiday. 

GAJA GAMINI (2000)

Actress: Madhuri Dixit (5 roles)

In this M.F. Hussain directed movie Madhuri Dixir essayed five character named Gaja Gamini/Sangita/Shakuntala/Monika/Mona Lisa.

The movie also has Shahrukh Khan and Naseeruddin Shah.

Went unnoticed.

TRINETRA (1991)

Actor: Laxmikant Berde [4 roles]

Laxmikand plays roles of Ajit / Akbar / Anthony / Amar in the movie.

Adding the comic Quotient to this action drama.

So these are as I have found the Actors who have done four or more Roles in a film.

Additions , Trivia Welcome.

PART 2 FOLLOWS WITH 

TRIPLE ROLES...,💫

#oneactormanyroles 

PART 2

TRIPLE ROLES.

In Part one we looked at 4 or more roles.

Now the part many were waiting for 

TRIPLE ROLE

Covering till 1990 here (First 10)

Three roles by same actor was first seen in the films 

PHAGUN ( MADHUBALA)

This reincarnation drama directed by Bibhuti Mitra had Madhubala and Bharat Bhushan essaying lovers in a previous birth and husband-wife in the current birth. Madhubala has a triple role as she also gets to play the mother in the previous birth and had a very small role as she dies at childbirth. 

MADHUMATI (VAIJANTIMALA)

This one was a love story-cum-murder drama and featured Vyjayantimala in a triple role giving one of her career-best performances. She plays a village girl in love with Dilip Kumar in a previous birth but sadly kills herself when Pran attempts to molest her. He buries her body without anyone’s knowledge and in his quest to get to the truth Dilip Kumar enlists the help of a young woman, a look-alike of his dead lover. In the third role she is the wife of Dilip Kumar in the current birth.

1970 saw Two unique Triple Roles where the actors took to the screen together.

Actor: MEHMOOD

Movie: HUMJOLI (1970)

In HUMJOLI, Mehmood played the triple role imitating the Kapoor clan by portraying Prithiviraj Kapoor, Raj Kapoor and Randhir Kapoor. 

The movie was a big hit and the three Mahmood had even a song together.

Actor: I.S. JOHAR

Movie: JOHNEY MERA NAAM (1970)

He essayed the characters of Pehle Ram / Dooja Ram / Teeja Ram in Dev Anand starrer Johny Mera Naam. 

They are three brothers Pehleraam (a police constable), Doojaram (a purser) and Teejaram (a bartender in a hotel).His performance was so much appreciated that he went on to win Filmfare Best Comedian Award. 

THIS triple role was 3 Brothers.

Vijay Anand used this triple role to the films advantage.

Actor : SHATRUGHAN SINHA

Film : MILAP (1972)

Directed by B R Ishara this reincarnation saga had Shatrughan Sinha playing Reena Roy’s lover in a previous birth as well as the current birth. Apart from these two there is also a snake in the current birth that takes the form of Shatrughan Sinha to be close to his old lover Reena Roy. Though a weird concept for a reincarnation theme, it was certainly a novel one with Shatrughan giving a very good performance in all three roles.

Actor: DILIP KUMAR

Movie: BAIRAAG (1976)

Dilip Kumar was acclaimed for his triple-role in the film and also received a Filmfare nomination for Best Actor. 

Father and two lost sons .

Directed by Asit Sen

Kailash (Dilip Kumar) loses his eyesight after a car accident. His wife gives birth to twin boys, one of them blind. Before his wife gains consciousness, he asks the doctor to get rid of the blind baby, because he doesn't want his son to live a life where he can't see at all. The doctor's wife leaves the blind baby in a Hindu temple, where he is discovered by the temple priest who raises the boy, now called Bholenath (Dilip Kumar). Kailash feels guilty about what he did to the blind baby and confesses it to his wife several years later. She becomes so distraught that she dies.The second son Sanjay plays a spoilt brat.

Saira Banu and Leena Chandavarkar are the female leads 

Dilip Kumar is simply brilliant in all three roles bringing finely etched nuances to each character.

