Latest news with #KaisiPaheliZindagaani
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Rekha praises Vidya Balan's ‘unconventional' beauty: ‘I gained a daughter in her'
Bollywood actor Vidya Balan's Parineeta recently completed 20 years. On Monday, Vidhu Vinod Chopra hosted a special screening in Mumbai to mark the occasion, which was attended by Vidya, Rekha, Dia Mirza, and others. During the event, Rekha heaped praise on Vidya's unconventional approach to talent and her beauty and talked about the bond they share. Rekha talked about her bond with Vidya Balan during Parineeta's special screening. Rekha reveals giving audition for Parineeta Speaking about bagging the song Kaisi Paheli Zindagaani in Parineeta, Rekha said, 'This was the first film in my life I ever auditioned for. I didn't even know what it meant back then. Vidhu Vinod Chopra told me that if I didn't audition, I was out. Honestly, I am here because of Vidya. When I asked Vidhu who was in the film, he told me Saif, Sanjay, and Vidya, and I asked, 'Who is this Vidya?' Then he said he would send me some footage and told me to watch it, and only if I felt like doing the film should I agree. He sent me the song, I saw it, and I called up Farazanaji and told her we were doing this film.' Rekha also praised Vidya's 'unconventional beauty and approach to her craft' and said, 'She was there already before she was born; she was Parineeta. I didn't know the film had been made earlier too, but for me Parineeta is Vidya Balan. I gained a daughter in Vidya. Throughout the making of Kaisi Paheli, she sat there without even blinking. After the whole song was done, she came to my vanity van, held my hand and kissed it, saying she had learnt so much. But watching this film today, I want to say, I don't think I have learnt as much as I have learnt watching her.' About Parineeta Directed by Pradeep Sarkar, the 2005 film is an adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's 1914 Bengali novella of the same name. It starred Sanjay Dutt, Saif Ali Khan, and Vidya Balan (in her Bollywood debut) in lead roles, with Raima Sen, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty, and Dia Mirza in supporting roles. The film received positive reviews upon release and became a success, collecting ₹30.29 crore worldwide. Marking Vidya's Bollywood debut, Parineeta is set to re-release across select theatres in India on August 29 for a week.
News18
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Rekha Shot Parineeta Song Kaisi Yeh Pehli On Amitabh Bachchan's Kaun Banega Crorepati Set
Last Updated: Composer Shantanu Moitra recalls meeting Rekha during the Parineeta shoot, sharing how she welcomed him warmly on the Kaun Banega Crorepati set. As Parineeta marks two decades since its release, composer Shantanu Moitra has shared a special memory from the film's shoot. The musical drama, which introduced Vidya Balan to the big screen and featured the late Pradeep Sarkar as director, holds a unique place in Hindi cinema. Shantanu recalled his first meeting with the legendary actress Rekha, who starred in a cameo for the song Kaisi Paheli Zindagaani. Speaking to Radio Nasha, Shantanu said, 'When I found out that Rekha ji was doing Kaisi Paheli, I was like, 'Wow'. But let me tell you a story about that. I got a call from Pradeep Sarkar. He called me to the set for the song's shoot. But I was working on some other songs at the time, so I told him that I was busy. He said that Rekha ji wanted to meet me. I was stunned." He recalled that the song was being shot in the same sets as Amitabh Bachchan's Kaun Banega Crorepati. 'They took me to her makeup room. They were shooting the song in the same set where they shoot Kaun Banega Crorepati these days. This was the first time I'd been inside a makeup room, and it had those light bulbs around the mirror. Back to camera, the diva was sitting," he said. Shantanu added, 'She looked around and asked, 'You've made the song? It's amazing, I hope I can do justice to it. I have a small request. I would like you to stay for the shoot.' She was talking to a first-timer, I will never forget it. She would occasionally make eye-contact with me, as if to ask if it was going alright." He also praised director Pradeep Sarkar's detailed planning, explaining how every shot was carefully storyboarded before filming. Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha: Bollywood's Most Talked-About Pairing While Rekha and Amitabh Bachchan have always denied any off-screen relationship, their on-screen chemistry remains one of Bollywood's most enduring and fascinating topics. Their 1981 film Silsila is often remembered as their most iconic work together, though they shared screen space in many others, including Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Mr. Natwarlal (1979), and Ram Balram (1980). Their pairing created a buzz that defined an era in Hindi cinema. In a special interview celebrating 25 years of her career, Rekha spoke about the respect she holds for Amitabh and revealed the best compliment he ever gave her — one that left a lasting impression. She once said, in a chat with Rediff, 'I think the only compliment he has knowingly or unknowingly paid me was that he gave me an opportunity to work with a great co-star like him. That is the biggest compliment I have ever received." view comments First Published: August 12, 2025, 12:47 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Rekha asked to meet me in the same studio where they shoot Amitabh Bachchan's Kaun Banega Crorepati': Parineeta's breakout talent recalls life-changing interaction
While Parineeta remains seminal part of Hindi cinema history for having introduced actor Vidya Balan to the industry, it also launched the career of musician Shantanu Moitra. The musical drama completes 20 years in 2025, and several of those involved have been recalling fond memories of the project in recent weeks, and paying tribute to the film's late director, Pradeep Sarkar. In a new interview, Shantanu recalled an anecdote from the film's shoot, which involved his first meeting with the legendary star Rekha. She performed a cameo in the song 'Kaisi Paheli Zindagaani.' He told Radio Nasha, 'When I found out that Rekha ji was doing 'Kaisi Paheli', I was like, 'Wow'. But let me tell you a story about that. I got a call from Pradeep Sarkar. He called me to the set for the song's shoot. But I was working on some other songs at the time, so I told him that I was busy. He said that Rekha ji wanted to meet me. I was stunned. They took me to her makeup room. They were shooting the song in the same set where they shoot Kaun Banega Crorepati these days. This was the first time I'd been inside a makeup room, and it had those light bulbs around the mirror. Back to camera, the diva was sitting.' Also read – Born out of wedlock, abandoned by father, serially abused in Bollywood, she became industry's biggest female superstar Shantanu continued, 'She looked around and asked, 'You've made the song? It's amazing, I hope I can do justice to it. I have a small request. I would like you to stay for the shoot.' She was talking to a first-timer, I will never forget it. She would occasionally make eye-contact with me, as if to ask if it was going alright.' He praised the director painstakingly crafted storyboards, and said that every single shot was designed in advance. In a recent interview, Vidya opened about Sarkar, and said that she owes her career to him. But they had a falling out after Parineeta's success, after she refused to work with him on a couple of projects she didn't believe in. They remained on sour terms until his death, and Vidya said that she regrets not patching things up with him. 'Saying no to Dada was very tough, and I used to call him every day to know how he was. It's so sad that someone who I feel so much gratitude towards, I didn't manage to keep in touch with. I felt misunderstood, and someone told me that 'don't let gratitude become a noose.' But when he passed away, I was so broken. I wanted to tell him that whatever I am is because of Parineeta,' she told Filmfare. Rekha and Amitabh Bachchan worked together on several films, and have long been subjected to salacious rumours even though they haven't collaborated in over four decades. In a 2006 interview with Filmfare for Bachchan's 64th birthday, she said, 'Whatever I am as an actor, I owe 100 per cent to him. I just soaked in whatever he had to offer just observing him… When fans write to me and question why we haven't worked together after Silsila, the only rational answer that I can think of is that the wait to be able to co-star with Amitji is worth it. That everything happens for the right reason at the right time.'
