4 minutes agoAuthor: Kiran Jain
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Raj Kapoor and Ashok Kaul’s friendship began by chance, which became the foundation of a deep and long-lasting relationship between them. Let us tell you, Ashok Kaul, who had served in the Indian Army, later became a close friend of filmmaker Raj Kapoor.
During a conversation with Dainik Bhaskar, Ashok Kaul told about the interesting stories of their meeting and friendship. Read some key excerpts from the conversation:
How did your friendship begin and what difficulties did you face at that time?
We started with ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’. Shooting at a remote place like Gangotri was very difficult. One day Raj Saheb said to me, ‘Ashok, we have to go to Gangotri.’ I said, ‘Sir, it will be difficult to go there. The road is not good, there is no bridge, and we will have to climb very high.’ The film was researched in depth as it was about Ganga. He was not feeling well, he was having trouble breathing, yet he went. This was an example of his love for films.
You told that RK Studio was very close to his heart. How was the atmosphere and feeling there family oriented?
Raj Saheb never considered RK’s studio as just his own; He considered it like his family. All the technicians there were members of the same family. Everyone used to sit together during lunch time, there was no separation. During the shooting in the studio, the same food was served to everyone and Raj Saheb also used to participate in it.
What happened to Laxman Thomre on the set?
There was a lightman named Laxman Thomre, who was the head lightman on the set. When we were setting up the set and the Ganga song ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’ was being shot, Laxman Thomre was quietly telling a worker present there that there should be a crane in this shot. Raj Saheb was standing far away. He called Laxman and asked what was the matter Laxman? Laxman said, ‘Nothing sir, install the crane.’ This was the humanity of Raj Kapoor, where there was no such thing as ego.
How Raj Saheb used to work on the sets. What was his connection like with each unit member?
Even at that time, Raj Saheb used to recognize everyone by name on the set. Knew the name of every unit member, even the spot boys. It was a different kind of connection. Raj Saheb was a very emotional person.
When you were in the studio, did you go to any special places, like restaurants?
Yes, when I was in the studio, we would often go to one Shetty’s restaurant, where Simi Garewal was later interviewed. There we used to eat coffee and dosa like common people. Raj Kapoor never considered himself big, his style was always very simple. He always behaved like a common man, whether on the sets or in the restaurant. Even in parties, he did not pretend that he was big. Sitting and eating with him was like associating with someone else.
How did you meet? You were in the army and Raj Kapoor was in the film industry.
My meeting with Raj Kapoor ji was a coincidence. At that time I was in the army and my posting was at the headquarters in Rampur (Uri sector). All the officers had gone to the front and I was the only officer in the headquarters. There was a knock on the door and the soldier told that Raj Kapoor ji wanted to meet. I did not understand who Raj Kapoor ji.
When the door knocked and Raj Kapoor ji came in, he asked me if I could go to where the Jhelum river flows into Pakistan. I said yes. It was a sensitive area, but I had to take permission and asked to send an officer with them. When we reached the command post, there was Pakistan post there.
Pakistani soldiers were waving hands and saying that we want to watch your films. Raj Kapoor ji said, okay, one day I will come from the broken bridge. Today that entire bridge has become Aman Setu. Raj Kapoor ji’s prediction had come true.
At that time I had written a fiction story which had the spirit of patriotism and sacrifice for the country. I gave a summary of the story. He said that I will make a film in it. I said, Sir, now it has to be sent to the Ministry of Defence, I cannot publish it. But he remained in touch with me.”