Actor: ASRANI

Movie: Hum Nahin Sudhrenge (1980)

This film was also directed by Asrani.

He played Three different but identical looking people.

This film is a total fantasy, inspired by a real incident in Allahabad, in the Sixties, when three con-men cheated a private general insurance company in connivance with its staff.

Actor: AMITABH BACHCHAN

Movie: MAHAAN (1983)

In the movie, Amitabh Bachchan essayed the role of Amit, a lawyer on the run and he also palyed the role of Amit's two sons who were twins.

Amitabh manages to enact the three characters with a lot of variation and there are interesting confrontation scenes between the different ‘Amitabhs’ to entertain the audience.

Actor: RAJNIKANTH

Movie: JOHN JAANI JANARDAN(1984)

 It is a remake of the 1982 Tamil film Moondru Mugam which starred Rajinikanth and Raadhika. It was successful at the box office and completed 100 days run at the box office.

Here again the Triple Role was Father and Two Sons.

The father Rajnikant who is an honest cop gets killed by the leader of the gang selling illicit liquor and his wife dies giving birth to twin sons.

ACTOR : KAMLAHASSAN

FILM APPU RAJA (1989)

Father and twin sons

This one was a dubbed version of the outstanding Tamil original titled Apoorva Sahodargal where he is murdered in the father’s role and his twin sons get separated after birth. While one of the twin sons becomes a car mechanic, the other son is a dwarf in the circus.

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TRIPLE ROLES IN 1990 AND BEYOND

COMING IN PART 3 (III)#oneactormanyroles 

PART 3 (Triple Role 1990-2020)

Actor: KADER KHAN

Movie: The Don (1995)

In this film starring Mithun Chakravorty and directed by Farooque Siddique, Kader Khan gets to play triple role – as a Chaprasi Rajaram (peon), a Principal (Amarnath) and a Professor(Raghav)- all in the same college. As the Principal and the Professor, they are in love with the same lady Professor and the Principal at times makes cheap attempts to impersonate the Professor to get close to her. This track is only to lighten the otherwise gloomy underworld drama.

SHAHRUKH KHAN

Movie English Babu Desi Mem (1996)

This film features Shahrukh Khan in a triple role 

The story revolves around a wealthy London businessman Gopal and his twin sons Vikram and Hari. (All Shahrukh)

While Gopal and Vikram are busy amassing wealth, Har is a simpleton and to esacpe this life he gets on to a plane and escapes. However the plane crashes and everyone assumes that Hari is dead. But Hari survives, marries a girl and sadly on the the day of delivery, both he and his wife die and the new-born child is left in the care of the wife’s sister. Years later, the nephew stakes claim on Gopal’s inheritance and Vikram comes to India to verify the claim and comes to know of his brother’s truth.

MITHUN CHAKRABORTY

Movie: Rangbaaz (1996)

Rangbaaz is unofficial remake of Tridev where Mithun plays all 3 roles of Sunny Deol, Jackie Shroff & Naseeruddin Shah.

He plays Inspector Kundan, happy-go-lucky Kishen and a Robin Hood type of villager Banarsi helping the poor and needy. 

Kanti Shah Directs 

DHARMENDRA

Movie: Jeeo Shaan Se (1997)

Our desi He-man plays triple role in this box-office dud which also stars Vikas Bhalla & Monica Bedi.

Dharmendra plays three identical brothers- Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. 

Talat Jaani Directs.

JOHNY LEVER

Movie: Achanak  (1998)

Johny Lever also hasn't stayed behind in donning a triple role. He does it in Govinda starrer Achanak.

This is basically a revenge drama starring Govinda and Manisha Koirala where Govinda’s father is killed and Johny Lever is one of the people who help in nabbing the killers. He gets to play three identical brothers – Joni,  Moni & Toni Kapoor. Being the super actor that he is, the scenes are very enjoyable.

