Satte Pe Satta: When pregnant Hema Malini replaced Rekha opposite Amitabh Bachchan in the blockbuster film; Parveen Babi walked out due to health issues
and
Rekha
's screen partnership remains indelible because their on-screen interactions continued to win hearts whenever they appeared together. The duo produced multiple unforgettable movies, which continue to attract fans even today.
Their joint efforts in 'Do Anjaane' (1976), 'Alaap' (1977), 'Khoon Pasina' (1977), 'Ganga Ki Saugandh' (1978), 'Muqaddar Ka Sikandar' (1978), 'Mr. Natwarlal' (1979), 'Suhaag' (1979), 'Ram Balram' (1980), and 'Silsila' (1981) brought them overwhelming adoration and admiration from cinema lovers. These unforgettable love stories made them the most popular cinematic pair of that time. Naturally, when Amitabh Bachchan's 1982 film 'Satte Pe Satta' was announced, fans hoped to see Rekha alongside him once again—but as we know, she wasn't part of that project.
According to News18, Rekha was originally the first choice to star opposite Amitabh Bachchan in 'Satte Pe Satta,' while another prominent actress was also being considered for a significant role. However, plans took a turn when Rekha had to step away from the project. Around the same time,
Parveen Babi
, who had already been signed, also exited the film due to health issues. These unexpected changes opened the door for Hema Malini—already an established star with several hits to her credit—to step in as the film's leading lady.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute
Navy Quest
Undo
Interestingly, the movie was filmed while
Hema Malini
was pregnant—a fact that remained unknown to most fans at the time. At Amitabh Bachchan's personal request, she took on the role and managed to juggle the demanding shoot along with her other professional commitments. During the filming, Hema Malini was expecting her daughter, Esha Deol. To discreetly hide her pregnancy, she smartly draped a decorative scarf during the song 'Pariyon Ka Mela Hai;, reports News18.
Though made on a modest budget and released in the early 1980s, 'Satte Pe Satta' struck a chord with audiences and went on to become a massive commercial success, breaking several box office records. It emerged as the highest-grossing film of the year. The on-screen pairing of Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini was especially well-received, playing a key role in the film's lasting popularity.
At 65, Amitabh Bachchan remains one of Bollywood's leading superstars, with a fan base in every age group. On the work front, he is preparing to play a negative character alongside Rajinikanth, which will showcase his everlasting versatility and timeless influence in Indian cinema.
Hashtags
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
Did you know Amitabh Bachchan was replaced by Vinod Khanna in Shaque after 16 flops? Aruna Raje reveals producer didn't want him
Before becoming Shahenshah, Amitabh Bachchan faced numerous setbacks. He was dropped from films like Shaque and Duniya Ka Mela due to his initial box office failures. Director Aruna Raje Patil revealed that Vinod Khanna replaced Bachchan in Shaque. Raza Murad mentioned Sanjay Khan replaced Bachchan in Duniya Ka Mela. Zanjeer became a turning point after Jaya Bhaduri suggested his name. Long before he became the legendary 'Shahenshah' of Bollywood, Amitabh Bachchan faced a string of disappointments that nearly ended his acting journey before it began. With 16 flops behind him, the future superstar was once deemed too risky by producers—so much so that he was replaced in multiple films, including the 1976 thriller Shaque. Why Bachchan was dropped from Shaque In a recent interaction, acclaimed director-editor Aruna Raje Patil revealed that Amitabh was originally considered for the lead in Shaque, but was ultimately replaced by Vinod Khanna due to his struggling box office run at the time. Filmmaker Aruna Raje Patil recently reflected on a pivotal casting change during the making of her 1976 film Shaque. Initially, Amitabh Bachchan was set to star opposite Waheeda Rehman . However, due to his then-unfavourable box office track record—marked by 16 consecutive flops—the film's producer, NB Kamat, was unwilling to move forward with him in the lead role. Faced with the possibility of the film being shelved, the team decided to look for a more bankable star. They eventually approached Vinod Khanna, who was already enjoying commercial success at the time. The actor quickly agreed to take on the role, leading to the replacement of Bachchan just before his breakthrough with Zanjeer in 1973. Another film replacement In a past interview with The Filmy Charcha, veteran actor Raza Murad recalled another instance highlighting Amitabh Bachchan's early struggles in the film industry. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo He shared that Bachchan was dropped from the film Duniya Ka Mela and replaced by Sanjay Khan due to a series of box office failures. At the time, with 16 flops behind him, distributors reportedly lacked confidence in Bachchan's ability to draw audiences, believing his presence would hurt the film's prospects. It wasn't until Zanjeer turned his fortunes around that his career took a dramatic upward turn, proving that persistence—and timing—can change everything. It was a twist of fate that eventually landed Amitabh Bachchan the lead role in Zanjeer—the film that would redefine his career. As veteran actor Raza Murad recalled, director Prakash Mehra initially approached several top stars of the time, including Dilip Kumar , Dharmendra, Dev Anand, and Rajkumar, but each declined the offer for various reasons. Success of Zanjeer Despite Zanjeer being a hero-centric script, it struggled to find a leading man—until Jaya Bhaduri (later Jaya Bachchan) suggested Amitabh's name. With no other options left, Mehra took a chance on the struggling actor. That stroke of luck, coupled with Bachchan's powerful performance, changed the course of Hindi cinema—and earned him the title of Bollywood's 'Angry Young Man.' After the success of Zanjeer, Amitabh Bachchan's career skyrocketed. He formed a legendary collaboration with writers Salim-Javed, delivering a series of iconic films like Deewaar, Sholay, Kaala Patthar, Trishul, Majboor, Shakti, and Don.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Fresh push for Bharat Ratna to Bhikhari Thakur
