ZINDAGI NE EK ZINDA DIL INSAAN KO KHO DIYA. 87 KE UMAR MEIN , 87 KE HONE KE PAHELE MASHOOR DIGDARSHAK RAVI TANDON KA DEHAANT.... BY ALI PETER JOHN

I was a little boy in Amboli village which was close to the Filmaalay Studio where a huge set was irected for the shooting of ," Leader " being directed by Ram Mukherjee , now better known as the father of Rani Mukherjee - Ali Peter JOHN

I used to sneak into the studio even though the guards threw me out most of the time. I didn't know who Ravi Tandon was , but I was aware of Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala who I had seen entering the studio in their cars .

And suddenly there was a commotion in the compound of the studio . There was talk about an assistant director slapping the great actor Dilip Kumar.

The commotion lasted for an hour and came to a stop only when the producer S Mukherjee intervened and brought peace between the young director and the legendary Dilip Kumar and the assisitnt's job was saved.

The assistant's name was Ravi Tandon who later went on to be one of the better known directors of Hindi cinema .

In his thirty year old career he directed several big films like Majrooh , Khel Khel Mein and many others.

He had the ability to make films on every kind of subject and had a firm grasp on the medium , which impressed actors like Amitabh Bachchan , Sanjiv Kumar and Rishi Kapoor to work with him without any problems.

Most of his films appealed to the audience and naturally were hits at the box office . He once told me , " I am not a great director , but I know how to visualise a scene , write it out with the help of some good writers and shoot.

I also have a fair knowledge of music and I know how to deal with the stars who are mostly simple human beings who success and some directors and producers turn into paper gods and spoil them.

I have made so many films , but I have not had any problems with the stars or the star system . I treat every one equally , I see to it that every one is paid well and is paid in time . If you want to know the secret of my success , this is the only secret "

Some time in the 80s Ravi Tandon's daughter Raveena Tandon was accepted as a big star , and strangely with her rise as a star began the fall of Tandon as a director . He could never direct his daughter in any films .

Tandon had tried his talent as a director of films as a producer and also as a producer of TV films .

He was not active for the lost several years and had ideas to make films , but couldn't put his ideas into practice .

I once asked him about the slapping incident and he laughed and said , " that is the joke of the century. True I had a scuffle with the legend , but I never could even think or dare to slap him.

That story was the creation of some people who don't like good things happening . I am shocked that people still remember me as Ravi Tandon who slapped Dilip Kumar and completely ignore my work as a director "

Ravi Tandon who died at the age of 87 will be remembered just for the film he made with stars like Rishi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan .

UNKO AUR BHI KAAMYAABI MILNI CHAAYIYE THI . LEKIN KYA KARE ISS TAQDEER KA YA BHAAGYA KA ? KISINE SAHI HI KAHA HAI KI KISI KO ZAMEEN KISIKO AASMAAN NAHI MILTA