TABU

Meenaxi Tale of Two Cities (2004)

Nawab, a popular Hyderabadi novelist, is suffering from a classic case of writer's block. Five years have passed, and stories of substance seem to have dried up. Then, almost providentially, Nawab comes across a young woman named Meenaxi. She's enigmatic and individualistic – and not quite willing to perform the part of a passive muse. But that doesn't deter a rejuvenated Nawab from giving her different personae – she can be the mysterious perfume trader of Hyderabad, the exotic desert bloom of Jaisalmer or the orphaned Maria of Prague. Inexorably, she consolidates her command over the novelist. 

PARESH RAWAL: 

FILM :Oye Lucky Lucky Oye (2008)

Three different look-alikes

This surprise hit of 2008 directed by Dibakar Bannerjee starring Abhay Deol.

Veteran Paresh Rawal got to play three different characters in it- Abhay Deol’s father, a gang-leader Gogi and a shrewd and calculating Doctor Handa and excels in all three roles.

RAJPAL YADAV: 

Hanstey Hanstey (2008)

In this 2008 film directed by Tony, comedy actor Rajpal Yadav tries to infuse some life into the otherwise listless proceedings with his triple role- a father, his flirtatious son and uncle. Though the film’s publicity centered on Rajpal’s three roles, the film sank without a trace and one wonders if anyone ever heard of this film

SAIF ALI KHAN/

RETEISH DESHMUKH/

RAM KAPOOR

Movie: Humshakals (2014)

This Sajid Khan debacle had Saif Ali Khan, Ram Kapoor and Riteish Deshmukh in triple roles. 

There are three different sets of look-alikes which give rise to amusing situations and cause confusion and misunderstandings. Saif and Ritesh have the same name ‘Ashok’ and ‘Kumar’ in all three roles- as two friends, as two mental asylum patients and another set of look-alikes is created by plastic surgery to confuse issues. Ram Kapoor gets to play the role of Saif’s evil uncle, a dangerous mental asylum patient and a disco owner who agrees to help Saif to thwart the evil uncle’s evil plans.

RAJNIKANT

Movie: Kochadaiiyaan (2014)

India's first photorealistic motion capture film, Kochadaiiyaan had Rajikanth in triple role again after John Jani Janardhan.

The Triple and More Roles Saga Ends as of now..

Open to Trivia , Additions , Suggestions..

Do Aur Do Paanch

Hum woh hain jo Do aur Do Paanch Kara den..

43

years of Do Aur Do Paanch.

This is comparitivly low key movie of Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor with Hema Malini and Parveen Babi to add the glamour.

This action comedy was directed by Rakesh Kumar (who was responsible for bringing Amitabh Bachchan on board in this film being a friend after Khoon Pasina , Mr Natwarlal and with Yaarana on the floors.)

Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan) and Sunil (Shashi Kapoor) are rival petty crooks who have conflicts with each other.

The twist in the movie begins when Uncle(Kadar Khan with black goggles and overcoat) wants to kidnap Bittu son of Multi Millionaire Seth ( Dr Shriram Lagu) to avenge some age old rivalry.The father thus puts his only son to a boarding school ( which is a fortress) under the able guidance of his teacher Shalu(Hema Malini) and principal(Sajjan).Uncle hires Laxman for the job to abduct him .Now both Vijay and Sunil want to have a big loot by kidnapping Bittu.

Vijay and Sunil create fake identities for themselves and join the school as teachers called Ram and Laxman, respectively. Ram joins as the P.E. instructor of the school while Laxman is appointed as the music teacher. The principal's daughter Anju(Parveen Babi) falls in love with Amitabh and Shalu falls for Shashi.What follows is a series of comic situations where both the heroes try to out wit each other.

(Especially the scene when Amitabh is made to eat parothas by all the children and his stomach nearly splits. His expressions in the scene was just outstanding. And the scene when Parveen faints in Ram's room and Laxman blocks his way out of the house. It was hilarious!!! and when Amitabh says "Sangeet Samrat" and starts singing making a fool of Shashi during a bonfire program is just rib tickling).