Patna: Over five decades after his death in 1971, calls to posthumously confer the Bharat Ratna on Bhikhari Thakur, the legendary Bhojpuri literary and cultural icon, grew louder on Sunday. BJP MP and Bhojpuri film star Manoj Tiwari, in a letter to Union home minister Amit Shah, urged that the highest civilian honour be awarded to Thakur (1887-1971). No political voices from Bihar expressed any objection. Thakur, born in Qutubpur Diara village in Saran district, was a barber by caste and lacked formal education. He migrated to then Calcutta, where he absorbed the struggles of migrant workers and began writing. His first published work, 'Batohiya' (1912), was followed by 'Achhoot Ki Shikayat', based on the life of Hira Dom. He authored 29 books in total. Known for his poignant portrayals of migration, Thakur became a poet, playwright, singer and folk performer. His best-known play, Bidesia, captures the pain of separation in a migrant's household. "Bhikhari Thakur belongs to Bhojpuri, but he is Bihar's cultural symbol. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Passive Income Ideas Sitting at Home Mone Undo He proved that dialect-based literature can be powerful. He deserves the Bharat Ratna," said BJP's Prem Ranjan Patel. RJD's Chitranjan Gagan recalled how Thakur's iconography emerged in the 1990s when Lalu Prasad had a statue installed in Chapra. Other statues stand in Ara and his native village. In Dec 2023, the Nitish Kumar govt named an auditorium and art gallery in Chhapra after him.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Woman who grew up with monkeys shares her life experience, 'They talk to each other in a language…'
In a world filled with unimaginable childhood stories, Marina Chapman's account of survival stands apart for one reason– it's real. No fiction, no folklore. Just a girl, left alone in the Colombian rainforest at the age of four, who survived by observing and imitating a group of wild monkeys. Her story, now widely discussed after resurfacing in recent interviews, is not framed by drama or exaggeration. It's a stark and honest recollection of what it meant to grow up completely disconnected from human society– and how instinct, silence, and the company of animals helped her endure. Now in her later years, Marina is speaking more openly about her past, not to shock or entertain, but to share what survival looked like when her only teachers were capuchin monkeys. A childhood cut short by abduction Marina's early life in Colombia took a traumatic turn when she was abducted from her village around the age of four, according to a report by UNILAD. The reasons behind the kidnapping remain unclear, but she was eventually abandoned in dense forest territory– alone, frightened, and unsure of what to do next. With no one to call for help and no knowledge of the jungle, she found herself surrounded by a troop of monkeys. Slowly, they became her silent guides. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pensioners Can Buy These Electric Cars in Malaysia - See Prices Here! Electric Cars | Search Ads Search Now Undo Observing monkeys became her survival strategy In an interview with UNILAD, Marina explained that as the days passed in isolation, she realised that the only way to survive was by following the creatures around her. With no knowledge of edible plants or safe water sources, she began closely observing the monkeys' behaviour. "I didn't know what to eat except the water. And I noticed the monkeys used to eat things. They kept eating something, and I kept watching where they were getting this food, and it took me days to find out where they were getting the food," she told UNILAD. One monkey, she recalls, played an unexpected role in helping her find food by quietly stealing fruit from sleeping humans nearby. "Except one of them was a very good one. He used to go when some Indian people had fallen asleep, and they used to hear the sound of people falling asleep. And he went into their room, very quiet, and he got a lot of food out of these rooms with huge amounts of fruit. And it used to carry so much that he dropped it. And that was the first time I came out and found a banana or other things." This small moment would teach her how to find scattered food– and how to grab it fast. "And I pick it up quickly, but you better move quickly because if you don't, they take it away quickly. So I learned to eat as fast as I could, always." Adapting to the sounds of the forest Jungle life meant staying alert at all times. With no human interaction, Marina learned to understand the meaning behind different monkey sounds– many of which signalled food, threats, or movement. "I had to learn to recognise the sounds. The screechy one, you have to really be careful, you have to hide away. Many sounds mean something. The 'danger' one is the louder one, and then the whistle one is the 'food' one. And each sound means different things, but it took me a while to get used to it. I just learned from watching what they were doing every time I heard the sound." For Marina, these sounds became the difference between staying safe and getting hurt. There was no safety net, only observation and reaction. Found by hunters, but not freed According to the UNILAD report, at around age ten, after nearly six years in the forest, Marina was discovered by hunters. But rescue didn't mean relief. Instead, she was taken away and reportedly sold into a brothel. Her years of jungle survival were followed by fresh trauma in urban society. Eventually, she managed to escape and survive on the streets of Columbia for a period. Her journey from there continued through more difficulties, eventually leading to a new life. Her full story was first detailed in her book The Girl With No Name, published in 2013. Thumb image: Generated by Canva AI (only for representative purposes)
