New Delhi: Dharmendra is one of the most popular stars of Indian cinema. He has gained popularity by playing action roles mostly in commercial films. However, he has also done some art films. He once approached Sai Paranjape to work in a film directed by him, but the film was never released.
Sai Paranjape said in an interview to AMV’s YouTube channel ‘The Culture Cafe’, ‘Once I tried to make a commercial film, but unfortunately this film was never completed. It was to be made with Dharmendra. He is a very sweet person, a lively person. He came to me and said, ‘I would love to make a film with you.’ I had some concepts and I told them about it.
When Dharmendra expressed objection on 1 scene
The filmmaker said that he cast Dharmendra and Shabana Azmi for the story of two thugs. Name given – Scorpion. When I wrote the script, I had Dharmendra in my mind. Dharmendra liked the script and we started. Then I felt somewhere that he realized that I was not a commercial filmmaker. I clearly remember a scene where Shabana and Dharmendra are face to face and he says something to her and she reacts. His back is towards the camera.
Director praised Dharmendra
The filmmaker then asked Dharmendra to make hand gestures to show that he was lying. She says, ‘They said – You did not take my close-up. I said- It is not needed. We don’t need a close-up, because your back has said it all. I think he got suspicious and thought I was favoring heroine. I don’t know what they thought. From that day onwards they will indicate how certain things should be done. Then gradually things slowed down. I realized that they were not that excited about it. The film stopped. Dharmendra expressed disappointment over the film never being made. He praised Dharmendra and said, ‘He was a gentleman. He didn’t say even half a word against me in the press and I obviously did the same.
Tags: Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi
FIRST PUBLISHED: January 3, 2025, 17:10 IST