Obviously they become friends and destroy Uncle's evil plan .

The film maintains a brisk pace through out .

Rajesh Roshan's music is first rate.  All the songs are melodious and fun. "Mere Zindagi Ne Mujhpe Ehsaan Kyaa Kiya Hai", "Do Aur Do Paanch", "Hoti Hai Raat", and a small portion of "Prem Se Humko Jine Do" Kishore Kumar is simply at his best. The song "Yeh Zulfon Ki Bhikri Ghatta Kya Kahti Hai " rendered by Asha Bhonsle is soothing and pleasing to ear.  Furthermore, the background score is noticeable and pleasant.

Amitabh and Shashi who have proved their chemistry in earlier movies excel in this movie  it was their third in a row after Kaala Patthar and Suhaag in 1979 and followed by Shaan in December 80)with their first rate acting and dialogue delivery and timing. Hema Malini and Parveen Babi as love interests have supported ably with their acting and comic skills. Kader Khan has little screen presence but leaves a lasting impression as villain "Uncle" (a different flavor of villain). There is menace in his role but at the same it evokes laughter. Not to forget is Master Bittu the child artist who has acted very well and is the heart of the movie. The list of supporting cast is huge but all of them have acted well. It is necessary to mention that in this huge cast and spectra of talented actors Amitabh Bachchan as always stands tall through his screen presence and persona.

The title sequence of the film had animated versions of Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor. This was done in the visual style of The Pink Panther .

(Earlier seen in Chalti Ka naam Gaadi)

The film didn't do well but is a personal favourite.

Dharmendra Mumtaz

Watching Indian Idol

Dharmendra Mumtaz.

How elegant..

They were together in

Mere Humdum Mere Dost and Aadmi Air Insaan but Mumtaz was not the leading lady.

1973 saw two of their releases.

Loafer

Jheel Ke Uss Paar

Both Musical Hits

Who can forget the music of Loafer 

Aaj Mausam Bada Beiman Hai – Mohammed Rafi. Unbelievably good. Impossibly good. Wonderfully good. I just melt when Rafi croons

ऐ मेरे यार ऐ हुस्न वाले |

दिल किया मैंने तेरे हवाले ||

तेरे मर्जी पे अब बात ठैरी |

जीने दे चाहे तू मार डाले ||

तेरे हाथों में अब मेरी जान है ||

Rafi is the absolute king of this type of singing and can never be replaced, absolutely never!

Main Tere Ishq Mein – Lata Mangeshkar. A beautiful song and Lata is in great voice. Mumu looks good too! Open-mouthed smile

Motiyon ki lari who main – Asha Bhonsle. Mumtaz who gyrates in a short red skirt stunning

so a smile for the sake of nostalgia. 

Koi Shehri Babu – Asha Bhonsle. Mumtaz is in her element with songs like this. A good dancer indeed! The song is lovely too and Asha does justice to it. Nowadays marriage songs are almost always group dances with intricate steps. This feels so different ! 

Goosebumps.. seeing them enact that era today.

And the R.D.Burman creations of Jheel Ke Uss Paar.

especially “Kya Nazare” (Kishore Kumar), “Babul Tere Bagan Di Main Bulbul” (Lata Mangeshkar) and “Chal Chalen Ae Dil” (Lata Mangeshkar).

Asha singing Hay Bicchua Dus Gayo Re.

Mumtaz, fabled for her sensuous pout, her unbridled exuberance and her chutzpah gives a surprisingly understated performance, though she does show her sensuous side in the song “Do Ghoont Mujhe Bhi Pila De” .

Loving the Program 💕

M.M.Keerwani / M.M.Kreem

We would be rejoicing that RRR came, saw and conquered at the Golden Globes. SS Rajamouli's blockbuster won Best Original Song for Naatu Naatu, one of the two categories it was nominated in. It missed out in the Best Non-English Language Film which was won by Argentina.

The music director of this is M.M.Keerawani. Also known as M.M.Kreem.

