“Kakaji was once a heartbroken guy however by no means printed his disappointment to any individual”

Sawan Kumar Tak recollects recollections of his Souten famous person Rajesh Khanna

Filmmaker Sawan Kumar Tak’s Souten (1983) stays memorable for extra causes than one…

Shot in sea-silhouetted Mauritius, it handled audiences to virginal shores and pristine skylines, throwing open the floodgates to a postcard best international. Until date, it’s touted as Sawan Kumar’s greatest hit, spawning a chain of Souten outings later.

The peppy Shayad meri shaadi ka khayal duet, via Sawan Kumar and composed via Usha Khanna, now not best become a wedding pitch however many years later, continues to encourage spoofs and memes. Simply as Zindagi pyaar ka geet hai, additionally written via the director, stays undying for its truths.  

Rajesh Khanna, taking part in the aggrieved Shyam, upset via spouse Radha (Tina Munim) however held in combination via Radha (Padmini Kolhapure), discovered cheerleaders among suckers of his emblem of romance in an age of actioners. Souten, someplace, pumped up Rajesh Khanna’s sagging stardom.

It appears, it additionally marked a ‘dissolve’ between the 2 a very powerful scenes in his private existence – the top of his dating with spouse Dimple Kapadia and the start of his alleged romance with co-star Tina Munim.

Sawan Kumar knew he was once treading on skinny ice when he signed Rajesh Khanna for his movie. However belying all apprehensions, ‘Kakaji’ and he now not best went on to provide a blockbuster however the lonely two additionally cast a bond of empathy… a one-off within the moving sands of showbiz.

Sawan Kumar Tak appears again at Souten hero Rajesh Khanna …

IN SAWAN KUMAR TAK’S OWN WORDS:

After I wrote Souten, other folks have been cautious of the tale. Many heroes had already rejected the script fearing it to be a woman-oriented topic. After I considered coming near Kakaji (Rajesh Khanna), they mentioned he wouldn’t love it both. However I used to be prepared that Kakaji pay attention the tale first.

After I narrated it to him, Kakaji became quiet. Questioning whether or not it was once the identify that had now not long past down smartly with him, I recommended that lets exchange it if required. Kakaji mentioned, “No! The identify will have to be Souten best. It’s best for the script.” A lot to my excitement, he agreed to do the movie. A heroine, whom we approached to pair up with him, was once now not prepared to paintings with me as a director. However Kakaji was once transparent that best I’d direct the movie.

Sooner than I made up our minds to shoot in Mauritius, it was once in large part an unexplored territory. I met the then Honourable Top Minister of Mauritius, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, and sought his sort permission. He graciously mentioned, “It’s your nation. You’re welcome!” The group was once fascinated with the places. It seemed like heaven on earth. The affection triangle featured Tina Munim and Padmini Kolhapure, whom we affectionately known as Pandi. I had previous ties together with her. Padmini had additionally featured in my movie Sajaan Bina Suhagan (1978).

Kakaji was once speculated to be temperamental and tough. Other people had warned me pronouncing, “Adibaaz (exhausting to handle) hai, rooth (sulk) jaata hai, units choddh kar chala jaata hai!” However I by no means witnessed that aspect of him. He was once a foodie however had no nakhras about what was once served. He wasn’t keen on workout although.

However sure, he was once extraordinarily keen on liquor. He couldn’t sleep early. So, he’d stay consuming and chatting until past due within the night time. Naturally, he’d arrive past due at the set the following morning. Thodi bahut toh adaayein (idiosyncrasies) stars mein hoti hai. Unmein bhi thi. Stars as of late even have quirks.

However as soon as at the set, Kakaji would catch up on the misplaced time. After all he was once moody. He couldn’t undergo fools and misconduct. An actor is sort of a doll. You need to deal with him gently with love. You pour power into your actors. You need to create them. You need to lend a hand them really feel the nature. As a director, I may really feel all the movie and conveyed it precisely to him. He felt comfortable with me.

If other folks have been respectful against him, Kakaji went out of his option to co-operate. But when any individual threw his weight round, then it could be some other tale. I by no means heard about him leaving a movie incomplete. What can an actor do if manufacturers don’t pay him time table after time table? Kakaji will have come throughout such defaulters.

Coming again to Souten, prior to the discharge of the movie, there have been murmurs as to who would watch a movie so titled. Kakaji reassured me pronouncing, “Don’t concentrate to them. Mark my phrases; there will probably be many extra ‘Soutens’ someday.” He was once all the time assured concerning the movie. Once we processed the prints within the lab and other folks noticed the rushes they have been left amazed on the scenic frames.

After the premiere was once held at Apsara theatre in Mumbai and other folks preferred the movie, an ecstatic Kakaji hugged me and mentioned, “Now, let’s open a bottle!” We had events after events to have fun the luck of the movie with bouquets flooding my space for days.

As an individual, Kakaji was once extraordinarily emotional. If he discovered you to be authentic, he may give his existence for you. On the similar time, he may simply see if somebody was once looking to exploit him. He understood I used to be now not taking any benefit of him. He’d say, “Sawan you’re the best gentleman I’ve met. He even instructed other folks, ‘Yeh manufacturer hai dilwala!”

I noticed him dissatisfied a couple of instances. As soon as he broke down in my space, when a specific dating didn’t determine. Kakaji additionally had some flaws, which ladies couldn’t endure. The ladies in his existence can’t be blamed. Kakaji would omit who he was once after beverages. He’d lose his mood and finally end up pronouncing issues, that have been now not very delightful. However at the complete he was once a just right guy. After an evening of consuming, he’d question me the following morning, “Maine kuch bol diya aapko? I’m sorry. Sham ko aa raha hoon. We can kind out our gile shikve (grievances).”

Undeniably, he was once extraordinarily lonely. In fact, Kakaji was once now not supposed for marriage. Some other folks don’t seem to be destined to experience marital happiness similar to me. Kakaji was once possessive about his ladies. It’s great to be possessive in love. However now not past a undeniable level.  Whilst he, being a celebrity, was once public assets. Girls have been loopy about him. They’d clamor for images and autographs anyplace he went.

He was once a romantic and girls fell for him. But it surely wouldn’t determine for some reason why and he was once all the time left depressed. He was once a heartbroken guy. But he by no means printed his disappointment to other folks. He lived with it. Having mentioned that, Dimple is a brilliant girl. She sorted him so devotedly after he was once recognized with most cancers in 2011. I visited Kakaji at his bungalow Aashirwad right through that point. Unfortunately, he passed on to the great beyond in 2012. Apna dard chupaya, khushiyaan baati that was once his greatness. At his funeral, each and every eye was once wet. I used to be reminded of the strains that I’d written for Meenaji (Kumari) when she passed on to the great beyond:

Chandni mar gayee, roshni mar gayee,

(The moonlight died, the brightness died)

Saari shamme bujha kar chale aaye log

(Other people extinguished all lamps and got here away),

Chaadar-e-gul se chhilta tha jiska badan

(Any person whose pores and skin would harm even with a coverlet of plant life…)

Ussko mitti udhakar chale aaye log

(Other people coated him/her with dust and got here away).”