Jaya Bachchan was cast in Guddi because Moushumi Chatterjee hurt Hrishikesh Mukherjee's ego: ‘I didn't want to wear a short skirt'
Moushumi Chatterjee was one of the rare female actors of her time who actually started working in Hindi movies as a leading lady after she got married. Moushumi shared in a recent interview that she got married at 15 to composer Hemant Kumar's son Jayanta, and explained that she was never ambitious about her career. She shared that before she got married, she had received an offer from director Hrishikesh Mukherjee to work in Guddi (1971), which later starred Jaya Bachchan (then Bhaduri), but she refused the offer because the character was required to wear short skirts. Hrishikesh was so upset by her refusal that he vowed to destroy her career even before it began, but for Moushumi, he wasn't even on her radar because she wasn't thinking about a career in films.
In a chat with Filmfare, she recalled working with Hrishikesh Mukherjee in the 1990s television series Talaash. The series was being produced by Jayant, so Hrishikesh assumed that Moushumi would make an exception and work on a Sunday, even though she was very strict about spending time with her daughters on holidays. Moushumi refused to budge and that's when Hrishikesh revealed to her that he 'ruined' her career even before it began.
'I didn't do Guddi because the heroine was supposed to wear a short skirt. My father said no because firstly, this was a Hindi film, and because we didn't know who Hrihsikesh Mukherjee was. He said I did Talaash only because I wanted to make up for what happened on Guddi. He said I ruined your career,' she recalled. She remembered Hrishikesh's words saying, 'At that time, I was such an egoist. I thought, 'You said no to Hrishikesh Mukherjee, we will se how you come make a career in Mumbai'. He said, 'I did not want you to work on that movie. I don't want this heroine, I want that heroine.' And that's how he cast Jaya in the role that changed the trajectory of her career.
ALSO READ | Karan Johar, Ram Kapoor, Kusha Kapila face Ozempic barbs: Why this appetite for hate when it comes to celebs and their bodies?
Moushumi said that she started wearing saree at the age of 13 and wasn't comfortable wearing sort clothes. She also recalled an incident where costume designer Mani J Rabadi gave her a backless blouse and a short ghagra for a film. She started crying and said, 'I feel like I am naked.' Her husband had to tell her that her dress was okay and it wasn't anything out of the ordinary for films.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Ram Gopal Varma claims South cinema thrived by remaking Amitabh Bachchan classics: 'Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, NT Rama Rao did remakes, became demigods'
Ram Gopal Varma reveals South Indian cinema's early reliance on remaking Amitabh Bachchan's Bollywood hits, which propelled stars like Rajinikanth to fame. While Bollywood directors were influenced by foreign cinema, the South focused on mass-appeal storytelling. Varma also recounts a producer's skepticism towards 'Pushpa: The Rise,' highlighting differing expectations in the industry. The Indian film industry is a complex tapestry of diverse languages, cultures, and storytelling styles. While Bollywood often dominates headlines, the Southern film industries have carved out their own powerful space, producing blockbuster hits and cultivating larger-than-life stars. Yet, beneath this success lies a shared history of inspiration, imitation, and adaptation that shaped both worlds. Legendary filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma sheds light on the fascinating journey of South Indian cinema, revealing how it once thrived by remaking iconic Bollywood films—particularly those starring Amitabh Bachchan—and how these influences continue to resonate today. In conversation with IndiaTV Showbiz, RGV recently observed that in the early days, all four South Indian film industries frequently remade Amitabh Bachchan 's popular films from the 1970s and 1980s. Major stars like Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, NT Rama Rao, and Rajkumar rose to fame by starring in these remakes. In the 1990s, during Amitabh Bachchan's extended five-year hiatus, music companies began producing films primarily to promote their soundtracks—Maine Pyar Kiya being a notable example. Meanwhile, the South continued to churn out 'masala' films inspired by Bachchan's style, which helped cement their leading actors as demigods. According to Varma, this pattern of drawing from Bachchan's legacy persists even today. Varma also pointed out that young Bollywood directors of that era had greater exposure to foreign cinema, thanks to their English proficiency and urban upbringing. In contrast, he noted that many commercial filmmakers in the South were less exposed to global cinematic trends and tended to focus more on grassroots, mass-appeal storytelling. The filmmaker also recalled an incident involving an unnamed producer's reaction to the film Pushpa: The Rise, directed by Sukumar and starring Allu Arjun . A few days before the film's release, the producer reportedly expressed strong skepticism, predicting that audiences would reject the movie. His criticism was not aimed at the actor himself, but rather at the unconventional portrayal of the protagonist—someone chewing paan rather than the typical six-pack hero image. According to Varma, the producer's judgment was clouded by preconceived notions of what audiences expect, rather than the actual quality or content of the film. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Kamal Haasan thanks Tamil Nadu for standing by him amid Kannada language row; promises to respond in a press meet