He was given a break with Kshana Kshanam ( transl. Every Moment) 

(Remade as Daud ) by Ram Gopal Verma. 

He got a break in Hindi films with Criminal in 1994 ..The songs of which are hits even today esp Tum Mile Dil khile aur jeene Ko kya Chahiye.

He has given melodious music since then in Hindi. Not as prominent as 

A R.Rehman or Illayraja I have always liked his music synchronisation with the situation. 

The 62 year old music wizard I remember for 

Jism ( All songs are evergreen)

Rog ( Maine Dil Se Kaha )

Sur ( AA Bhi Ja AA Bhi Jaa)

Zakham ( Gali Main Aaj Chand Nikla)

Iss Raat Ki Subah Nahin

(Chup tum raho Chup H Rahen).

O Saathiya ( Saaya)

Recently he gave music to thrillers like Operation Romeo and 12 0 Clock.

He is so the music director for the Baahubali series and finally the summit of sorts RRR.

We are proud of A.R.Rehman but now equally proud of M.M.Keerawani. 

Cirkus..An Error in Comedy

Even after being warned not to see and even after keeping zero expectations I realised that seeing Cirkus was a mistake.

It’s that kind of mind-numbingly bad.

Shakespeare wrote Comedy of Errors .. One of the first films made was Do Dooni Char in 1968 written by Gulzar , who remade it as Angoor in 1982.

Do Dooni Char had Kishore Kumar and Asit Sen while Angoor had Sanjeev Kumar and Deven Verma.

Rohit Shetty who is inspired by old time comedies ( Gol Maal, Khatta Meetha, Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar) this time takes up Comedy of Errors in Cirkus.

( A film conceived with Shahrukh..and finally made with Ranveer and Varun Sharma).

The film starts in 1942 with Roy Jamnadas of Jamnadas Orphanage (from Golmaal) experimenting with interchanging two sets of identical twins just to prove parvarish (upbringing) > khoon (blood relation).

 Also, wow, the parents name all 4 kids Roy (Ranveer Singh), and Joy (Varun Sharma) keeping respect to the founders of the orphanage. (Murli Sharma and Uday Tikekar).

So, now, we have got a pair of Roy-Joy shaping up their lives in Bangalore as businessmen & the other pair of Roy-Joy performing in a circus in Ooty. Trust me it looks as absurd as it sounds. Ooty’s Roy gets famous as the ‘Electric Man’ as iska “Bijli se koi rishta hai”..but when he holds the live wires.. current passes through the other Roy..

(A tribute to Judwaa..for another dash of Masala).The whole story revolves around how the Bangalore pair go to Ooty for business and what will happen when both these twin pairs will face each other (Spoiler alert: Nothing interesting happens).

Apart from these 2 twin pairs, a whole bunch of comedians is stuffed along with the Rohit Shetty regulars.

Sanjay Mishra does his best but seems to ham ( his style reminder of his work in Rohit Shetty's " All the Best" (2009) but still remains a standout.

What I enjoyed !!

The retro songs used in various sequences..

Title track of Johnny Mera Naam, 

Dil ka bhanwar kare pukar 

Badan pe sitare

Chalti ka naam gaadi 

Aa jaane jaan

Jaata Kahan hai deewane

Tu kya jaane bewafa

Jaa re Jaa Harjaayi ..

Towards the end of the film, a chain of people get electric  seizures to the song, Piya Tu Ab To Aaja .

Apart from that the Retro look is Jarred and an eye sore.

The film is peppered with self-references to multiple other Rohit Shetty films like Singham but Cirkus FINALLY ends with a  Golmaal returns reference, putting an end to my misery.

(Honestly slept through the last 10 mins or so).

Comedy of Errors becomes Error in Comedy here.

I think it will be worth seeing Angoor once to get over this Cirkus.(More illogical than its spelling)

Raj Kapoor and Shailendra.. Birth Anniversary and Death Anniversary..The Irony

Today is the Birth Anniversary of Raj Kapoor. He would have been 98 today.

