When Zeenat Aman revealed how she was locked in as Rupa in 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram'
Mumbai, June 7
Veteran actress Zeenat Aman once revealed during her appearance on "The Kapil Sharma Show" how she ended up getting the role of Rupa for the 1978 release "Satyam Shivam Sundaram".
Host Kapil Sharma asked her "When you were cast in the film 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram' in which the face of your character is always covered, how did the makers get the idea to cast such a beautiful and glamorous girl for this role?"
Sharing the incident, Zeenat revealed that she was working on another movie with Raj Kapoor, the director of "Satyam Shivam Sundaram", named "Waqeel Babu".
She said that he was planning "Satyam Shivam Sundaram" at the time and would keep talking about his heroine, Rupa, making her very inspired towards the character.
Zeenat admitted that, as an actor, she wished to be directed by Raj Kapoor.
In an attempt to get the role, Zeenat reached the RK Studio, dressed as she thought Raj Kapoor would have visualised his leading lady Rupa.
Pleasantly surprised to see Zeenat in this avatar, Raj Kapoor called his wife Krishna Kapoor, and asked her to come to the studio.
Krishna Kapoor came and gave Zeenat some gold ginnies.
The veteran actress added that Raj Kapoor told her, "You are my Rupa."
Zeenat further disclosed that Raj Kapoor even made a reel with her, which he had previously shot with Nargis Dutt on "Jago Mohan Pyare", and only after seeing that reel, the distributors agreed to buy the picture.
Made under the direction of Raj Kapoor and written by Jainendra Jain, "Satyam Shivam Sundaram" also starred Shashi Kapoor as the lead.
The drama shares the tale of Roopa (Played by Zeenat Aman), half of whose face has been disfigured after a fire accident. Rajeev (played by Shashi Kapoor), a handsome engineer who is overseeing a dam project in the village, falls in love with Rupa and marries her before learning about her massive scar.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Honestly, casting Zeenat Aman for a role where the face is covered seems counterintuitive, but it's a testament to Raj Kapoor's vision and her acting prowess. The scene with the reel from "Jago Mohan Pyare" is legendary - it's like history repeating itself in the best way possible.
I still remember watching "Satyam Shivam Sundaram" with my grandmother on Doordarshan! The music, the story, Zeenat's performance - everything was perfect. This anecdote makes the film even more special. And those gold ginnies exchanging hands? So old school glamour 🌟
While I love the nostalgia, I feel uncomfortable with the premise - a woman hiding a facial scar from her husband? That's not empowering. But Zeenat ji's courage in taking on such a challenging role and making it iconic cannot be denied. She truly was one of a kind.
Fascinating insight into Bollywood's golden era! I'm a huge fan of Raj Kapoor's films and Zeenat Aman's work. The fact that distributors only agreed after seeing the test reel with "Jago Mohan Pyare" footage shows how visionary RK was. This kind of storytelling is timeless.
Arre yaar, this is why I love Bollywood history! Zeenat ji's audacity to just walk into RK Studio and impress Raj Kapoor? That takes guts. And Krishna ji giving her gold ginnies is such a classy moment. Today's actors should
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