Smita Patil was my first choice, but Rekha was perfect as Umrao Jaan: Muzaffar Ali
It's been 44 years since 'Umrao Jaan' graced the silver screen, yet the film remains as timeless as the life of the courtesan's story it brought to life. Directed by Muzaffar Ali, the film continues to enchant audiences with its storytelling, soulful music, and, of course, Rekha's iconic performance. The character has since become synonymous with her and vice versa.As 'Umrao Jaan' gears up to enthral audiences once again in cinemas this Friday, India Today sat down with the director to talk in-depth about the film and share anecdotes from the filming. During the conversation, Ali revealed that while Rekha eventually immortalised Umrao, she wasn't his first choice.advertisement'Initially, I had thought of Smita Patil. She had worked with me in 'Gaman', and she would have done a good job,' the director recalled, adding, 'But then we felt maybe we needed someone with a bit more oomph and physical presence.'
Ultimately, it was Rekha's haunting gaze and subtle strength that sealed the deal. Ali shared, 'When I read the character and lived it, and also heard the film recorded in Salma Siddiqui's voice over and over again, it was Rekha. She had the power in those eyes to tell the story where you fall and rise in the same moment. What Rekha brought to the table, I don't think anybody else could have done that.'Today, beyond cinema and gossip, even first-week box office collections have become dinner-table conversations. When asked about his relationship with the commercial side of filmmaking, especially since his films leaned more toward poetry and romance, Muzaffar Ali admitted that some attention to viewership is inevitable, but it's not everything.advertisementMuzaffar Ali shared that one does need to attract some eyeballs and footfalls, but the film has to stand on its own passion. "It has to stand on its own beauty. We have these false notions that we have earned so much money in the first or second week, but will that film be alive for the next 44 years? You need passion to do that. You may cast the biggest names to get money, but that hardly pays off," he added with a smile.Known for choosing layered and socially relevant subjects that were considered 'risky' even then, the director further discussed how his filmmaking decisions stemmed more from instinct than strategy. Talking about presenting stories in their raw and real forms, Ali said, 'I was following my heart. I was a painter trying to see life differently, driven by poetry, charged by music, and inspired by dance. It didn't feel risky to me as I had my own vision. It felt it was a very safe domain. The casting was important, and I think Rekha's presence helped in that way. But I believe more than her, people empathised a lot with the character. That paid off."'Umrao Jaan' also stars Naseeruddin Shah and the late Farooq Shaikh. It's restored version will release in theatres on June 27.- EndsYou May Also Like
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