Kamal Haasan expressed heartfelt thanks to the people of Tamil Nadu for standing by him during the backlash sparked by his recent remarks on the Kannada language. Although he avoided a direct response to the ongoing controversy, he assured that a detailed statement would follow shortly. Kamal Haasan's gratitude speech During a recent release event of 'Thug Life' in Chennai, Kamal was heard expressing his deep respect for his fans: 'I should thank the entire state of Tamil Nadu, which stood behind me. I completely understand the meaning of the phrase 'Uyire, Urave, Tamizhe (my life and family are Tamil)' that I use during public addresses. And I stand by it,' he said in Tamil. Kamal Haasan Faces Ban in Karnataka Over Kannada Language Row, Minister Demands Apology | Thug Life Kamal refused to address the language row Kamal refrained from delving into the language row following his remark that 'Kannada was born out of Tamil' during the event. He acknowledged that there were important matters beyond the film that needed to be addressed.'But this is not the stage for it. It is my duty to talk about those issues in a separate (press) meet, and I will organise it,' he added. Kamal also shared his deep admiration for director Mani Ratnam , calling 'Thug Life' a transformative experience. About the controversy The controversy began when Kamal Haasan stated that 'Kannada was born out of Tamil' during a promotional event for Thug Life. The statement drew sharp criticism from pro-Kannada organisations, and the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) issued a statement declaring support for those demanding a ban on the film's release in Karnataka . Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 180k traders turn to IC Markets for optimum CFD trading conditions | Sign up today IC Markets Sign Up Undo They demanded an apology from Kamal to settle the issue and allow the film to be released in the state. However, the 'Nayakan' actor refused to apologise, stating that he had not said anything wrong. Kamal later approached the Karnataka High Court seeking protection for the film's release in the state. The court, however, criticised him and advised that he express regret over his comments. The matter has been adjourned to June 10. Thug Life is scheduled to hit theatres tomorrow (June 5). Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Thug Life advance booking: Kamal Haasan's film to open with ₹12.46 cr, 2 lakh+ tickets sold despite Karnataka blockage
Thug Life advance booking: Kamal Haasan's film Thug Life is ready to debut on Thursday despite no show across Karnataka. The actor recently found himself at the centre of a controversy, which led to the film being blocked from release in the state. However, the film is set to see a decent opening day. However, missing out on the Karnataka circuit is undoubtedly going to cost Kamal Haasan who is also jointly backing the film. According to film industry tracker Sacnilk, Thug Life has collected a gross of ₹ 5.02 crore from ticket sales in all languages. The film will be out in Tamil, Hindi and Telugu languages. It will also be available in IMAX 2D format. Considering all formats, Kamal Haasan's film has so far sold 2,95,456 tickets for 10,678 shows across India, excluding Karnataka. Considering blocked seats, Thug Life is set to see a massive opening with ₹ 12.46 crore gross earnings. The film is set to clash with Sajid Nadiawala's Housefull 5 which has now generated way less money from advance booking. The movie is likely to premiere with ₹ 5.67 crore gross earnings. While Karnataka is out of the picture for Thug Life, states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, followed by Gujarat, top the list with maximum revenue from the advance booking for the first day in all versions. Thug Life is a gangster action drama film, directed by Mani Ratnam. It is co-written by Kamal Haasan, who is also jointly producing the film under his banner Raaj Kamal Films International. Madras Talkies and Red Giant Movies are also backing the film. Besides Kamal Haasan, it also features Silambarasan, Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Ashok Selvan, Joju George, Nassar, Ali Fazal, Rohit Saraf and Baburaj. The film marks the reunion of Haasan and Ratnam after they collaborated on their 1987 film, Nayakan. The film landed in controversy after Haasan said, "Kannada was born out of Tamil' during the film event. Predicting the fate of the film amid the row, film trade insider Ramesh Bala posted on X, formerly Twitter, 'The anticipation is huge for the biggest film of the year #ThugLife. The promotional material impressed everyone. We can expect, solid action and Phenomenal performances from leads #KamalHaasan, #SilambarasanTR, #Trisha, #JojuGeorge & others. With themes rumored to explore action, identity, and rebellion, #ThugLife is expected to be more than just a commercial entertainer. Excited for tomorrow.' However, trade analyst Sumit Kadel claimed underwhelming numbers for the Thug Life Hindi version. He wrote, 'Advance booking for #KamalHaasan's #ThugLife is underwhelming in the Hindi belt, with current projections indicating a Day 1 opening in the ₹ 80L–1Cr range across North India. The film has just Thursday to register any meaningful biz before #Housefull5 takes over the bulk of showcasing from Friday.'