Ironically it is the Death Anniversary of Shailendra Ji

who has penned Lyrics for many R.K.Films and also made the doomed film Teesri Kasam in 1966.

Teesri Kasam has been analysed by Mona Chaudhary and Katyayni Jha Thakur  last year and I won't go in to the details but will share excerpts of my comment on this

This is a classic which was discussed earlier but can be discussed again and again.

Basu Bhattacharya had made all off beat classics irrespective of their BO performance.

1966

Teesri Kasam is also arguably Basu Bhattacharya’s best (Though it has been put on record that most of the direction was done by his first assistant B.R.Ishara).

The rhythm of the film is lyrical and ever so gentle and rarely has rural ethos been captured so beautifully on the Indian screen. The film, refraining from conventional drama, flows like the song  in the film (Duniya Bananewale) – beautiful, eternal and moving. Though Basu Bhattacharya went on to make some significant films as part of the parallel cinema movement in India in the 1970s and 1980s – Anubhav (1971), Aavishkar (1973) and Grihapravesh (1980) to name some, they never really matched his work in Teesri Kasam.

Coming to the content..

You have beautifully penned the movie..

The blossoming of the bond between Hiraman (Raj Kapoor) and Hirabai ( Waheeda ji) is warm, wistful and charming and is extremely delicately handled. What draws the nautanki dancer to the rustic cart driver is his simple philosophy of life and his natural aesthetic sense which he expresses through his moving songs. Only as the final parting appears imminent, does the intensity strike.

While Teesri Kasam might just have been a tale of another doomed love story, the social status of its protagonists, and its melancholic tone, added layers to the film’s texture.

In the climactic sequence, as Hirabai’s train departs and the parting becomes real, Hasrat Jaipuri’s words float over images of separation — “Sapne jagaa ke tune kahe ko de di judaai, Kahe ko duniya banaayi…”

Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman literally live their roles in the film. Though much, much too old for the role, Raj Kapoor more than compensates with his performance as the naive country bumpkin. One cannot help but smile with him each time he blushes and goes ‘iss’ or be moved emotionally looking at the hurt on his face as Hirabai bids him farewell. Waheeda Rehman responds with perhaps the best performance of her career even considering her films with Guru Dutt.

The Year 1966 has 2 films with the Prefix Teesri..

Teesri Kasam

Teesri Manzil

And as fate would have it the latter was a blockbuster and the former an unfortunate failure.

Teesri Kasam, in spite of its box-office failure, went on to win the President’s Gold Medal  (National Award) as the Best Feature Film of 1966.

However the film had taken its toll on Shailendra and he passed away, a broken man, on December 14, 1966 on good friend Raj Kapoor’s birthday at an age of just 43.

🙏

8th December Dharmendra - Sharmila

December 8th

1935 : Dharmendra ( turns 87)

1944: Sharmila Tagore (turns 78)

such  evergreen stars , Dashingly Handsome and Dimpled Beauty are born on the same day.

This Couple was Hrishikesh Mukherjees favorite.. It is mentioned in his Biography that he has said

"I love all my actors but Dharmendra among the men and Sharmila among the Women and the movies they have worked together are Special "

The two made an interesting and very successful pair, especially in the films that they did together for Hrishikesh Mukherjee. 

Here's a list of films of this birthday special pairing

Anupama (1966)

This was the first time Hrishikesh Mukherjee brought this very compatible pair together. Sharmila played Uma, a repressed girl who hardly spoke. Dharmendra plays a poet and a writer who tried to bring the shy withdrawn Uma out of her shell. Their performances so complemented one another that Hrishida went on record to state this was his favourite star pair. A lot of us agree. Anupama was memorable for its melodies composed by Hemant Kumar.

Devar (1966)

In the same year as Anupama came another powerful drama, this one directed by Mohan Segal. Like Anupama, Devar too was about repressed unspoken love. Dharmendra played Sharmila’s brother-in-law, silently in love with her as he watched her suffer in a bad marriage. A film way head of its times, it was made memorable by composer Roshan’s melodies, "Baharon ne mera chaman lutkar" and "Guzra zamana bachpan ka" sung by Mukesh.

