Ranjeet did 500 films without a plan and doesn't have any even today

There was a time on the silver screen when Ranjeet used to be in every second or third film. These days he is mostly in a relaxed mood. He says, "I have worked a lot, and now I have nothing left to gain from cinema." One evening, in one such informal meeting, we talked about some things at his Juhu bungalow. He shares many things with us in a happy mood.

Ranjeet Shares Reflections on Cinema and Life

"When you came into films, was there a similar craze for cinema among people, or was the environment different? What was it that drew you into the world of cinema?"

"Do you want to take me back in time? Cinema and me... absolutely! I remember every single thing. My memory is very sharp. I even remember the dialogues of the films of Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar, and Sunil Dutt that I had seen in those days." While saying this, he surprises us by reciting long dialogues from some films, which he had seen in the theatres of his hometown Amritsar before coming into films. "I believe a lot in luck. The destination keeps giving you the turn where you have to reach." He reached his youthful moments when he had gone for training in the Air Force. There, the daughter of an officer (instructor) used to look at him. That officer threatened him, due to which he had a fight with that officer and he was out of the training. He tells. “At that time, working in films was not considered a good job. Those who worked in films were called dancers and singers. After training, returned to Mumbai empty-handed. I was a good football player. I was so good at goalkeeping that I was called 'Goli'. It was at this destination that I met a man in Mumbai who was an NRI, a very big man, and was making a film..."I had to hide from my family that I was with a man who was working on a film. They thought I was on Air Force training. His film was not made, but people thought I was someone very special to him. Because of him, all the film stars used to give me importance. It was through this contact that I came to know that someone was looking for me to give me work in films. My first films 'Sawan Bhadon' and ' Sharmeelee' were such films."

Sunil Dutt used to be Ranjeet's idol. I was influenced by Sunil Dutt Sahab. He was like a Guru to me. I did his film 'Reshma Aur Shera' then." He recalls. It was Sunil Dutt who gave me the name Ranjeet. He said that I should have a name like the film people and from 'Gopal Singh Bedi' I became the screen, Ranjeet. When I look back, I feel that those initial moments have come and stopped in front of my eyes."

"You have been here for a long period but you did not try to change your image, why?"

"I never did anything after planning. Whatever came my way I did. I never said no to anyone. This way I did more than 500 films. I watch fewer films, I don't even watch my own. The image became so dangerous that it became difficult to get rid of it." However, Ranjeet also did television and directed two films. 'Karnama' and 'Gajab Tamasha' were the films he directed. But his screen image was more than anything else. It stuck to him. People are scared of him to date.

He was never worried about his image, rather he used to enjoy his time. He tells an incident from his life. "My daughter was doing a fashion designing course in Delhi. I used to go to meet her. People in the industry here thought that I had a girlfriend there, whom I used to go to meet. I am very friendly with both my children (daughter Divyanka and son Chiranjeevi). I went to a restaurant in Delhi holding my daughter's hand. There, a man sitting at the next table was repeatedly stopping his wife from looking at us. I understood. I said in a loud voice so that everyone could hear, "Hey brother, my daughter has brought me here to feed, serve it quickly." After that, the same man came to me and said that his wife wanted to take a photo with me. I have to go through such situations many times. This image - which has stuck to me!"

He praises today's cinema but at the same time says- "Today's OTT films cannot be watched sitting at home with family. Don't know when such a scene will come... Nowadays people have also changed, and behavior has changed. Our era was very loving. We all used to get together. There was a lot of affection for each other. Here- in the evening at my house, I came to know that many people had gathered. Eating and drinking together. I don't drink but I used to keep it for them. Sunil Dutt, Vinod Khanna, Prem Chopra, and Rajesh Khanna used to come for a drink. A fun-filled evening we used to spend. Today, when I look back, when I think, it seems that time has stopped! "

 -Sharad Rai

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