By Sanjeev Kumar Patro
Bhubaneswar: Aradhana, Rajesh Khanna’s 15th superhit film in the streak of consecutive 17 hits, is remembered best not for Rajesh Khanna alone but this is the Hindi film that had transcended the language barrier.
As per B-Town reports, the film that was released today (September 27, 1969), in that age had four shows a day in the non-Hindi speaking areas of the Northeastern and four South Indian states. The film ran for 3 years in theatres across South India!
This musical romantic drama directed by Shakti Samanta had the starcast of Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore – the no 1 hit romantic pair then. The film’s “Mere Sapnon Ki Rani Kab Ayegi Tu ..” mesmerizes even today. The scene, action and song have been wonderful. But do you know it gave the worst nightmares to Shakti Samanta?
ALAG ALAG MOMENT IN ARADHANA!
The filming of this evergreen song gave the worst jitters to Shakti Samanta. He didn’t get combined dates from Rajesh and Sharmila for shooting the song Mere Sapno Ki Rani. Sharmila Tagore couldn't make it to Darjeeling. Only Rajesh Khanna's portions were shot in the scenic hills of Darjeeling, showing him driving the jeep across.
Sharmila Tagore's footage was separately shot in Mumbai where a train set was erected in a studio.
The two footages were later edited together to appear as if in the same frame.
SUBHASH GHAI IN ARADHANA
The Showman Subhash Ghai, who is known for the penchant to coming into the frame in all of his films, had an appearance in Aradhana too. During the scene of Sharmila Tagore's son Suraj's entry, (played again by Rajesh Khanna,) the person who plays Prakash, (Suraj's friend,) is actually the famous Bollywood director Subhash Ghai.
- Shakti Samanta was shooting a scene on Subhash Ghai (a struggling actor in those days) he played Rajesh Khanna's friend, he was told to drive a car, Subhash Ghai didn't know driving. He didn’t let it know to even Shakti Samanta.
- But when was asked to drive, Subhash Ghai banged the car, and the truth laid open bare to all.
- This fiasco was on Subhash Ghai’s memory lane. Years later when Subhash Ghai was shooting for Hero, there was a scene where Jackie Shroff was to drive a car, remembering this incident, Subhash Ghai asked Jackie if he knows driving. Because, Shakti Samanta erred then by not asking young Subash.
