Two of Hindi cinema’s most enduring and endearing star-actors celebrate their birthday on December 8 .While he-man Dharmendra turns a ripe 80, the very beautiful Sharmila Tagore is now 71!
The two made an interesting and very fuitful pair, specially in the films that they did together for Hrishikesh Mukherjee. But Garam Dharam and Seductive Sharmila did other interesting works together too.
Listing the best of Dharmendra-Sharmila.
- Anupama(1966): This was the first time Hrishikesh Mukherjee brought this very compatible and captivating pair together. Sharmila played Uma, a repressed girl who hardly spoke. Dharmendra looking dapper in a dhoti , was a poet and a writer who tried to bring the shy withdrawn Uma out of her shell. Thir performances so complemented one another that Hrishida went on record to state this was his favourite star pair. A lot of us agree.Memorable for its melodies composed by Hemant Kumar specially Lataji’s Dheere dheere machal ae dil-e-beqaraar and Kuch dil ne kaha and Hemantda’s Ya dil ki suno duniya walon.
- Devar(1966): In the same year as Anupama came another powerful drama based on Bangla literature, this one directed by Mohan Segal. Like Anupama , Devar too was about repressed unspoken love. Dharmendra played Shramila’s bother-in-law silently in love with Shramila watching her suffer in a bad marriage.A film way head of its times made memorable by composer Roshan’s melodies Baharon ne mera chaman lutkar and Guzra zamana bachpan ka sung by Mukesh.
- Satyakam(1969): Regarded by most as Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s best film and by far Dharmendra’s most accomplished performance.As Satyapriya whose idealism destroys him and his family Dharmendra’s naturalistic performance has withstood all ravages of time. Sharmila as his supportive wife was the perfect foil.
- Yakeen(1969): During the same year as the imperishable classic Satyakam , Dharmendra and Sharmila were seen together in this kitschy espionage thriller directed by Brij Sadanah most memorable for the title song were the hotblooded hero chased Sharmila who sported an itsy bitsy hot pants which made male eyes pop and trousers bulge . Put her in a ghagra-choli or a skimpy little western outfit Sharmila was game for any role.
- Mere Humdam Mere Dost(1968): A completely kitschy claptrap where Dharmendra and Sharmila looked smashing together. Laxkimant-Pyarelal’s songs went a long way into making this trashy film a blockbuster. Dharmendra sang Rafi Saab’s Hui sham unka khayaal aa gaya and Chalkaye jam aapke hothon ke naam. She sang Lataji’s Chalo sajna jahan tak ghat chale and Tum jao kahin.
- Chupke Chupke(1975): In the 1970s Shramila got busy doing films with Rajesh Khanna . But she reunited with Dharmendra one more time for their beloved director Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s comedy which has over the years acquired cult status.
- Ek Mahal Ho Sapnon Ka(1975): A love triangle featuring Dharmendra with Sharmila and Leena Chandravarkar. The most forgettable film from the Dharam-Sharmila oeuvre.
- Sunny(1984): The beautiful pair came together one more time for Dharmendra’s home production where Sharmila played his mistress . He dies at the beginning of the film leaving behind the two women in his life Sharmila and Waheeda Rehman to fight it out.
- Chaitali: Technically speaking Dharmendra and Sharmila did one other film together.The film Chaitali was to be directed by the great Bimal Roy who passed away. Bimalda’s assistant Hrishikesh Mukherjee took over. The film was launched with Hrishida’s favourite pair Dharmendra and Sharmila but finally got made with Saira Bau replacing Sharmila.
- Devdas: Gulzar launched his own version of Saratchandra classic with Dharmendra, Sharmila and Hema Malini cast as Devdas, Paro and Chandramukhi. Tragically the project went no further than the mahurat. If this version of Devdas had happened no doubt Dharmendra and Sharmila would have given a new lease of life to Saratchandra’s doomed lovers.

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Rakesh Roshan: “Everything I Know About Acting & Direction, I Learnt From K Vishwanathji”

The mighty moviemaker K Vishwanath who was to Telugu cinema what Satyajit Ray was to Bengali cinema, passed away on February 2,leaving behind a luminous legacy.
Acto-director Rakesh Roshan who had the rare honour of working in four projects with Vishwanath recalls him with tremendous respect. “Everything I know about acting and direction I learnt from him. He was a stalwart , an institution, and so passionate about his work. I had the privilege of being directed by him in two films Aurat Aurat Aurat and Shubh Kamna. He would show his actors exactly what he wanted, down to the minutest gesture.His understanding of the medium was extraordinary.”
Rakesh Roshan remembers how he invited Vishwanath to make films for him. “I produced two films that Vishwanathji directed. One was Kaamchor, the other was Jaag Utha Insaan.While the first was a runaway success, the second didn’t do well.”
Speaking on how Kaamchor happened Rakesh recalls, “Vishwanathji and I used to meet socially in Hyderabad.We wanted to work together. But we had no script.One evening when we met he looked very depressed. When I asked him what was wrong, he said his new release Shubodayam (in Telugu) had flopped. That night I went to see Shobodayam in a theatre in Hyderabad. The next morning I told Vishwanathji, ‘We’ve found our script’. I told him where the storytelling in Shubhodayam had gone wrong.We corrected the script and that’s how Kaamchor happened. Although the entire story revolved around me, it was Jaya Prada who benefited from Kaamchor.”
About the beautiful Jaag Utha Insaan , Rakesh Roshan admits bluntly, “It flopped because of miscasting. During those days Sridevi was known in Hindi cinema as a glamorous heroine. We cast her as classical dancer. Mithun Chakraborty had the image of Gun Master G-9 and Disco Dancer.We cast him as a downtrodden underdog. I was known for Kaamchor and other citybred characters,I was cast as a Brahmin pandit.With other actors Jaag Utha Insaan would have been a superhit”
Rakesh met K Vishwanath six years ago. “We were shooting for Krissh in Hyderabad. He came on the set several times. We had so much to say to each other. After that we lost contact. He was very very busy with many projects. K Vishwanathji lived for his cinema.”
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As His Latest Work Faraaz Releases Today, Hansal Mehta Speaks To Subhash K Jha On The Exciting Times Ahead

Hansal, Faraaz is your fifteenth directorial venture. How does it feel to have come so far with so many milestones behind you?
I don’t count my films. Genuinely. Every film is a new beginning. Every film has its share of uncertainty and nerves. Perhaps it is also because of the choices I make. There is no scope for either complacency or me carrying a false sense of security. I’m not complaining,though. Living life on the edge keeps me going.
I consider Faraaz to be a part of your great trilogy on the dynamics of terrorism, after Shahid and Omerta…where do you see Faraaz positioned in your creative ambit?
Thank you , Subhash.Faraaz is a film I’m very, very proud of. It was a challenge to pull off, a tough journey but creatively a very satisfying one. As Rajkummar Rao told me after watching the film , the Trilogy is complete now. Time to explore new stories and new characters. And finish post-production for all the exciting things that we shot for over the past eighteen months.
Out of curiosity which of your films have given you the most creative satisfaction?
Almost every film Shahid onwards has been immensely satisfying , both in terms of process and the outcome. Save a couple that I need not name. But even those I own for all their flaws, failures, deficiencies and redeeming qualities. But Faraaz has been a great process. I’ve made so many new friends in this journey and found some of the most exciting colleagues that I’m proud to introduce through the film. Writers Raghav Kakkar and Kashyap Kapoor (who co-wrote the film with Ritesh Shah), Cinematographer Pratham Mehta, Sound Designer Mandar Kulkarni, Editor Amitesh Mukherjee, co-producers Sahil, Maz and Sakshi – all of whom have given their blood and sweat to make this film happen. And of course Anubhav Sinha one of my oldest friends in the industry who backed me in telling this story just the way I wanted it. So yes, Faraaz has been satisfying and also filled me with a deep sense of gratitude. I must have done something right, no?
Of course. Faraaz has a lot of young new actors in it. Tell me about the process of casting in this film? It couldn’t have been easy since there are dozens of faces?
That was the challenge and the joy of making this film. I worked on the story during Chhalaang and I always knew that it would be a return to my indie roots for Faraaz. The film had to be made. And it needed fresh faces, bereft of image or trappings of stardom. A huge credit to Mukesh Chhabra who has a huge role to play in my filmography since Shahid. We constantly challenge each other and never ever give up. Casting is a process I really enjoy and finding the right talent to bring characters alive is something I thrive upon. Faraaz has an amazing ensemble. Right from Aditya Rawal , Zahan Kapoor, Juhi Babbar to every small character in the film including the officers, parents and the hostages this one is a triumph of honest casting , casting without an eye on profits, simply in service of the film, of the character.
Faraaz is about a terror attack in Bangladesh?how do you respond to those who want to know, why Bangladesh?
In our research of this dastardly attack we realised that here was a story that had a larger message and something very universal to share. Misguided youth taking up violence in the name of religion or a parent’s love for her child or the unexpected bravery from an unlikely hero are themes that cannot be limited by borders, nationality or language. These stories must be told. They must transcend the limitations of perceived local relevance – particularly when our polarised times need such stories to be told to a larger audience.
In 2020, your OTT series Scam 1992 proved to b e game changer. Do you see Scam as a turning point in your career?
I see Scam 1992 as an enabler. We did not expect its humongous success and to say it did not change things would be fake humility. It gave me back a lot of things I had lost in the years before it released. Including some money. And the courage to tell the stories I desperately wanted to. Also exceptional friends and collaborators like Sameer Nair and his Studio Applause.
Your films and your attitude to cinema has always been fearless. How do you cope with the threat of growing intolerance in our society vis a vis your convictions as a filmmaker?
It is not new to me. Remember Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar in 2000? The only difference now is that then I was deeply affected by the intolerance to a point of self destruction. Now I channelise my despair and anger into telling relevant stories and through them taking on those who have made it a business to be intolerant.
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To Attend Siddharth-Kiara’s Destination Wedding, Karan Johar Preponed His Twins’s Birthday Bash

For those who are wondering why Karan Johar hosted the grand birthday party for his twins Roohi and Yash who will turn 6 on 7 February, six days in advance on 1 February here is why: on the day of his twins’ birthday, Karan will be in Rajasthan attending the wedding celebrations of his dear friends Siddharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani who are getting married on February 6.
Reveals a friend close to Karan, “Karan was in a dilemma. To him there is nothing more important than his children’s happiness. How could he break their hearts by skipping the most important day of their lives? At the same time, how could he not attend Siddharth and Kiara’s wedding ? They are very close to him.”
Karan did the best thing possible to resolve the situation: he put the dilemma before his children Yash and Juhi who happily agreed to have their party a few days in advance so their ‘Dada’ could attend his friends’ wedding.
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The Big Independence Day Clash To Be Averted?

Sunny Deol, John Abraham Ranbir Kapoor and the Covid Vaccine are all set to clash at the boxoffice this Independence Day .
While the Ranbir Kapoor starrer Animal and Sunny Deol’s long-awaited Gadar sequel are both scheduled for release on August 11, John Abraham’s Tariq releases three days later on August 15.On the same day Vivek(The Kashmir Files) also releases The Covid Vaccine.
It looks like a crowded weekend, with one too many releases for audiences to choose from.
Apparently intense discussions are on among the producers of the four big films to see how the clutter can be resolved.
A source close to the development says, “Gadar 2 is the right fit for the Independence Day weekend. But the producers of Animal are in no mood to move from August 13 . John who is a co-producer on Tariq and Vivek Agnihotri with his Covid Vaccine are also adamant on coming on August 15.The Independence Day weekend is a long weekend. So let’s see…”
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