30 Years  Of Karan Arjun, Raakhee  Gulzar Reminisces

Rakesh Roshan’s  1994  blockbuster Karan  Johar has  re-opened in  movie theatres this week. Although the focus of media attention during release was clearly the Salman-SRK  Jodi  , over the years Karan Arjun has gained recognition for its matriarchal salespitch.

Raakhee Gulzar who played Karan and Arjun’s mother was Rakesh Roshan’s one and only choice.

Says Raakhee, “I’ve known  Rakesh Roshan for a very long time.  Before being directed by him in Karan Arjun, we had  worked as co-stars in Aankhon Aankhon Mein and Aankh Micholi. Years later he  came to me  with the  offer of playing a  mother’s role in Karan Arjun.”

At that point of time, Raakhee was  not prepared to switch  to mother’s role.  “It was  Subhash Ghai’s Ram Lakhan and then a little later Karan Arjun  where I  made the switchover from heroine  to mother’s role. But if  you look at the selected films where I played  the mother  I never played the typical Cine Maa.”

Truly, Karan  Arjun changed the way  cinema  looked at  the  Cine Maa.

Observes Raakhee, “Also, films on the theme  of reincarnation were not considered boxoffice friendly.There were hits like Madhumati , Milan and Karz  on  the theme. But filmmakers  normally shied  away from films on  puran janm before Karan Arjun.”

When contacted Rakesh Roshan couldn’t keep the pride out of his voice.

Speaking on 30 years  of Karan Arjun he  said, “For such a film time is  no bar.Karan Arjun is  a monument and a landmark.”