“I Wouldn’t Indulge In Both Acting And Directing At The Same Time, Because Not Everyone Can Become A Raj Kapoor”- Rajesh Khanna

To commemorate his 77^th birthday yesterday, we reproduce nostalgically this free and frank interview that taken by JYOTHI VENKATESH with RAJESH KHANNA way back 41 years ago in 1978 for the now defunct Caravan dated October (second) 1978)

Jyothi Venkatesh

Have you started accepting multi star films only because your films have started flopping one after the other?

Working in a multi-star film doesn’t guarantee you a sure-fire hit. Was Imman Dharam a hit ?The fact is today the distributors and the audience have taken to this trend to such  an extent that it is difficult to make a one hero-one heroine film. I decided to adapt myself to the changing circumstances by playing the game the way it ought to be played. And luckily for me, every multi starrer that I’m doing today affords me equal scope to reveal my talent. I’m working with Shatrughan Sinha in Dushman Dost, with Dharmendra in Samrat and Vinod Khanna in  Rajput (directed by Goldie) and Narendra Bedi’s next film with Dharmendra and Sanjeev Kumar

Does it mean that you don’t believe in just footage as an actor?

Yes. It is my belief that it is the impact of your role that is more important than the footage. For instance the role of the flower-seller that I played in Anurodh left an indelible impression in the minds of the people more than even the lead role played by Vinod Mehra.

Have you ever analyzed why your films started flopping one after the other?

As I look back and think retrospectively, I realize that somewhere I had disappointed my fans and let them down very badly, prompting them in turn to ‘boo’ my films .I have hurt my fans, but I do not know when and where. Once I’m able to satisfy their expectations and make them happy once again, my bad phase will end. Believe it or not, I’m working harder than ever before in order to regain my place in the industry

Is it true that the chamchas were responsible for your downfall?

I have never had any chamchas. The people who surround me on the sets are my producers who come to discuss their films and fix up my dates. Chamchas can never mater to a star because, in his heart of hearts, the star knows what is exactly happening around him. If you have given a good performance, you yourself will know how good it is. You need no chamcha to tell you so. Chamchas have nothing to do with my success or failure.

Why do you go on refusing films with Amitabh Bachchan?

I’ve always been ready to work with Amitabh or for that matter any other star. In fact when Goldie approached Amitabh Bachchan with an offer to cast him in Rajput, along with Dharmendra and myself, he agreed to be in the film if and only if I was replaced by Vinod Khanna. But Goldie refused to compromise and cast Vinod Khanna in place of Amitabh Bachchan, because he’d already committed the film to me. From my side, I’ve no rancor against Amitabh. If I had, tell me whether I’d have agreed to sound the clapper for Amitabh’s Desh Premi or attend the mahurat of his film Shakti?

What made you dare to act opposite new girls like Sulakshana Pandit, Katy Mirza, Padmini Kapila and Zaherra at a time when Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchanwere insisting on being paired only with Hema Malini or Rekha to play safe?

I’ve not forgotten the fact that big actresses like Asha Parekh, Waheeda Rehman and Sharmila Tagore had acted opposite a brand new comer like Rajesh Khanna in Baharon Ke Sapne, Khamoshi and Aradhana respectively. When they agreed to work opposite me, they had more confidence in themselves than me and undertook the risk. I have confidence in my talent and hence I’m confident of delivering the goods, even if I’m teamed opposite newcomers. When I acted opposite Zeenat Aman in Ajnabi, she was a newcomer. Rekha was a newcomer when I acted opposite her in Namak Haram. Even today I’m prepared to work with newcomers provided the role suits me.

To revive your sagging career, do you intend taking up the mantle of direction?

I do intend taking up direction but not certainly at the moment. Because direction is a round-the-clock job which can completely exhaust you mentally and physically – more mentally. But as and when I do take up direction, I wouldn’t indulge in both acting and directing at the same time, for the simple reason that not everyone can become a Raj Kapoor. He is one producer-director-actor who I admire apart from Manoj Kumar. Who else is a real producer-actor-director in this industry? To the best of my knowledge there is none at all.

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Tags: Bollywood, Bollywood News, Bollywood Updates, Television, Telly News, Raj Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna