When the ever-affable Dharmendra returned my call on Sunday evening he was deeply grieved.
“I just heard Shashikala is no more,” he mumbled sadly before I could raise the topic. “We have done some of our best work together. I can’t remember all the films we worked together in. But three of my most favourite films Anupama, Devar and Phool Aur Patthar had Shashikala in very prominent roles,” recalls Dharamji .
“She was my senior, She had done many films when I started my career. I think the first film we did together was Anpadh where Mala Sinha played the title role. The movie is remembered to this day for Madan Mohan Saab-Lataji’s melodies. I was a nervous semi-newcomer, Shashikala put me at ease. ‘Ae Dharam, aao hamare saath khana khao,’ she would ask me to join her for lunch during shooting.For a newcomer such warmth from a senior is never forgotten. She taught me to be nice to newcomers,” Dharamji.
“She was typecast as a vamp. And her most famous role as a vamp was with me in Phool Aur Patthar where her song Zindagi mein pyar karna seekh le became a big hit specially the catchphrase ‘Phishigala phishigala’. Hrishikesh Mukherjee changed her image in Anupama one of my most favourite films. She was nice in a positive role. I wonder why she didn’t play more positive roles .She was a gem of a person in real life. Aise hi unhone Pran Saab ko typecast kar diya(they similarly typecast Pran).”
Dharamji regrets losing contact with Shashikala.
“She cut herself off completely from the film industry and moved to Pune with her family. Luckily she didn’t have to die a lonely death like that other fine actress Lalita Pawarji whose decomposed body was found in her home days after her death. Fame is fine. But family is more important,” Dharamji signs off thoughtfully.
Ram Gopal Varma refuses to take back his words regarding singer Sukhwinder’s hand in the composing … Read More
Filmmaker Hansal Mehta and actor Pratik Gandhi have so far collaborated for the game-changing OTT-defining… Read More
It’s like a dream come true.Like Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore’s progenies coming together. Once… Read More
Kiran Rao’s Laapata Ladies was never meant to be a blockbuster. The film has completed 50… Read More
The new version of the Ramayan directed by Nitesh Tiwari, stars Ranbir Kapoor as Rama,… Read More
There is no one quite like Aamir Khan. Anything he does makes news even without… Read More
Leave a Comment