Mere Humdam Mere Dost (1968) 

Dharmendra and Sharmila looked smashing together in Mere Humdum Mere Dost. Lakximant-Pyarelal’s songs went a long way into making this routine film a blockbuster. Chalkaye Jaam, Chalo Sajana, Na jaa Kahin Ab Na Jaa, Hui Shaam Unka Khayaal aa gaya,were blockbusters and heard even today.

Satyakam (1969)

Regarded by most as Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s best film and by far Dharmendra’s most accomplished performance, Satyakam released in 1969. As a man whose idealism destroys his family, Dharmendra’s natural performance has withstood all ravages of time. Sharmila plays the perfect foil as his supportive wife.

Yakeen (1969)

During the same year as Satyakam, Dharmendra and Sharmila were seen together in the kitschy espionage thriller Yakeen, directed by Brij Sadanah. The film is most memorable for its title song which included the hot blooded hero chasing Sharmila, who sported modern outfits. Put her in a ghagra-choli or a western outfit, Sharmila was game for any role. Shankar Jaikishan were the music directors.Yakeen has Dharam Ji in a double role. It was an important film as with it began Dharmendra’s transition towards being the all-time “He-Man”, an action hero – as we would see him quite often in the 1970s... Sharmila looks amazingly beautiful in Yakeen. The duo looks picture perfect!

In the early 1970s, Sharmila was busy doing films with Rajesh Khanna. But she reunited with Dharmendra in 1975  for their beloved director Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s comedy Chupke Chupke, which has acquired cult status over the years.

Chupke Chupke (1975)

Hrishikesh Mukherjee, however, was not your usual filmmaker. He went beyond the image and did a number of films which tapped the comic talent of the duo. “Chupke Chupke” is a classic example of a film where you smile almost all the way through. Be it Dharmendra entering the film as a botany professor and quickly donning the garb of a watchman, Sharmila the student who falls in love and marries him.The drama gets a twist with the entry of Sulekha’s jijaji (Om Prakash in crackling form) and his constant wit and repartee sessions with the professor who uses drag as his main weapon in the game of one-upmanship. We also have  Amitabh Bachchan as a sober, drab academic and Jaya as his bubbly student and we have all the ingredients of an out and out entertainer.

Ek Mahal Ho Sapano Ka (1975)

A love triangle featuring Dharmendra with Sharmila and Leena Chandavarkar. This is potentially the  most forgettable film from the Dharam-Sharmila oeuvre. Directed by Devendra Goel it did have Ravi give beautiful soulful music ( Title Song, Dil Main Kisi Ke pyaar Ka,  Dekha Hain Zindagi ko ) to this rathur soulless caper.

After this we had two films

Chaitali ( which had Saira Banu replacing Sharmila after almost 8 reels )

Devdas ( Stared by Gulzar with Dharamendra Hema and Sharmila but shelved )

Finally they came together in 1984 

Sunny 

Sunny in 1984 was the last film in which we saw this screen pair together. Again, the songs made this film of theirs stand out in the 1980s. “Aur kya ahd-e-wafaa hotey hain, log milte hain, judaa hotay hain” is remembered till date as the song that plays an important part in the story. The dignified charm of Sharmila Tagore and the suave looks of Dharam ji added greatly to the weight of the love story of the younger pair-Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh. This was Dharmendra’s home production, where Sharmila played his mistress. He dies at the beginning of the film leaving behind the two women in his life, Sharmila and Waheeda Rehman to fight it out. 

From Anupama in 1966 to Sunny in 1984, Dharmendra and Sharmila, on this journey of dreams, have given us some beautiful films  with equally beautiful songs that always remind us of the fascinating romance they created on the silver screen. A romance that has been captured forever. For people to watch and rejoice in... Wishing both these stars a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY .

May both cross a magical 3 figure.

With inputs and reference : Subash K Jha.

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